Latest news with #Mbane
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Banyana Banyana defender Bambanani Mbane as ravenous as ever as she heads Wafcon defence
After recovering from a long-term injury, Bambanani Mbane is once again proving to be a key component in Banyana Banyana's success at a major tournament. She may not be one of the three captains that Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis elected for the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), but defender Bambanani Mbane is definitely one of the leaders within the team fighting for South Africa's pride at the Morocco-hosted tournament. Armband or not, Mbane leads by example every time steps onto the pitch. Whether it is doing her main job of frustrating strikers with her refined and robust defending, or unleashing defence-splitting passes that the best playmakers in the world would be proud of, the 35-year-old hardly has a bad game. Super start At the 2024 Wafcon (it was postponed by a year due to a clash with the Olympic Games) Mbane has already starred and helped South African reach the knockout stage. In Banyana Banyana's opening match of the tournament, in which they beat Ghana 2-0, Mbane was crowned player of the match. During the team's second outing (1-1 against Tanzania) Mbane helped salvage a point with a goal for her country after the Tanzanians had surprised the defending African champions. But what's the secret to Mbane's consistent hunger for success? The Sterkspruit-born Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies player says it is hard work. 'One thing the general public does not know about me is that I work very hard behind the scenes; I even have a personal trainer. I train twice a day, with my club and then with the personal trainer. So, I put in a lot of practice, especially for my passing. What you see on the field is a result of that hard work and practice,' Mbane told Daily Maverick. 'I'm not a person who likes to become comfortable in one position – I want to constantly improve as a player. I never want to hear people say 'Bambanani can't play football anymore'. So, I need to always work hard, especially because age is also not on my side,' the 35-year-old added. Testing period injured The fact that the centre back has returned to the peak of her powers is testament to how much of a mentality monster she is. For months – between August 2023 and March 2024 – Mbane was in limbo as she recovered from potentially career-ending injury. The serious leg injury happened at the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup. Having helped Banyana Banyana to become the first senior South African soccer team to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup, Mbane went off injured in the first half of South Africa's loss to the Netherlands in round of 16. The road to recovery was testing, especially because the hard-nosed defender is rarely injured. But a healthy support structure aided her recovery. 'I'm grateful for the support I was getting from my wife, family and team. That really helped me bounce back from that setback, even though it was not an easy journey,' Mbane said. Now I am back in the national team too, which is always an honour – because everyone wants to wear the Banyana Banyana jersey. So, when you are called up you must always show what you're capable of – especially because the expectations are so high. I'm really happy to be back,' the defender stated. No retirement plans Not only is she back, but she is back to her best as well. Hence, despite watching some of her fellow Banyana Banyana stalwarts retiring over the last year or so, Mbane is hungry to continue playing at the highest level. Fellow centre backs Janine van Wyk (who is the highest capped player of all-time in Africa) and former African player of year Noko Matlou recently retired. Mexico-based striker Jermaine Seoposenwe – who just happens to be Mbane's roommate at Wafcon – has said she too will retire from national duty when this tournament ends. 'It was a privilege to play alongside players such as Janine and Noko. In fact, they played a huge role towards the player I am today. I used to look up to them and I wanted to emulate their success. So, it was special to play with them,' said Mbane. 'I have no plans to hang up my boots in the national team just yet. I will continue playing until I feel that I can't do it anymore. Everything we do in life is about timing and I feel as though I can still continue playing for the national team. After all, everyone is entitled to their own decisions,' Mbane stated. 'But I'm happy for the retired players. They raised the level of women's football in general, not just at Banyana Banyana,' she added. As one of the veterans of Banyana Banyana, alongside team captains Refiloe Jane, Lebohang Ramalepe and Amogelang Motau, Mbane knows that whenever she dons the Banyana Banyana shirt, it is a bigger cause than just her playing soccer. The bigger picture In addition to inspiring little girls and boys with her sensational displays on the field, Mbane hopes to set up a foundation to help rural athletes reach or surpass the heights she has. 'I'm keen to set up a foundation. Why? Simply because I'm a village girl. So, one day I hope I can unearth another Women's Africa Cup of Nations from Sterkspruit. I'm sure I've inspired many people by just being Bambanani, but I must also actively pull up the people who wish to follow in my footsteps,' she said. With South Africa now in the Wafcon knockouts and awaiting a tough challenge from Senegal, Mbane is cognisant of the threat faced by Banyana Banyana as they look to become just the second country to defend their Wafcon title. Of the three total winners of Wafcon, only 11-time champions Nigeria have managed to retain the trophy. 'Anyone who plays with Banyana Banyana is also intent on beating us. But whoever is selected from this group is capable of playing. We know how important this tournament is as the defending champions. We just need to apply ourselves, even though it won't be easy to defend our title.' Banyana Banyana are next in action on Saturday, 19 July. The winner of their quarterfinal clash against the Senegalese will face the victor in the Nigeria versus Zambia quarterfinal. DM
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mbane urges focus as Banyana eye crucial WAFCON clash against Tanzania
