Former Banyana Banyana forward Jermaine Seoposenwe has revealed some reasons behind her shock retirement from international football.
Seoposenwe bid farewell to Banyana after the recently concluded WAFCON in Morocco where the team finished fourth having made the announcement before the tournament. She left the stage with 112 caps in 15 years and 20 goals.
- ALSO READ: Ellis On Banyana’s Upcoming WAFCON Qualifier
- Jane Breaks Her Silence On Banyana’s Dismal WAFCON
The 31-year-old spoke to Robert Marawa on #MSWOn947 on Tuesday where she expressed gratitude to South Africans for showing her love and what playing for the national team has done for her.
Seoposenwe went on to say that she couldn’t continue to feel unhappy in the national team, a feeling she has carried for the last two years, and she felt her presence in that state was unfair on her wellbeing, her teammates and everyone involved in the team.
“It’s tough to walk away from my teammates, tough to walk away from the people of South Africa and how they’ve supported me,” said Seoposenwe.
“And before I go any further, I want to thank them for all, the messages that they’ve sent me and just the love that they showed me over the years. And so, it’s tough to make that decision. But it’s something I feel like I had to do at the end of the day.
“I haven’t been happy in the national team for a long time. And obviously, just continuing to push through those emotions and those feelings in that setting is tough. I think at the end of the day, you are a senior player, so you carry a lot of pressure as well within the football side of it.
“And so, the emotional side of it I just want to love football, like, I don’t want to be unhappy. I don’t want to continue to struggle for things that as a national team player, you deserve. And so, I just think for my happiness, for my wellbeing I don’t want to lose the love for football as well and I think I was also beginning to lose that love for football and kind of growing resentment for football.
“So, I think that’s not something I’ve experienced anywhere, maybe I think a little bit in Spain, but it’s just a feeling that I don’t want to feel. And so, I was like, it’s time for me to go at the end of the day. if you are happy in a certain environment, I think that’s how I feel in Mexico. That’s how I feel within; real happy, vibrant, just a completely different person.
“And then coming back to the national team, you know, seeing myself it’s crazy to me sometimes, just to sit down with myself and just know the difference in how I feel when I’m with my team in Mexico, and then why I’m in the national team, it’s not who I am.
“I think for the couple of games that I’ve been back as well I think people who really know me can see that I’m a shell of myself within the national team, and so I just didn’t want to be that person anymore. I know what I can bring to the national team. I know what I mean to my teammates and the people of South Africa.
“And I just felt like out of respect for everyone that’s involved within the national team and the people of South Africa, and just the performances that I feel like I’ve given since I gotten back, is just not up to my standard.
“And so, if I am going to be this person then what’s the use of continuing to basically force myself to come and play football, which is a thing that I love so much, like, out of everything, besides my family and friends. Something I love so much, is the passion that I have for the game, everything that I’ve put into it, it’s not who I am.
“And so, I just felt like it’s best that I walk away and not decline in football.”
Seoposenwe then also took to social media to clarify why she decided to retire from the national team.
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.
