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Jane vows to lead SA to Rio 2016

GETAWAY GIRL: Marjory Nyaumwe of Zimbabwe slips a tackle from Jane Refiloe of Banyana during the women's friendly match in Daveyton yesterday. Photo: Gallo Images
GETAWAY GIRL: Marjory Nyaumwe of Zimbabwe slips a tackle from Jane Refiloe of Banyana during the women's friendly match in Daveyton yesterday. Photo: Gallo Images

If there is anyone in the Banyana Banyana team who knows more than most on how to find a chink in the Kenyan armour, it's Refiloe Jane.

She missed the 1-0 first leg 2016 Rio Olympics qualifier victory over Kenya in Dobsonville a couple of weeks ago but was in the grandstand watching Banyana's opponents very closely.

Jane did not play because she returned late from the World Student Games in South Korea and had to watch as her teammates squandered many opportunities in front of goal against the Kenyans.

Jane has urged her teammates to make most of the opportunities they get in Sunday's second leg encounter at Machakos Stadium in Kenya (kickoff 2.30pm SA time).

"In the first leg Kenya's game plan was to come here and not concede many goals. They parked the bus, so that when the second leg comes they can capitalise. We have worked around their game plan and we will see how it goes. It will be a tough game, but we have to score the goals. We want to go to Rio."

Jane said playing at the World Student Games helped improve her game and she will use that experience to help Banyana qualify for the Olympics.

"Even though we lost all our games at the student games, I feel the tournament went well. We performed well, it's just unfortunate we could not score goals and win our games," she said.

Banyana, who left for east Africa yesterday, will play either Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea in the final round of qualifiers if they beat Kenya.

The national under-23 men's team are also involved in Olympic qualifiers. They face Zimbabwe in a second-leg match at Harry Gwala Stadium tomorrow (8.15pm) after playing to a 1-1 draw in the first leg two weeks ago.

"We outplayed them in Zimbabwe, but we should not take them lightly," in-form midfielder Keagan Dolly said yesterday.

"They are very aggressive, but they are quite slow. We are short and quick, so that's our main advantage."

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