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Chance for future Banyana stars to shine

SAFA chief executive Dennis Mumble is hoping this year's Sasol League National Championships will help increase the pool of players for Banyana Banyana ahead of next year's Olympics in Rio.

The seventh edition of the national championships will take place in the Free State town of Sasolburg.

The competition is scheduled to start on Monday, with the nine clubs from each province divided into three groups. All the matches will be played at the Harry Gwala Multipurpose Centre.

"The reason we have the championship is to make sure we identify the best talent, nurture it and put them into our national team structure," Mumble said yesterday at Safa House.

"Sasol provides the talent for our national team and we definitely want to see more players coming out of the competition."

Coach of Als PUK Tawana, Belinda Nkosi, said her players could not wait for the competition to start as there was hardly any exposure for them in the North West. They are in Group A with Mamelodi Sundowns while the winner of the play-off match between Galeshewe Ladies and RC Mills Ladies today will complete the group.

She said: "I am happy with the draw . My players are looking forward to playing in the national championships. They have worked really hard to get here. We have players who want to play for Banyana Banyana."

Group A

Mamelodi Sundowns (Gauteng); ALS Puk Tawana (North West); Galeshewe Ladies-RC Mills Ladies (Northern Cape)

Group B

Red Roses Ladies FC (Eastern Cape); Cape Town Roses FC (Western Cape); Bloemfontein Celtic (Free State)

Group C

Kanatla Ladies (Limpopo); Coal City Wizards; (Mpumalanga); Durban Ladies (KZN)