Thembi Kgatlana: People are trying to break our team

Kgatlana was speaking after leading Banyana to a first-ever win on the Women's World Cup stage, as they came from behind to beat Italy 3-2 in Wellington on Wednesday.

Allegations of biased selections and cliques within the squad are but some of the claims Banyana have had to deal with, but the former African Women’s Footballer of the Year says the spirit in the dressing room is at an all-time high.

"It's people trying to break the team, and it's unfortunate that, I think, everyone outside the team doesn't know what's happening here – they're trying to speculate on what's not true," said Kgatlana.

"I think people need to understand that we are in a team sport, and whoever the coach on the day says to, 'Listen, take a jersey, go play,' that's who's going to play and w e saw in all three games that the girls have been together and we've been fighting.

"Today it was even worse [because] we lost Fifi [Refiloe Jane] our captain, Kholosa [Biyana] to a yellow card... We had a lot of injuries, but the girls – even the subs that came in – were so amazing! We worked hard, we defended our title, and we showed Italy that we can equally bring the game to them."