Banyana to bow out of Olympics on positive note

Monday, July 30, 2012

Kick-off is at 3:30pm, South African time. Banyana's Olympic dream ended when they went down 3-nil against Canada in their second Olympic Group F match played in Coventry on Saturday.

Banyana will leave the world's greatest sports showpiece richer in football experience and this could prove to be of major value as they prepare their bid to lift the CAF African Women Championship 2012 title in Equatorial Guinea in October later this year.

After losing 4-1 in their opening match against Sweden and subsequently losing to Canada, Banyana will not progress to the next stage of the Olympic Games.

However, the world will remember the team for the superb strike from 45 metres out by forward Portia Modise, which resulted in South Africa's historic first goal in Olympic Games women's football history.

Ranked number three in the world, Japan go into the match against South Africa at the back of Group F outings, which saw them record a 2-1 win over Canada and a goalless draw against Sweden.

Banyana skipper Amanda Dlamini said: "They are looking forward to the match against Japan, as our styles are similar in that they like to keep and play the ball on the ground and so do we.

"We had hoped to do well in our opening two matches to stand any chance of proceeding to the next round, but it was not to be and I would like to applaud the whole team for giving it their all.

"We have one match remaining in the competition, and we are confident we can come with a positive result even though we know it won't be easy."

Dlamini said they had learnt a lot from the two Olympic Games and hoped this would put them in good stead when they go for the African Women Championship title.