Banyana Banyana midfielder Kholosa Biyana feels they have gathered enough steam to sail through the 11th edition of the Cyprus Women’s Cup from February 26 to March 7.
The tournament played in the cities of Nicosia, Paralimni and Larnaca in Cyprus involves 12 women’s national teams – mainly from Europe.
In Group A there’s Finland, Italy, Switzerland, and Wales; Group B has Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Spain; and Group C has Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago.
Biyana said the fact the squad of 21 players named by Desiree Ellis were the Cosafa Cup winners gave her peace of mind and she knew they would make a formidable side. She said the two international friendlies they recently lost to Sweden in Cape Town were challenging but helpful.
“They are an experienced bunch, and they’re a highly ranked national team and playing against them was a good experience for the team.
“And I feel like that experience will help us going into this tournament, because we’ll be going against international teams which are not from Africa.
“So we have been exposed to their ways of doing things.
“Having experienced players like Janine van Wyk gives me hope and I believe we stand a good chance of doing well in the competition.
“I’ve been preparing for camp like my teammates and we are all looking forward to the tournament. We want to win this – we just need to work together like we always do.”
The central-midfielder, who now has seven caps said the team’s training programme was helping her keep fit and because of it she would be ready for camp which assembles on February 22.
“I have been following a strict programme and diet and I have been training hard. And I still have time before the camp to train myself. I’m not under any kind of pressure, as long as my teammates find the back of the net and we win our games I’m good.
“Remember this is not about me or anyone else but the team.”
Banyana interim head coach Ellis, a former Banyana captain, called up the bulk of the team that recently played against Sweden, but Thunderbirds’ striker Yonela Keto didn’t make the cut this time round.
Ellis said the tournament gave them another opportunity to play more experienced teams and that it would also help them monitor their progress as they need to improve in certain areas of their game.
“Based on the Sweden match – we need to minimise our mistakes, work and improve our fitness level, and also work as a unit and sharpen our finishing,” said Ellis.
This will be the sixth time Banyana appear in the Cyprus Cup and they will be looking to finish in a better position after they came in position 10 in 2015.
They will face Slovakia in their opening match on February 28 and then on March 2 they will face Hungary. In the last group stage clash, Banyana will lock horns with Trinidad & Tobago on March 5.
Star playmaker backs Banyana in quest
The tournament played in the cities of Nicosia, Paralimni and Larnaca in Cyprus involves 12 women’s national teams – mainly from Europe.
In Group A there’s Finland, Italy, Switzerland, and Wales; Group B has Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Spain; and Group C has Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago.
Biyana said the fact the squad of 21 players named by Desiree Ellis were the Cosafa Cup winners gave her peace of mind and she knew they would make a formidable side. She said the two international friendlies they recently lost to Sweden in Cape Town were challenging but helpful.
“They are an experienced bunch, and they’re a highly ranked national team and playing against them was a good experience for the team.
“And I feel like that experience will help us going into this tournament, because we’ll be going against international teams which are not from Africa.
“So we have been exposed to their ways of doing things.
“Having experienced players like Janine van Wyk gives me hope and I believe we stand a good chance of doing well in the competition.
“I’ve been preparing for camp like my teammates and we are all looking forward to the tournament. We want to win this – we just need to work together like we always do.”
The central-midfielder, who now has seven caps said the team’s training programme was helping her keep fit and because of it she would be ready for camp which assembles on February 22.
“I have been following a strict programme and diet and I have been training hard. And I still have time before the camp to train myself. I’m not under any kind of pressure, as long as my teammates find the back of the net and we win our games I’m good.
“Remember this is not about me or anyone else but the team.”
Banyana interim head coach Ellis, a former Banyana captain, called up the bulk of the team that recently played against Sweden, but Thunderbirds’ striker Yonela Keto didn’t make the cut this time round.
Ellis said the tournament gave them another opportunity to play more experienced teams and that it would also help them monitor their progress as they need to improve in certain areas of their game.
“Based on the Sweden match – we need to minimise our mistakes, work and improve our fitness level, and also work as a unit and sharpen our finishing,” said Ellis.
This will be the sixth time Banyana appear in the Cyprus Cup and they will be looking to finish in a better position after they came in position 10 in 2015.
They will face Slovakia in their opening match on February 28 and then on March 2 they will face Hungary. In the last group stage clash, Banyana will lock horns with Trinidad & Tobago on March 5.
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