Banyana are prepared for tough Nigeria clash
WINDHOEK — Battles against tough opponents such as Nigeria often require the old hands; whether they are in the playing ranks or in the coaching staff.
Nigeria are the high-water mark of African women’s football and in Wednesday’s first semifinal they will be an accurate gauge as to how far SA’s Banyana Banyana have improved or regressed under Vera Pauw.
It seemed strange when assistant coach Desiree Ellis and the youngest player in the team, Christina Kgatlana, stepped up for the press conference.
However, Ellis is a veteran of many football wars with Nigeria, even though she never ended up on the winning side.
She did not display the same kind of confidence that Nigeria coach Edwin Okon did, but Ellis said Nigeria would have a fight on their hands.
The Super Falcons have been far and away the best team in the tournament, but SA have not been found wanting in the fighting spirit department.
It is never easy qualifying out of a group if one loses the opening game, and Banyana find themselves facing their nemesis.
"There is no two ways about it. We want to win this game, but we know that when we play Nigeria it will always be tough. We are also working towards winning the game," Ellis said.
"I know that we have beaten Nigeria in the past, but the game will be a different proposition altogether. This is a new tournament and it is 11 versus 11, and both sides will have everything to prove. We will go out there to do our best to win the match."
Ellis neatly avoided the question regarding Roxanne Barker’s participation, especially in the light of her blundering performances throughout the tournament.
"In each and every session, we work with all three goalkeepers; it is not that we just focus on a specific individual. We work with them differently, away from the team."
There was more fear in Kgatlana’s voice. She has yet to get to get a start or any game time in the tournament. The reasoning in sending out the most inexperienced player for a game of this magnitude speaks more about Pauw’s micro-management and the fear of Nigeria than the team’s confidence in their ability to win the game.
Kgatlana said they hoped to give Nigeria a run for their money, with the expectation of a tough game.
The importance of the semifinal was not lost on Cameroon coach Enow Ngatchou, who said they would keep an eye on the game. He was not trying to pre-empt whom he hopes to be facing should his side beat Côte d’Ivoire in the second semifinal, but with SA improving dramatically from their loss to his team, and Nigeria being the out-and-out No1 team, he seemed jittery about how the outcome could affect his World Cup chances.
"Don’t expect Nigeria to find it easy against SA because Group B was far more tougher than Group A. Nigeria waltzed through theirs, while SA battled to get through ours. It will not be easy at all," he said.
Nigeria are the high-water mark of African women’s football and in Wednesday’s first semifinal they will be an accurate gauge as to how far SA’s Banyana Banyana have improved or regressed under Vera Pauw.
It seemed strange when assistant coach Desiree Ellis and the youngest player in the team, Christina Kgatlana, stepped up for the press conference.
However, Ellis is a veteran of many football wars with Nigeria, even though she never ended up on the winning side.
She did not display the same kind of confidence that Nigeria coach Edwin Okon did, but Ellis said Nigeria would have a fight on their hands.
The Super Falcons have been far and away the best team in the tournament, but SA have not been found wanting in the fighting spirit department.
It is never easy qualifying out of a group if one loses the opening game, and Banyana find themselves facing their nemesis.
"There is no two ways about it. We want to win this game, but we know that when we play Nigeria it will always be tough. We are also working towards winning the game," Ellis said.
"I know that we have beaten Nigeria in the past, but the game will be a different proposition altogether. This is a new tournament and it is 11 versus 11, and both sides will have everything to prove. We will go out there to do our best to win the match."
Ellis neatly avoided the question regarding Roxanne Barker’s participation, especially in the light of her blundering performances throughout the tournament.
"In each and every session, we work with all three goalkeepers; it is not that we just focus on a specific individual. We work with them differently, away from the team."
There was more fear in Kgatlana’s voice. She has yet to get to get a start or any game time in the tournament. The reasoning in sending out the most inexperienced player for a game of this magnitude speaks more about Pauw’s micro-management and the fear of Nigeria than the team’s confidence in their ability to win the game.
Kgatlana said they hoped to give Nigeria a run for their money, with the expectation of a tough game.
The importance of the semifinal was not lost on Cameroon coach Enow Ngatchou, who said they would keep an eye on the game. He was not trying to pre-empt whom he hopes to be facing should his side beat Côte d’Ivoire in the second semifinal, but with SA improving dramatically from their loss to his team, and Nigeria being the out-and-out No1 team, he seemed jittery about how the outcome could affect his World Cup chances.
"Don’t expect Nigeria to find it easy against SA because Group B was far more tougher than Group A. Nigeria waltzed through theirs, while SA battled to get through ours. It will not be easy at all," he said.
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