Banyana Banyana has suffered a major blow ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with an overseas star sustaining an injury, writes Joshua Hendricks.
News filtering through Mexico outfit FC Juarez Femenil confirms that star forward Jermaine Seoposenwe has suffered an Achilles tendonitis setback.
The recovery time is unknown, but it has come at a crucial time, with the opening match of the World Cup set to take place on 20 July 2023.
BLOW FOR BANYANA
This leaves the former SC Braga player with less than three months to recover, depending on the severity of her injury.
But generally, injuries of this nature take up to eight or nine months to fully recover. Another star Thembi Kgatlana fell victim to an Achilles injury last year at the Women’s African Cup of Nations.
She sustained it against Botswana in a 1-0 win in Group C. Still, Banyana went on to win the continental showpiece, thanks to the magnificent efforts of Mexican-based Seoposenwe.
The 29-year-old has set a new record in the Mexican Liga MX Femenil after scoring the quickest goal in the league’s history.
The former UWC Ladies striker made headlines in 2015 when she scored the winning goal against Equatorial Guinea, which secured Banyana’s qualification to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
She went on to start all three of South Africa’s matches as they exited at the Group Stage of the tournament.
KEY PLAYER FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Seoposenwe was a key player for South Africa at the 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations, with Banyana reaching the final only to lose to Nigeria in a penalty shootout. The result saw South Africa qualify for the first time for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
She was also part of the 23-woman squad that participated in the 2019 Women’s World Cup held in France. At the tournament, she featured in matches against China and Spain.
When Kgatlana got injured, the weight of Banyana’s attacking options rested largely on Seoposenwe’s shoulders. Gracefully, the former Gintra Universitetas stars’ good form saw Banyana clinch the WAFCON title for the first time in history.
Banyana coach will be hoping the injury is not too severe and the Cape Town-born footballer can return in time.
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