Zingawe called to Banyana camp, again
ALEXANDRA - Realogile High School matriculant pupil Ziongwe Phakathi has been called to Banyana Banyana camp.
Alexandra’s red-hot women’s football striker Zingawe Phakathi has been called up to the Banyana Banyana camp by new Dutch coach Vera Pauw.
Pauw is reported to be on a mission to build a world-class Banyana team to end the dominance of Nigeria, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea in African women’s soccer. If Pauw is impressed with Zingawe, she could find herself representing the country in the upcoming 2014 African Women’s Championship qualifier against Comoros Islands in May.
Malvin Khumalo, coach of Zingawe’s team in Alexandra, Bluebirds Football Club said he was quite confident Zingawe would make the grade. “I am confident she would be in camp for the forthcoming qualifiers in May and beyond,” said a delighted Khumalo.
It was the striking prowess of this talented Realogile High School girl that propelled her team into the Sasol Women’s League.
Another Bluebirds player on the fringes of a Banyana call-up is Thandeka Zulu.
“The selection of my players to the national side builds confidence not just to the players but to me as well as the coach,” said Khumalo. “It shows there is something I am doing right. It shows Alex women’s football is developing and we can be counted among the best in the country.”
The training camp was held at the High Performance Centre in Tshwane last week, and Pauw, a top-rated Fifa coach said she was impressed by the commitment of the 42 players in camp.
“South Africa has a lot of talented and skilful players … I’m confident we will build a formidable team which must qualify and do well at the World Cup and Olympic Games,” she said.
