The Cosafa Women’s Championship bursts into action on Wednesday with a determined Banyana Banyana beginning the defence of their title against Madagascar at Wolfson Stadium.
The leading 12 nations from Southern, Central and East Africa will pit their skills against each during a three-group tournament which runs until September 22.
South Africa have picked a strong squad for the tournament but will expect tough opposition from the likes of Zambia, Cameroon and Zimbabwe.
The winner could come from those four nations but it would not surprise if a contender emerged from the other eight teams involved.
A win for Banyana Banyana in the opening game is crucial because only the top team in each group and the best second placed side continue through to the semifinals.
Coach Desiree Ellis said her women were fired up and ready to take on Madagascar.
“Preparations have really gone well. I think everybody is excited to start the tournament which is fantastic,” said Ellis.
“The first game still stays the most important game for us because getting the three points and winning the match gives you a little bit of confidence.
“It also helps the momentum and it will settle whatever nervous pressure there is. Playing at home there is always pressure but we have to manage that well by winning.
“But besides a win we also need to perform well.
Banyana have spent the last week in Nelson Mandela Bay to acclimatise and get themselves familiar with their surrounds.
However, captain Janine van Wyk, Linda Mothlona and Thembi Kgatlana, who are based in the US and play for Houston, missed out on the camp in Port Elizabeth.
They will only join the team on Wednesday after arriving in South Africa late Tuesday.
Ellis said not having the trio at training before the start of the championships did not affect her plans for the tournament.
“We knew that they would not be with us from the word go. We prepared knowing that they were only going to arrive on the 11th. Thembi was the player of the tournament last year, Janine last played with the team in March so they know the setup.
“Linda has been out of the team for a little longer because she was the captain of the U20 team trying to qualify for the U20 World Cup.
“But they know things about the team so it should not be difficult to blend in when they arrive.”
Asked if the trio will start on Wednesday the coach said: “Look I don’t want to divulge if they will play of or not but as soon as they get in we will do an assessment.”
The two other fixtures at Wolfson with Botswana playing Malawi at 10am and Swaziland facing Uganda at 1pm...