Latest news with #JermaineSeoposenwe
eNCA
11 hours ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Calls for concern as Banyana Banyana players complain over management
JOHANNESBURG - Retired Banyana Banyana forward Jermaine Seoposenwe, has opened up a can of worms about the real reasons she is quitting the national team. She is criticising the coaching and the culture in the Banyana set up, and SAFA's treatment of the women's team. Some of her frustration is directed at SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao, saying she had hoped a female CEO would improve the women's game. Lots to unpack, including a less than ideal Women's AFCON in Morocco. Former SAFA technical director of women's football Fran Hilton-Smith, who also coached Banyana Banyana had a discussion with eNCA Nandi Tshabalala.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Safa's failures caught up with Banyana at WAFCON
KWAAI: Jermaine Seoposenwe Retired Banyana Banyana Jermaine Seoposenwe revealed that they were on strike minutes before playing Ghana. | BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix THE South Sfrican Football Association (Safa) are as much to blame for Banyana Banyana's shortfalls at the recently concluded Women's Africa Cup of Nations tournament hosted in Morocco. Heading into what was their first title defence since winning the tournament in 2022, Banyana had to contend with unpaid fees from their preparation matches. These payments were not made on time, forcing the players to consider — and in some cases follow through with — match boycotts in order to get the association's attention. It is puzzling that in 2025, an organisation tasked with leading South African football still allows its national teams to be affected by administrative shortcomings. Banyana were knocked out in the semi-finals by Nigeria, who scored a late second-half goal to clinch the win (2-1) and a place in the final. The Super Falcons went on to lift the trophy, beating hosts Morocco 3–2 in a thrilling contest. Veteran midfielder Jermaine Seoposenwe who was playing her last tournament for her country after a career that lasted more than a decade, publicly addressed the difficulties the team faced behind the scenes, including a disrupted travel schedule before a key group match against Ghana. 'They (fans) don't know what is going on behind the scenes, how we are treated and suffering and how we constantly have to fight,' Seoposenwe said on Marawa Sports Worldwide. 'Before the Ghana game, the players were boycotting because we hadn't come to an agreement with the association. We were supposed to leave at 5:30 but left at 6pm, we got there at seven and kick-off was at 8pm. 'Why is that an issue? Why are we doing these things? Obviously the country expects us to go out to the field, but they don't know that we were literally sitting in the hotel room waiting for our association to come back to us.' Banyana finished fourth after losing their third/fourth place playoff match against Ghana and they have since been putting out fires; some of which they didn't start,. The association must take their share of blame with the disruption they caused leading up to the tournament.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Desiree Ellis remains committed to Banyana Banyana despite Wafcon struggles
BANYANA Banyana legend Jermaine Seoposenwe with coach Desiree Ellis, played her last match for Banyana Banyana on Friday. | BackpagePix Banyana are set to finish fourth at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations finals which is set to conclude Sunday night after relinquishing their crown. Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says she'll continue to 'trust the process' as her team turns over a new chapter after an underwhelming continental outing. After getting out of the group stage comfortably, they were not convincing in the knockout stage as they beat Senegal on penalties in the quarter–final and lost 2-1 to arch-rivals Nigeria in the semi-final. Banyana were not at their best in the third/fourth place play-offs either as they lost to Ghana 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time Friday night. Their shortcomings in the crucial stages of the tournament somewhat hinted at the toll the team took prior to the tournament following another bonus row with Safa. Ellis said they were at the tournament to win it during her post-match press conference at Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca though. 'Everyone that goes to a tournament has the ambition of winning it - Nigeria have been the only country that has defended it, though they didn't at times,' Ellis said. 'Equatorial Guinea won it twice, but we didn't get there - but it was so, so close. I think what happened there (against Nigeria) took a lot out of the players. 'We knew that we were going to play in the play-offs match, but we unfortunately didn't do well today.' Banyana's shortcomings in Morocco have seen some members of the football fraternity call for Ellis to be released, citing that she's out of sorts. This is due to the fact that the team needs a new direction and strategy given that some key players have already called time on their international careers, while others are close to. Jermaine Seoposenwe retired from international football after Wafcon, saying she's taking care of her well-being, while Thembi Kgatlana withdrew from being considered for the event, citing personal reasons. Ellis, though, insists that she's still the right coach to usher Banyana to a new era having been the brains behind Banyana's first qualification for the World Cup in 2019 and triumph at Wafcon in 2022. 'I have been with the team since 2014 as an assistant, 2016 as an acting coach and 2018 as the head coach - so it's a process,' Ellis reflected. 'Unfortunately, the process is always to win. That is the thing with fans, they don't see the bigger picture. So, we trust the process. 'We are also a team in transition. We trust the process, but fans don't trust the process - all they want is results. 'They don't see what you are doing and how the team is evolving, they don't see those things. When you are in the national team, fans want results.'
