Banyana Banyana striker Tembi Kgatlana rejected remarks that the national team has become an 'old village' in desperate need of young players. She asserts that a balance between experienced and young athletes is crucial for the team's success.
Previously, Banyana advanced through the preliminary stage of the World Cup qualification tournament after failing to qualify directly for the 2027 global tournament, missing the Wafcon semi-finals. Their exit in the continental tournament quarterfinals was largely attributed to the team's reliance on veterans, while coach Desiré Ellis kept sixteen players in the squad who had previously won the trophy.
However, citing Brazilian legend Marta as an example, Kgatlana countered the criticism directed at older players, noting that the team's continuity depends on a combination of experience and youth. She stated: 'I don't know why people keep asking this question, because there is Marta in Europe, for example. She is 40 years old and still plays at a top level.' She added that she was unsure if the mentality of African fans was that players were simply too old.
Kgatlana emphasized the necessity of mixing experience and youth to avoid a large gap when senior players retire. She noted that most players on their team have participated in more than five Wafcons, which is an advantage for younger teammates as they learn daily during training and matches.
Kgatlana herself, being a senior player at 30 years old, shared her journey, discussing how important it was to learn from experienced veterans in her position early in her career. She admitted that not everyone manages to participate in such major competitions and noted that she learned a lot from Portia even playing only 10 minutes. In her opinion, results are achieved precisely by combining the experience of veterans with the energy of youth, where some players play for 10 minutes while others play 90.
Banyana's appearance in the qualification tournament restored confidence in the squad, reviving hopes for a third consecutive appearance on the world stage after performances in 2019 and 2023. Kgatlana agreed that they had a difficult period at Wafcon, but after collective discussion, they realized they must take advantage of this second chance.
'We sat down together as players and with the coaches. When we thought about it, we couldn't find excuses for why we can't play,' said Kgatlana. She added that although they were disappointed by the lack of direct qualification, they still had another chance to reach the World Cup, which they must 'grab with both hands.'
Before focusing on the qualification tournament, Banyana must gather and prepare for the Olympic qualifiers against Morocco in October. A victory in this match will boost morale ahead of the decisive qualification matches at the end of the year.
