Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana has set the bar high ahead of their 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier clash against DR Congo. She simply says they have no reason to not win and secure qualification.
South Africa will confront DRC in a first leg encounter at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 4.30pm (SA time).
Banyana go into the game with some flashbacks of the heartbreak that was caused by neighbour Botswana. They beat Banyana 3-2 on penalties and ultimately missed out of the last quadrennial global showpiece.
Most of such heartbreak for Banyana is now in the past following recent successful runs. The SA women won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) and did well in the Women’s World Cup. Kgatlana said Banyana don’t need any other motivation when they take on the Léopards dames.
“We don’t need any motivation [going into the game] to be honest,” Kgatlana said.
“I think the disappointment in 2020 [of not qualifying for the Olympics] must be the fuel for us. It was not nice to stay at home and not participate in the Olympic games.
“Now this is our chance to go all the way and secure qualification. Like I said, we have no excuses why we shouldn’t qualify as we have done very well in the last four years.
Positive results ahead of Orlando
“Last year we won the Wafcon and this year we had a good run at the World Cup, so we really have no reason to not qualify. Mentally we just have to stronger than all the other games we played.”
Kgatlana also insisted that it will be important to get a positive result heading into the reverse fixture at the Orlando Stadium next week Monday.
“We might encounter things like delay tactics, but at the end of the day we have to be mentally strong.
“The real reason we are here is to get three points and go home, then we can focus on the rest in the second leg.”
