Former Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza believes the current national team has all the makings to finally win the Women’s African Cup of Nations (Wafcon), but cautioned that lack of consistency could work against them.
Banyana, who play their last Group C game against Botswana tonight (10pm), have already secured their spot in the quarterfinals.
The Desiree Ellis-coached team opened the tournament with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over 11-times champions Nigeria and also defeated debutants Burundi 3-1.
While SA’s performance against Nigeria was great, Ellis’s team seemed to have taken its foot off the pedal against less dangerous and inexperienced Burundi in the second game.
Mkhonza cautioned that the kind of approach to Burundi could stand in Banyana’s way to qualifying for the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year and winning the continental title for the first time.
Banyana have featured in five Wafcon finals. “I believe we finally have a team that can actually win this tournament because if you look at this team they have all that is needed,” Mkhonza said.
“Unlike before, the team now has a number of players playing regular football overseas against top players that are also in the tournament. The team also has a few players that have experience in the tournament, and a lot of exciting young players there as well.”
Banyana have players such as Thembi Kgatlana, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Noko Matlou, Hildah Magaia, Lebogang Ramalepe, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane and Kholosa Biyana all plying their trade abroad.
Even those playing at home are now playing regularly in the Hollywoodbets Super League. “But football is a funny sport, you can beat Nigeria and lose to a less dangerous team because your approach to those two games wasn’t the same,” Mkhonza said.
“I think if they can look into that, I don’t see why they can’t win it because now they have proven they can beat Nigeria.”
As a coach, Mkhonza knows how tough it is to beat the formidable Nigerians as he was the first mentor to guide Banyana to a victory against the West African country when he knocked them out of the Wafcon 2012 semifinals, before losing to Equatorial Guinea in the climax of the competition.
Mkhonza was also the first coach to lead Banyana to the Olympic Games in 2012 with a squad made of stars who were playing amateur football in SA.
Though Ellis has denied her side underestimated the Burundians, she agreed the energy was not the same as in their game against the feared Nigeria.
The game against Burundi has shown that Banyana still need to work on their finishing. The South Africans created numerous goal-scoring opportunities, but they were not sharp enough and even missed a penalty.
The truth is that if Burundi were a little more experienced, the score wouldn’t have been 3-1 in SA’s favour.
SA might still have won the match, but it would have been a narrow victory.
Botswana, also debutants, will be expected to go all out against SA to better their chances of going through to the next round.
Even if they don’t finish second, Botswana could still go through as one of the best third-placed teams.
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