Maude Khumalo reiterates the importance of women’s football tournaments in SA

Khumalo will lead Banyana in the COSAFA Women’s Championships later this month and has included Tanna Hollis from JVW FC who was the joint Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament in the Engen Knockout Challenge as well as Defender of the Tournament - Shannon Macomo (UJ FC), during the Gauteng leg.

Khumalo says she’s happy that other women’s football tournaments in the country make it easy for the national team coaches to scout players.

"At that time, we didn't have a lot of tournaments to expose female players so now at least there's platforms where we can see (scout) the players' talent through Varsity [Cup], through Engen and Engen also we are looking at those young ones,” Khumalo said.

“So, it's quite interesting, they are playing a vital role to make sure that the talent is seen in all aspects, not only in Hollywoodbets [Super League], not only in Sasol [League] but also in Engen and also in the Varsity Cup."

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Banyana have won the tournament on seven different occasions, however, last year the team bowed out of the tournament in the group stages after losing their opening game to Malawi.

Khumalo kept Asanda Hadebe (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies), Ayesha Moose (UJ FC), Thalea Smidt (AmaTuks), Tshegofatso Motlogelwa (TUT Matsatsantsa FC) and Samkelisiwe Selana who played in the previous edition.

"To be honest with you, it's not easy to put up a squad of any sort, it's just a matter of who's raising their hands as we said with coach Des [Desiree Ellis] and who is willing to give their best. Remember it's not only about only COSAFA, it's all about the future,” she added.

“It's not gonna be an easy task for me but I'm open to challenges and I'm willing to give and do my best with the technical team that we are gonna be having there.

“So, it's exciting, to be honest with you just to experience it because I've never been in that environment as a coach, I've been there as a player so for me it's another chapter of my coaching career and also just to emphasize the opportunity to do what is right and then also give players the opportunity, rightfully so."

By: Lonwabo Nkohla