Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis will travel to Serbia for an international friendly in preparation for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup without experienced defender Bambanani Mbane and her teammate Tiisetso Makhubela.
The Sundowns Ladies’ defenders have withdrawn from the Banyana Banyana camp in Johannesburg before their match against Serbia on 10 April 2023 due to the illness of close family members.
Hollywoodbets Super League Young Player of the Season in 2021 and 2022, Nthabiseng Majiya has also withdrawn from the squad after picking up an injury during Richmond United’s win over City Lads over the weekend. Another player who misses the trip due to injury is TUT’s Tshegofatso Motlogelwa.
With just over three months before the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Ellis will use the friendly against Serbia to sharpen the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Champions.
“Serbia beat Russia recently, and Russia beat them as well. They are very physical, and technically they are very good,” said the coach.
‘They are also very quick, which will challenge our defense, and that is what we want. They have a lot of wing play and a lot of combination play, and that is what we want. We will know it is going to be similar against Sweden, with the wing play and the height up front. So we have got to make sure that we are organized.”
Banyana Banyana was drawn against Sweden, Italy, and Argentina in Group G in the FIFA Women’s World Cup set to take place in New Zealand and Australia.
The team will have one more training session before departure to Serbia on Thursday, 6 April 2023.
