TS Galaxy Ladies striker Leandra Smeda has opened up on her latest Banyana Banyana snub, saying a return to the national team is no longer at the top of her mind, writes Busisiwe Mokwena.
Smeda was once again left out of the squad ahead of South Africa’s upcoming international friendlies against Japan, scheduled for 6 and 9 June in Osaka.
It marks the third time this year that the experienced forward has missed out on national team selection. She was also overlooked for the Cosafa Women’s Championship in February and the two friendlies against Algeria in Durban in April.
Her last appearance in the green and gold came on 10 November 2019 against Japan’s Nadeshiko in an away fixture, a match in which she also reached the milestone of her 100th cap for Banyana.
Despite a standout domestic campaign, where she was named Hollywoodbets Super League Player of the Season and finished as the league’s top scorer with 22 goals, Smeda says she has come to terms with her current international status and has made peace with being out of the national team picture.
SMEDA: ‘THE DOOR IS CLOSED’
“I am over it. When you look at the WAFCON camp, there were 30-something players; you are the player of the season and the top goalscorer, and you don’t even get a call-up for the coaches to just see you,” Smeda told FARPost. That, already, was like the door is closed.
“I know the coach says she hasn’t closed the door on anyone, but I feel that’s not it. My head is not at Banyana anymore. I am okay. If it happens, it happens, but if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. The coach was asked the question, and she said it’s not personal, but you never know.”
The former Gintra Universitetas player has returned to South Africa after spending three years abroad in Spain with Dux Logroño and RCD Espanyol. She has stated that her overseas adventure is now complete and she intends to conclude her career in her home country.
SMEDA ON MOVING BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA
“The reason I came back was that I was tired of being abroad. I just wanted to finish off the last years of playing football here. In the last year of playing to start transitioning to another role but within football,” she says.
However, her time on the field is far from over. Smeda says a decision to hang up her boots would have to come after success at home.
“Winning the league. We got close last season; hopefully, we can win the league this season. I think all players want to retire on a high note. Winning the league brings the opportunity to play in the CAF (Women’s Champions League). If we win the league, we can get to play in the Champions League, then probably I can retire after that,” she says.
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