Banyana Banyana defender Noko Matlou feels lack of experience is the reason the national women's team has not made a mark on the international scene.

Matlou says many of the Banyana players dream of playing overseas to gain experience to conquer Africa and qualify regularly for World Cups and the Olympics, but without agents they can only settle for playing for amateur clubs locally. Banyana are set to play in the Cyprus Women's Cup next week to prepare for the All Africa Games and the 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers.

They left for Cyprus last night and have been drawn into Group C with Belgium, the Czech Republic and Mexico. It will be good preparation for Banyana players who are starved of competitive football locally.

"It's very difficult for us because the level of competition at club level is not as high as when we play for the national team," Matlou said.

"At club level, we only get tough competition at the Sasol national play-offs. It is difficult for us to move overseas because we do not have agents like PSL players."

Matlou plays as a striker at her club Ma-Indies, but Banyana coach Vera Pauw has been playing one of the country's deadly players in defence. She admits she is missing her days of scoring freely but respects Pauw's decision.

Banyana qualified for the 2012 London Olympics with coach Joseph Mkhonza.