The Senior South African women’s National team, Sasol Banyana Banyana take on the Union of Comoros National team in the first leg of the African Women’s Championship qualifier match this Friday, 23 May 2014 at the Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh Stadium, scheduled for 14H00 South African time.

The crucial away leg match preparations went well under cool weather conditions on Thursday afternoon in Moroni, the Capital City of Comoros, in contrast to the scorching heat that welcomed Sasol Banyana Banyana upon their arrival at the Island.

Sasol Banyana Banyana have never played with Comoros in the past, and Coach Vera Pauw is confident of getting positive results.

“It is crucial for us to continue with the spirit and enthusiasm that we displayed in our last friendly match. Although we do not know much about the Comoros team, we have prepared with the same intensity that we did for our match against Ghana. We are not going into the game with the mentality that they are a weak team due to their current FIFA Ranking (Comoros are ranked 32^nd in Africa and 132^nd in the world as opposed to Sasol Banyana Banyana who are ranked 4^th in Africa and 52^nd in the world), we cannot afford to be complacent and undermine any opposition. We intend on building on what we have and compete the very same way as we did against Ghana,” she said.

This will be Pauw’s first test out of South Africa in charge of Sasol Banyana Banyana, having led the team to a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe and a 1-0 defeat to the Black Queens of Ghana in the two friendly matches on home turf thus far.

Sasol Banyana Banyana go into the match with a full squad, with the inclusion of defender Letago Madiba, who prides her skills for Tshwane University of Technology in the Sasol Women’s League returning to the team after missing the friendly match against Ghana due to a knee ligament strain.

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For more information contact:

Namhla Mphelo: 00 269 3567832