UDubs Stars In National Duty: Banyana Banyana Triumph Over Lesotho

UWC was well-represented and played an important role when Banyana Banyana played Lesotho away in the second round of the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers in Lesotho on 6 June 2018, with no less than four players in the squad coming from Udubs.

UWC Ladies FC’s newly-signed duo, goalkeeper Roxanne Barker and striker Khanya Xesi, joined veteran midfielder Leandra Smeda and star striker Jermaine Seoposenwe to form the University contingent in the senior national women’s football team. Barker, Seoposenwe and Smeda were in the starting line-up, with Smeda scoring the crucial (and only) goal of the match.

UWC Ladies coach, Nathan Peskin, is ecstatic about the call-up.

“It’s always great to see our players get called up for national duty,” he says, “and these players are exceptional athletes.”

Peskin believes that the return of Seoposenwe and Barker to South Africa after plying their trade in the USA over the last few years, and their choice of UWC, bear testimony to the healthy state of UWC football.

“Leandra has represented us well in the national team,” Peskin adds, “and we are very proud of consistently contributing to the pride of women’s football in the country.”

He is excited about the addition of the brilliant young talent of Xesi.

“We are extremely proud of this young lady, whose hard work and fantastic performances on the football field have led to her call-up. She certainly is a beacon of hope to the local young players, and the team is exceptionally proud of her achievement.”

The first leg will be played on Wednesday, 6 June at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru, Lesotho, with the return leg taking place in Bloemfontein on Sunday, 10 June 2018. The overall winner of these matches will qualify for the tournament in Ghana in November.

Whatever the outcome, UWC Ladies will continue to grow from strength to strength.

“The institution will continue to provide a platform for young ladies to achieve their dreams through academics and sport,” concludes Peskin.