Banyana Banyana veteran Bambanani Mbane has urged her teammates to show the same focus against Tanzania as they did in their WAFCON opener against Ghana. Photo: Backpagepic Image: Backpagepix Banyana Banyana stalwart defender Bambanani Mbane has cautioned her teammates against underestimating their next opponents, the Twiga Stars of Tanzania, in Friday's Women's Africa Cuo of Nations Group C fixture (kick-off 9pm). In their opening group clash, Mbane spearheaded Banyana Banyana's WAFCON title defence on Monday with a 'Player of the Match' performance as the South Africans defeated Ghana 2-0 at Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco. When the teams return to the same venue on Friday, Banyana Banyana will be expected to overcome Tanzania, who are making only their second WAFCON appearance. However, Mbane has stressed that they cannot afford to undermine the Twiga Stars and has urged her teammates to approach the match with the same mentality they showed against Ghana. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Having experienced the fierce competition within African women's football, Mbane emphasised the importance of maintaining a winning mindset. "We can't take Tanzania lightly," she insisted. "They may be considered less fancied, but they have their strengths. We must approach this match with the same intensity and respect we had against Ghana." Banyana Banyana are aiming for a strong tournament showing, and will be aware that Tanzania's women's football has shown notable growth in recent months. The Twiga Stars boast a youthful side eager to prove themselves on the continental stage. Mbane's cautionary message serves as a reminder that past success does not guarantee smooth progress in sport; every match requires focus and determination. Putting in the hard work before facing Tanzania on Friday in Oujda #BanyanaBanyana — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 10, 2025 "We've prepared well, and our training sessions reflect our commitment to getting the desired result," Mbane noted. "We respect every opponent, and that respect starts with the understanding they are capable of causing an upset." The clash against Tanzania promises to be pivotal for Banyana Banyana's aspirations in the tournament. If they can continue to demonstrate both skill and composure, they should dominate the fixture. Over the last 18 months, Banyana Banyana have faced Tanzania twice during Olympic qualifiers, winning both encounters — 2-0 away and 1-0 at home. However, Mbane remains unfazed by past results. This one will haunt me!! I have to be better!😔 — Jermaine Seoposenwe (@jermaine109) July 7, 2025 'This is a new game, and it's a tournament; anything is possible,' she remarked. 'We're not talking about what happened before — we're talking about now.' The sweltering heat has posed an additional challenge, as Banyana Banyana adapt from South Africa's winter to Morocco's midsummer conditions, highlighted by their match against Ghana played in a scorching 34°C. Nonetheless, Mbane praised the team's winning mentality. 'That will take us far in the tournament. Even when we might have obstacles — if we can overcome the heat, we can achieve a lot,' she noted. Splendid day for South Africa's Bambanani Mbane to earn her the TotalEnergies Woman of the Match award! 🔥#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 | @Football2Gether — CAF Women's Football (@CAFwomen) July 7, 2025
The Herald
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
‘We must show the same mentality,' Mbane says as Banyana focus on Tanzania
Banyana have played Tanzania in the past 18 months, beating them 2-0 away and 1-0 at home in an Olympic qualifier in February last year. Mbane said those results will have no affect on what will happen on Friday. 'This is new game and it's a tournament, anything is possible, and we're not talking about what happened before, we're talking about now and we don't how much they've prepared.' Since arriving in Morocco, where they won the Wafcon for the first time in 2022, Banyana have had to get used to the midsummer heat, different to the chilly winter they left in South Africa. The 5pm local time kickoff game against Ghana was played in 34 °C. 'But I liked our mentality — it's a mentality of winners and that will take us far in the tournament,' Mbane said. 'Even when we might have obstacles — if we can overcome the heat, we can get a lot of things.'
CAF
08-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Woman of the Match: Bambanani Mbane thrives in opener
Published: Monday, 07 July 2025 The mark of a champion is always seen in the way players and teams in general approach tough games. For South African international Bambanani Mbane, taking on Ghana in the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 Group C opener on Monday, was an opportunity to help her team amass maximum points. This is the third consecutive time that South Africa are registering victory in their first game of the continental showpiece that it has become a normal thing now to them. It is that swagger of a team that has mastered the art of winning. From afar, it looks easy but to a player like Mbane, this is a result of hard work, discipline in the little and big things but also attention to detail. Deserved and hungry for more It is no wonder that she was named the Woman of the Match following their 2-0 win over the Black Queens of Ghana – a well deserved award that will not only look good in her trophy cabinet but will remind her of July 7, 2025 as a reward for her excellence. 'I am so glad that we managed to get the three points. It was never going to be an easy game but I am happy with the three points. Going forward, this is going to boost our confidence. We are the defending champions and we knew that it was not going to be easy but I am happy the way we started. Getting these three points was very important to us,' Mbane said after the game with a glow on her face. Teamwork makes the dream work There is always a sisterhood that comes to life whenever the Banyana Banyana take to the field. It is always experienced when they come off the bus. They take to singing in sync – songs that celebrate who they are and what they want to achieve. These songs guide them to the dressing room and it is there that they enter game mode – more like the feeling one embraces when going to war – except this war is on the field of play. For Mbane who features for two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, her camaraderie with her clubmates in regular season can be seen at the WAFCON in every touch of the ball and in more ways than one, it helps the success of the Banyana Banyana. A typical work day came to life in the second half when a ball was whipped into the box and to save the situation, Mbane headed it softly towards goalkeeper Andile Dlamini. The Goalkeeper of the WAFCON 2022 who was having a field day saving her team from all manner of attack thanks to a spirited Ghana side, picked up the headed pass and went on with her business like it was something they had talked about. 'Those two know each other from club level. Their communication skills are on another level. It is almost like they can premeditate what the other is going to do. I am never worried about them. I saw that moment and it speaks to their maturity and understanding of each other,' Desiree Ellis, the South Africa head coach said after the game. Mbane, Dlamini, Lebohang Ramalepe, Fikile Magama, Karabo Dhlamini, Noxolo Cesane and Tiisetso Makhubela complete the six-woman Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies squad inside the starting Banyana Banyana lineup against Ghana. Ellis also had high praise for Dlamini's standout performance against Ghana and emphasized that keeping a clean sheet was important to Banyana Banyana on the day.