CAF
6 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Seoposenwe calls it a day, leaves WAFCON legacy
Tears of relief can be a thing. For Jermaine Seoposenwe, the end of the penalty shootout against Ghana in the third-place playoff at the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024 on Friday, was the end of her journey with the South African national women's football team. A 15-year journey in national team colours filled with pride, hard work and overall excellence is what will go down memory lane. So many told and untold stories along the way, teammates that became family, trips overseas and most importantly – the fulfilment of a childhood dream. Seoposenwe, who was born in Cape Town, was the first female to score a goal for South Africa at a World Cup in 2010 and has since grown into a crucial member for the Banyana Banyana. Cheeky off the field with her teammates, tough on the field of play against her opponents and sleek in her touch on the ball. Graceful after games regardless of the result. A treasure. Lasting legacy Every girl that loves and wants to play football dreams of representing her nation. For Seoposenwe, she realized this dream. In her glowing career with the Banyana Banyana, she scored the goal that took South Africa to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil which she also competed at, played at two FIFA Women's World Cups (2019 and 2023) as well as four WAFCON editions (2016, 2018, 2022 and 2025). And as South Africa's number 12 retires from international football after amassing 112 caps, she wraps up what has been an immense contribution to a golden generation of South African football. An inspiration to many a young girl and a downright trailblazer. Her former teammate and ex Banyana Banyana international Amanda Dlamini told CAFOnline that, 'She has had a very colourful and rewarding journey in the national team. When I met her, she was young, had raw talent and was very ambitious with a great fighting spirit. She's been able to maintain that over the years. Like many, she had her own challenges and experiences that I think shaped the amazing player and leader we have seen over the years stepping into the centenary club which is not easy. It means she's had to stand the test of time and show great consistency for the national team. She will be missed for her fearlessness on the park, her confidence and composure in the striking force.' Seoposenwe was part of the WAFCON 2022 winning squad that made history – finally breaking the jinx on the continent. The 28-year-old at the time netted twice in the tournament. Her first coming against perennial archrivals Nigeria in a 2-1 win in the opening Group C tie while her second goal was the all-important lone finish against Tunisia in the last eight to book a place in the semifinals. 'Obviously, I made that decision before the tournament and so coming into the tournament, I have been very settled, very calm. A lot of the players have joked with me about my legacy and all those things, but it's very interesting to be in that position. Obviously, in the past I wasn't that person but now I am and it's a responsibility that I've accepted. And I do appreciate it the way they see me and the leader that I've been for them. But for me, it's just been the sense of relief. I don't know if that's the word to use, but I also have a sense of calmness,' Seoposenwe explained in detail. Tributes from Desiree Ellis and Refiloe Jane From the coach and captain's corner, Seoposenwe can hold her head up high even though her last game in a Banyana Banyana jersey ensured that the defending champions finished fourth – missing the podium after a 3-4 loss to Ghana following a 1-1 draw after regular time. Both Ellis and Jane have alongside the entire players' squad and technical staff been supportive of Seoposenwe's decision before and during the competition in a holistic way. Whether it was in moments of joy or when the going got tough. Teamwork by all means. 'What a legacy she leaves behind! I have known Jermaine since the age of 15. She went to the 2010 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, scored our first goal at the World Cup for a women's team. And in that same year, she played at the WAFCON in 2010 in South Africa. Two years later, she played at the London 2012 Olympics and then she played at the WAFCON 2012 in Equatorial Guinea. She was part of that squad that beat Nigeria in the semifinals where she got the silver medal at the age of 19! It says something about Jermaine,' Ellis explained in detail. 