Former Banyana Banyana midfielder Portia Modise says although the national team’s chances at the Fifa World Cup are slim, credit must be given to the side for qualifying for the event.
A runner-up finish in the Africa Women Cup of Nations saw the SA women’s team book themselves a spot in the World Cup for the first time.
Banyana are in group B, up against Spain, Germany and China. SA play their first World Cup game against Spain in Le Havre, France on June 8.
“Playing against Spain, Germany and China will be really difficult but I will give the girls credit for qualifying,” Modise said at the Betway 12th Man Legends coaching course in Randburg, Johannesburg, recently.
“For Banyana Banyana to qualify was a great achievement. It shows that the plan was already there.
“Coaches that have been coaching Banyana have been putting up this plan.
“If they did not combine the U17 and the U20 national side to support the first team, and for the three to work together, I don’t think we were going to qualify.
“Vera [Pauw] would come and take players from the U19 side and give them a chance, [Augustine] Makhalakhalane would also come and give the U17 players a chance to be part of the national team setup.
“[So they] get the feel of how it is to play for a senior national team and the pressure that comes with the job. So you start to adapt at an early age.
“When we retired, some of the U19 players came in because they were familiar with what was happening in the first team.
“It made things easy for the players to gel, give good results and qualify .
“I think their chances in the World Cup are very slim, but for me it’s all about qualifying and going there to get the experience.”
The former player for Denmark’s Fortuna Hjørring and the Soweto Ladies said the team should use this opportunity to collect as much experience as they can and moving past the group stages would be a bonus for Banyana.
She believes there is a lot that still needs to be fixed in the development structures of women’s football.
“If we could invest in our development by finding sponsors and creating a good competitive league it will make the coaches lives much easier.
“A proper league needs to be in place for women’s football.”