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Joseph Mkhonza announces Banyana squad for camp ahead of Cyprus Cup

The camp will take place in Potchefstroom from February 18-22.

The Cyprus Women’s Cup starts on March 6 at Tasos Marajou Stadium in Paralimi, Cyprus.

After the first week of camp the extended squad, which features six new players, will be cut down to 22.

“I am trying to look to the future that is why I have included several players from the Under-20 national team,” Mkhonza says. “These are the players we are trying to give a chance because experience has taught us that we need to be prepared for all circumstances.

“If you remember when we went to the London Olympic Games we had four key players, so we need a bigger pool of players to be ready to slot in when needed.”

Mkhonza has his eye on the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada, as well as the 2016 Olympics Games.

“We also want to qualify for all upcoming tournaments, starting with the 2014 African Women’s Championship, where we need to finish in the top three to automatically qualify for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. These two tournaments will help us prepare thoroughly for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.”

Banyana Banyana are expected to depart for Cyprus on Monday, February 25, but on the Saturday before they will play a friendly with yet-to-be announced opponents. Banyana will also face New Zealand upon arrival in Cyprus as part of their final preparations.

The two clashes will give the coach an opportunity to assess the match fitness of the players and also to look at possible combinations before the start of the tournament, which features England, Canada, Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland.

Banyana will kick off against the Korea Republic on Wednesday, March 6, before facing the Republic of Ireland (March 8) and Northern Ireland (March 11).

“This is the first outing of the year for the team, so we need to start on a good footing. This tournament is key as it will give players a good work out for future tournaments,” Mkhonza says.

“We also need to improve our performance in this tournament as we finished 10th out of 12 teams last time around. A good showing will improve our rankings.”

The three overseas based players in the squad, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker, will meet up with the rest of the squad upon the team’s arrival in Cyprus.

1          Andile Dlamini           Sundowns Ladies FC

2          Lebogang Mabatle    Halleluyah Zebra Force

3          Nothando Vilakazi     Palace Super Falcons FC

4          Jermaine Seoposenwe          UWC Ladies FC

5          Janine van Wyk         Palace Super Falcons FC

6          Zamandosi Cele         Durban Ladies FC

7          Nomathemba Ntsibande      Springs Home Sweepers

8          Silindile Ngubane      Durban Ladies

9          Amanda Dlamini       UJ Ladies FC

10       Mary Ntsweng           TUT Ladies FC

11       Noko Matlou  UJ Ladies FC

12       Robyn Moodaly         Alexandra Ladies FC

13       Gabisile Hlumbane    Kovsies Ladies FC

14       Maite Makola Kanatla Ladies FC

15       Refiloe Jane    Sundowns Ladies FC

16       Kaylin Swart  UWC Ladies FC

17       Andisiwe Mgcoyi       Sundowns Ladies FC

18       Nocawe Skiti  Cape Town Roses FC

19       Memory Makhanya   Durban Ladies FC

20       Zanele Chiya  TUT Ladies FC

21       Mahlatsi Mogola        TUT Ladies FC

22       Regina Mogolola        High Performance Centre

23       Vuyo Mkhabela         UWC Ladies FC

24       Gloria Thato   Tuks Ladies FC

25       Shiwe Nongwanya    Bloemfontein Celtics

26       Nompumelelo Nyandeni*     FC Rossiyanka FC (Russia)

27       Kylie-Ann Louw*       Stephen F. Austin (USA)

28       Roxanne Barker*       Pepperdine University (USA)

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