'Two successive World Cups, two successive Olympic Games, 2018 silver at the WAFCON, 2022 African champion, 2023 World Cup Round of 16 but there is so, so, so much to Jermaine. A fighter, a leader and someone who gave everything to take this team forward. I don't think we can thank her enough, but we honour her, and we carry her spirit with us. And to be honest, I don't think we have enough words to say thank you to Jermaine for everything that she's done. She's always stepped onto the field, gave her all on the field and that is who Jermaine is. Leaving everything out there, stepping up in 2022 when Thembi [Kgatlana] got injured after not being part of the team for a long while due to visa issues and that is who Jermaine is.' Jane, who has known Seoposenwe for over a decade and with whom the Banyana Banyana won the WAFCON 2022, spoke about her glorious career, 'Jermaine has been a very important figure in the team. From when she was still a teenager to now upon her retirement. She's contributed immensely on and off the field and she leaves an amazing legacy – one for upcoming players to look forward to and to carry on with that.' 'Obviously, we would have loved to give her a perfect sendoff, but we couldn't do it. I hope that she can be proud of the performance of the team throughout the tournament. We know that she still has a lot to offer to football. She might be done with the national team, but she is still going to continue playing football and so much is still to be learnt from her.' South Africa finished fourth at the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024 in Morocco. What Next? Seoposenwe, who features for CF Monterrey in the Mexican topflight league, will continue featuring at club level. The 31-year-old has played at home in South Africa for the University of Western Cape as well as played in leagues in Lithuania, Spain, Portugal before heading to Mexico. Three continents and Seoposenwe continues shining. Dlamini who is also a member of the 100+ caps with South Africa and is currently working as a broadcaster said, 'I think she's established herself very well outside of being in the national team, so she still has plenty seasons to play at club level.' 'She has a degree and surely big plans for the future. But she should know that she will have to work hard for herself when there's no support of people doing things for her like the football environment does. Everything is done for you (laughs). She should learn to pivot at every juncture as she is yet to discover so much about herself. It's about building a network of people who will be able to hold you up outside of your family, that support structure will always and there but community is equally important in this space.' Seoposenwe holds a Marketing Degree from Samford University in Alabama.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jermaine Seoposenwe played her final match for the South African national team
The Banyana Banyana striker officially retires from international football after the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Jermaine Seoposenwe played her final match for the South African national team Jermaine Seoposenwe played her 110th and final match in the South African jersey on July 25, 2025. The Banyana Banyana striker brought her international career to an end following the third-place playoff of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which ended in defeat to Ghana (1-1, 4-3 on penalties). Jermaine Seoposenwe had already announced her decision to retire from international football before the start of the continental tournament in Morocco. This third-place match thus marked the conclusion of a long journey with the South African squad. Despite the disappointment of not retaining the continental crown won in 2022, the 31-year-old striker had hoped to finish on a high note with a bronze medal. Unfortunately, Banyana Banyana fell to the Black Queens in a penalty shootout. 15 years of a career filled with highlights and commitment Born on October 12, 1993, in Cape Town, Jermaine Seoposenwe made her national team debut in 2010. She earned a total of 110 caps for Banyana Banyana and took part in several major tournaments, including two World Cups (2019, 2023) and four Africa Cup of Nations campaigns (2016, 2018, 2022, 2024). Notably, she played a crucial role in South Africa's historic triumph in 2022 in Morocco, scoring decisive goals against Nigeria and Tunisia. Her career has been defined by perseverance, leadership, and a relentless drive to advance women's football on the continent. "It's inspiring to see young players stepping up and making their mark, and I am very proud of what they have accomplished. I hope that in the future, they will take up the torch and make it their own. Obviously, playing for Banyana Banyana is not the easiest thing—there is a lot of pressure—and I hope I have shown them that you can succeed by staying true to yourself and by continuing to work hard and remain disciplined in everything you do," said Jermaine Seoposenwe at the pre-match press conference ahead of South Africa vs Ghana.
