UJ Ladies coach Dunga reserves praise for Banyana duo

UJ Ladies coach Dunga reserves praise for Banyana duo

University of Johannesburg Ladies coach Nthabeleng “Dunga” Modiko says they are excited following the Banyana Banyana call-ups of two of their key players.

UJ defender Shannon Macomo and midfielder Ayesha Moosa are part of coach Desiree Ellis’ squad to face Senegal in two friendly matches this week. 

‘Dunga’ says national team experience will always be beneficial for her players at club level.

"I think we are very excited as a team, on behalf of Shannon and Ayesha. This is a very great reward for the hard work that they've shown week-in and week-out since the beginning of the season, and mostly since we took on the team together," said Modiko.

"You must remember they've been with our club since 2022, and it's so amazing that towards the end of their schooling careers they are also rewarded with this call-up.

"So I think, even just going into the national team, they will come back better players and with experience that will be beneficial for us as a team, and they can also share that with their teammates.

"So we are very much excited for them, and we want to wish them well for this camp."

UJ have enjoyed a decent first quarter of the Hollywoodbets Super League, with Macomo and Moosa playing a key role in seeing their team unbeaten in their least six games. 

Currently second on the log, with 31 points – just three behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, ‘Dunga’ praised her technical team and players for their hard work.

"Six games unbeaten, it's just been amazing, but it's really not what we were looking forward to [achieving]. We've just been taking one game at a time, and we've been doing everything in order to better ourselves," she added.

"Our target and objective is always just to try and mitigate as many challenges as possible and, even if we do face those challenges, to be better at overcoming them with better mindsets and tactics.

"So it's been amazing that the rewards therefor has been the [six] games unbeaten, and credit must just go to, firstly, the technical team – I've got hard working colleagues always putting in the effort at training and games.

"And even bigger credit must go to the girls, taking on all our demands and our ideas, and actually spicing it up with their own brilliance and being able to produce great performances."

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