Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart says it is time for the South African senior women’s side to write a new chapter as they wrap up preparations for the start of the defence of their African title.
Banyana are currently in Casablanca where they are doing final touch-ups before heading to Oujda where they will play Ghana, Tanzania and Mali in Group C starting next Monday. It hasn’t been a smooth landing as the team had to clear issues around their tournament bonuses and past non-payments whilst in Morocco.
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Meanwhile, Swart says the champions tag carries a lot of weight and she and her teammates aren’t scared of pressure as they see it as privileged. The JVW FC first choice keeper also notes how Banyana have matured and know what to do in their quest to re-write history.
“There’s such great memories in Morocco I mean we were in Rabat in 2022 and now we are in Casablanca but yeah the feeling is the same,” Swart told Safa.net.
“We’re very excited to be here because it’s familiar territory for us. And yeah, hopefully all that excitement can come back from 2022 and hopefully we can do it again.
“But now we got to obviously write a new book and there’s a lot more to be to be done, but if we can repeat history that would be great, but you know it’s not going to be easy. But yeah 2024 [2025] might just be a really good chapter for us.
“I always say pressure is a privilege and I think when our backs are against the wall, that’s when we really perform. And I will back this team 100% all the time.
“And yeah, there is a little bit of pressure being champions because, I mean, that title holds a lot of weight, but I know that once we start the tournament, that pressure is not going to get to us, because we know what it’s going to take, and how we’ve grown so much individually.
“We’re much more mature now and I think the coaches can also see how much we’ve grown. And so yeah that pressure, I think that’s when we will play at our best, but I don’t think that pressure will get to us. But ja, I’m just excited to see how well we do.”
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