This article is part of the Guardian’s Women’s World Cup 2023 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 32 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 20 July.
Overview
South Africa reached just their second Women’s World Cup by winning the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) for the first time in their history, having finished runners-up five times. The way they finally conquered Africa might serve the team well. Banyana Banyana, so used to running rings around some fellow African nations and hogging possession, learned to play without the ball at last year’s finals.
The coach, Desiree Ellis, and her technical team are aware that keeping the ball will not be an easy task against their opponents at the World Cup. This style adaptation sometimes made it difficult viewing for fans used to watching the team glide around with the ball at their feet. But South Africa ground out the necessary results, all the way to beating hosts Morocco 2-1 in the final.
According to one of the vital cogs of the team, goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, the World Cup will be a completely different ballgame to Wafcon. “When we played Wafcon, we were focusing on that task of winning it,” Dlamini said. “Which we succeeded in doing. Now it’s a different task. We have to put Wafcon aside and understand it’s 11 people versus another 11. You can’t go there with the cockiness [of being African champions].”
A pay dispute with the national association disrupted South Africa’s buildup and led to the first-team squad sitting out the final warm-up game against Botswana. However it was resolved when billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe stepped in at the last minute and the squad have arrived in New Zealand in good time.
Playing on the counter, the team will depend on the incisive passing of players such as Linda Motlhalo and Sassuolo’s Refiloe Jane in midfield. Centre-back Bambanani Mbane also possesses the ability to ignite a counterattack from defence.
That’s where the speed of Racing Louisville striker Thembi Kgatlana, Mexico-based Jermaine Seoposenwe, plus Hildah Magaia and Noxolo Cesane will come into play. If the South Africans are to spring a surprise or two in a group containing Sweden, Italy and Argentina, these players will have to be effective when chances arise.
The coach
Desiree Ellis has done it all with Banyana Banyana. A founding member of South Africa’s women’s team, which was established in 1993, Ellis cut her teeth for the role of head coach by serving as assistant to Dutch mentor Vera Pauw while she was in charge of South Africa between 2014 and 2016. Ellis, who has been crowned Africa’s women’s coach of the year three times, led the team to their maiden World Cup participation in 2019. On her side’s prospects in Australia and New Zealand, she said: “[Morocco’s men’s side] were not one of the favourites to get out of their group at Qatar 2022. They went there with a plan and they stuck to it [and reached the semi-finals]. We have a similar idea of what we want.”
Star player
Thembi Kgatlana is one of the most influential footballers South Africa has produced. “Thembi is a special player,” Ellis said of her star forward. “You know what to expect from her. But sometimes you can’t stop it.” The 27-year-old did not play much of a role as South Africa won Wafcon after suffering an achilles tendon injury during the group stage. The injury kept her off the field for almost a year; now she is back to her scintillating best.
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Rising star
Looking to learn from senior players such as Kgatlana and Seoposenwe will be 20-year-old Wendy Shongwe. The forward was an 800m athlete as recently as 2017, claiming bronze in the national high school championships that year. In 2021, she returned to football to fulfil a promise to her father and escape the loneliness of track running. “It was the team aspect of football that did it for me … It is a case of one for all and all for one,” Shongwe said.
Did you know?
The Glasgow City midfielder Linda Motlhalo is known as the Randfontein Ronaldinho, a name emanating from her home town and the fact that the playmaker’s mesmerising dribbles can leave rivals in a daze like the Brazilian legend. As well as having impressive footwork on the field, Motlhalo is known as one of the best dancers in the Banyana Banyana team.
Women’s soccer has come a long way in South Africa since Ellis and company first laced up their boots three decades ago. There is now a semi-professional women’s league, which was established in 2019 and is broadcast on national television. However the road ahead is still long and challenging. “We still have a lot of players [who] go to work, then after work they have to come train or play,” Ellis said. “Sometimes they can’t travel with their team on the weekend because they work. Hopefully that will change in the not-so-distant future.”
Realistic aim at the World Cup?
During their World Cup debut in 2019, South Africa failed to earn a single point and scored just one goal. That can be attributed to stage fright and inexperience as the players arrived on such a prestigious stage for the first time in their careers. In 2023, the team is dreaming of qualifying from their group. However before they shoot for that lofty goal, they have to register their first ever points. That will be the realistic target.
Yanga Sibembe for the Daily Maverick
