BANYANA Banyana will be smiling all the way to the bank after their sponsor, Sasol, and the SA Football Association (Safa) rewarded them with R1 million for qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics from 5-21 August.
Safa and Sasol donated R500 000 each, which will be split among the players following their qualification for the tournament. Banyana qualified by edging past Equatorial Guinea courtesy of a Jermain Seoposenwe goal.
Banyana coach Vera Pauw said their aim was to get through the group stage of the Olympics.
She added: “The mission starts now. The association has asked us put forward our ideal programme and from there we will see what is possible. The key question is, do we just want to take part – or achieve success?
“The draw (for the tournament) needs to happen before we can set goals. We want to get through the group stages, that would be fabulous, of course.”
Captain Janine van Wyk said qualifying for the tournament came at just the right time following a string of disappointing results.
Said Van Wyk: “I still can’t believe we have done it. It is the most amazing feeling.”
Addressing the coach she lauded Dutch-born Pauw for her leadership, stating: “We did it for you. We have grown so much in the game from the knowledge we got from you. We are strong soldiers now.”
Sasol spokesman Elton Fortuin said Banyana had grown in strength, as their road to Olympic qualification was not easy.
Said Fortuin: “More hard work lies ahead but we know you will proudly represent our country in Rio.”
) Meanwhile, Basetsana left for Nigeria last night for the first leg of their final round of Fifa Under-20 World Cup qualifiers. The event takes place in Papua New Guinea next year.
The Falconets were the ones who eliminated South Africa from the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
) Safa has announced the Bafana Bafana squad to travel to Angola for the second leg of their Championship of African Nations match in Luanda on Saturday.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Nkosingiphile Gumede (Golden Arrows) Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Defenders: Siyanda Zwane (Sundowns), Wandisile Letlabika (Bloemfontein Celtic), Levy Mokgothu (Kaizer Chiefs), Thabo September (SuperSport United), Mario Booysen (Sundowns), Tebogo Moerane (Bidvest Wits).
Midfielders: Lyle Lakay (Celtic), Mlungisi Mbunjane (Cape Town All Stars), Vincent Pule (Wits), Amigo Luvuyo Memela (Orlando Pirates), Michael Morton (SuperSport), Hendrik Pule Eksteen (Chiefs).
Strikers: Bongani Ndulula (Chiefs), Dumisane Zuma (Celtic), Percy Tau (Sundowns), Roggert Nyundu (Black Leopards).
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