Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has announced her squad for this month’s Turkish Women’s Cup - and included six UWC Ladies players in the 26-strong squad.
The tournament will be held from 13-23 February 2023 and the participants are hosts Turkey, Banyana Banyana, Slovenia, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zambia.
Ellis said she will use the matches against Turkey on 15 February 2023, Uzbekistan on 18 February and and Venezuela on 21 February to address some of the shortcomings she identified during her team’s friendly internationals against Brazil and Australia last year. Ellis’ charges suffered back-to-back defeats to Brazil (0-3 and 0-6) at home in South Africa in September, and then lost 1-4 to Australia in London in October last year.
The six UWC players set to feature in the tournament are: Regirl Ngobeni (goalkeeper), Fikile Magama, club captain Bongeka Gamede (both defenders), Sibulele Holweni, returnee Kholosa Biyana and Amogelang Motau (all midfielders).
All six featured in UWC's comprehensive 9-1 win over Coal City Wizards in their Hollywoodbets Super League opener over the weekend.
As usual, the Banyana squad also features a number of UWC alumnae (four in fact), including recent departee Noxolo Cesane who will now join the Mexican League after she concluded her move from French based State de Reims to Tigres Femenil.
The tournament will be held from 13-23 February 2023 and the participants are hosts Turkey, Banyana Banyana, Slovenia, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zambia.
Ellis said she will use the matches against Turkey on 15 February 2023, Uzbekistan on 18 February and and Venezuela on 21 February to address some of the shortcomings she identified during her team’s friendly internationals against Brazil and Australia last year. Ellis’ charges suffered back-to-back defeats to Brazil (0-3 and 0-6) at home in South Africa in September, and then lost 1-4 to Australia in London in October last year.
The six UWC players set to feature in the tournament are: Regirl Ngobeni (goalkeeper), Fikile Magama, club captain Bongeka Gamede (both defenders), Sibulele Holweni, returnee Kholosa Biyana and Amogelang Motau (all midfielders).
All six featured in UWC's comprehensive 9-1 win over Coal City Wizards in their Hollywoodbets Super League opener over the weekend.
As usual, the Banyana squad also features a number of UWC alumnae (four in fact), including recent departee Noxolo Cesane who will now join the Mexican League after she concluded her move from French based State de Reims to Tigres Femenil.
