Kholosa Biyana has revealed her ordeal to have missed the most important match in Banyana Banyana’s history at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Biyana, after picking up two yellow cards in the first two group stage matches against Sweden and Argentina, missed the win over Italy, which saw Banyana reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the very first time, becoming the first football team in South Africa – men or women – to do so.
Biyana had replaced injured captain Refiloe Jane in the 2-2 draw with Argentina in the first half but picked up a booking before the break. After another foul early in the second stanza, coach Desiree Ellis opted to take the substitute off to avoid her being sent off.
Ellis, as Banyana led by 2-0 against Argentina and then ended up losing concentration to draw the match, was concerned that she might get a red card or be forced to make a last-ditch tackle or be targeted by the South Americans.
But Biyana, as much as she missed Banyana recording their first-ever World Cup victory in their final group-stage match, was confident her teammates would do the job and in this case, Bongeka Gamede and Robyn Moodaly were selected in the midfield.
“I was definitely sad but I knew that in the previous game, I gave my all,” Biyana told iDiski Times.
“I gave my best for the team and anyone who stepped in on the day gave their best and won that game. But it also shows that the team is not about one person, whoever is selected on the field gives their best.”
The win over Italy was dramatic for South Africans watching at home as star striker Thembi Kgatlana scored in added time, following a brilliant pick out by Hilda Magaia, sending Mzansi into a state of delirium.
Despite missing that important match and returning to feature in the 2-0 loss to the Netherlands in the round of 16, fans flooded social media to show some love for Biyana for stepping in when Jane was ruled out of the tournament.
“I was happy that I gave my all and people supported me,” said Biyana, who has since joined Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from the University of Western Cape.
“They showed me love for me and as you said, I stepped in and that’s what I went in there for. In that stage, everyone is a great player. I just needed to step in when I was needed by the team.”
Biyana is set to reconvene with her national teammates yet again when they visit the United States of America in the next two friendly matches later this month. The USA, just like Banyana, crashed out in the round of 16 for the first time in their history.
