BANYANA Banyana are going to Namibia to familiarise themselves with the conditions ahead of the African Women's Championship finals in October.
They will also play an international friendly against the hosts of the ninth instalment of the continental tournament at Sam Nujoma Stadium on Sunday.
Banyana were supposed to go on a tour of west Africa as part of their preparations for the tournament, but were forced to postpone it indefinitely.
Coach Vera Pauw explained that their challenge was they could not get confirmation from the west African countries they were targeting.
" It is unfortunate that we won't be going as we could not get confirmation," Pauw said.
"[But] we can't wait longer as we have to prepare our team, we need to play as many games as we can before the tournament."
The senior national women's side booked themselves a place in the finals after they demolished Comoros 13-0 in the first leg away last month.
Comoros thrown in the towel after that heavy defeat and did not travel to Durban for the second leg.
The eight countries that have qualified for the continental women's showpiece are the hosts Namibia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Zambia.
It will be the first time in the history of the tournament that the reigning champions will not compete after holders Equatorial Guinea were eliminated by Ivory Coast.
The finals will take place in Windhoek from October 11 to 15 and the top three countries will qualify for the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
The Banyana players leaving for Windhoek today are:
GOALKEEPERS - Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thokozile Mndaweni (Croesus)
DEFENDERS - Nothando Vilakazi (Palace Super Falcons), Janine van Wyk (JVW), Nomathemba Ntsibande (Springs Home Sweepers), Simphiwe Dludlu (Tuks)
MIDFIELDERS - Amanda Dlamini (University of Johannesburg), Gloria Thato (Tuks), Alocia Thoboka, Sanah Mollo (both from Sundowns), Lebogang Ramalepe (Maindis), Tina Selepe (Palace), Leandra Smeda (UWC), Refiloe Jane (VUT), Mamello Makhabane (Palace), Mpumi Nyandeni (Rossiyanka, Russia), Disebo Mametja (University of Johannesburg), Tshepiso Mokabane (Nove Zamky, Slovakia)
FORWARDS - Noko Matlou (Maindis), Slindile Ngubane (Durban Ladies), Ode Fulutudilu (Spurs), Chantelle Essau (Palace) and Portia Modise (Croesus).
Banyana gear up for Namibia friendly
BANYANA Banyana are going to Namibia to familiarise themselves with the conditions ahead of the African Women's Championship finals in October.
They will also play an international friendly against the hosts of the ninth instalment of the continental tournament at Sam Nujoma Stadium on Sunday.
Banyana were supposed to go on a tour of west Africa as part of their preparations for the tournament, but were forced to postpone it indefinitely.
Coach Vera Pauw explained that their challenge was they could not get confirmation from the west African countries they were targeting.
" It is unfortunate that we won't be going as we could not get confirmation," Pauw said.
"[But] we can't wait longer as we have to prepare our team, we need to play as many games as we can before the tournament."
The senior national women's side booked themselves a place in the finals after they demolished Comoros 13-0 in the first leg away last month.
Comoros thrown in the towel after that heavy defeat and did not travel to Durban for the second leg.
The eight countries that have qualified for the continental women's showpiece are the hosts Namibia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Zambia.
It will be the first time in the history of the tournament that the reigning champions will not compete after holders Equatorial Guinea were eliminated by Ivory Coast.
The finals will take place in Windhoek from October 11 to 15 and the top three countries will qualify for the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
The Banyana players leaving for Windhoek today are:
GOALKEEPERS - Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thokozile Mndaweni (Croesus)
DEFENDERS - Nothando Vilakazi (Palace Super Falcons), Janine van Wyk (JVW), Nomathemba Ntsibande (Springs Home Sweepers), Simphiwe Dludlu (Tuks)
MIDFIELDERS - Amanda Dlamini (University of Johannesburg), Gloria Thato (Tuks), Alocia Thoboka, Sanah Mollo (both from Sundowns), Lebogang Ramalepe (Maindis), Tina Selepe (Palace), Leandra Smeda (UWC), Refiloe Jane (VUT), Mamello Makhabane (Palace), Mpumi Nyandeni (Rossiyanka, Russia), Disebo Mametja (University of Johannesburg), Tshepiso Mokabane (Nove Zamky, Slovakia)
FORWARDS - Noko Matlou (Maindis), Slindile Ngubane (Durban Ladies), Ode Fulutudilu (Spurs), Chantelle Essau (Palace) and Portia Modise (Croesus).
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