Sister back in Banyana mix

[caption id="attachment_34126" align="alignright" width="300"] AMANDA SISTER[/caption]

PORT Elizabeth women's football ace Amanda Sister is happy to be back in the Banyana Banyana team after she was suspended by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for one year for taking a prohibited substance.

The Veeplaas-based Liverpool Ladies defender was given a substance identified as prednisone, administered by the SA senior women's football team doctor after she sustained an injury during the eighth African Women's Championship tournament held in Equatorial Guinea in November 2012.

She was initially banned from football for two years, but Caf reduced the sentence to 12 months after her agent and the SA Football Association decided to appeal the decision.

Sister finished her one-year ban in November last year and resumed playing for her local semi-professional side, Liverpool Ladies, in the Eastern Cape Sasol Women's Football League.

Newly-appointed Banyana Banyana coach Vera Pauw selected Sister in the 27-member team that recently played international friendly matches against Zimbabwe, Ghana and the Comoros.

Sister is in training camp with the national team in preparation for their clash against Botswana at the University of the Vaal on Saturday.

Sister said she was excited to be back in action for the national team.

"I'm glad the whole suspension period is over and I don't want to discuss the matter further."

Banyana Banyana team manager Levy Ramajoe said Sister was roped into the national squad by the new head coach after she took over the reins from Joseph Mkhonza in March.

"The match against Botswana will be her fourth game since she came back from suspension.

"Sister was not at fault for her ban, which saw the doctor that was involved in her case released from his duties as a national team doctor."

Ramajoe said the Botswana clash would help get the team in good condition for the African Women's Championship in Namibia in October.- Mthetho Ndoni