Young learners inspired as Banyana Banyana trains at St Dom’s
As Banyana prepare for Morocco, their biggest impact this week may be on the girls who watched from the touchline.
Learners at St Dominic’s School for Girls say their passion for football has surged after watching Banyana Banyana train on their own fields during the national team’s preparation camp this week.
For many of them, the experience felt like a glimpse into a possible future.
Ntokozo ‘TK’ Dlamini, a U17 player at the school, said seeing South Africa’s top women footballers up close made her ambitions feel attainable.
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“It feels incredibly inspiring. As a young player, it makes me feel like dreams really do come true. Seeing them here shows that reaching that level is actually possible,” she said.
Dlamini added a message of support as Banyana prepare for their friendly against Morocco on December 2. “I pray they stay united, work as a team and that God strengthens them. We’re all rooting for them, and I hope no injuries occur.”
She said the experience had strengthened her love of the sport.
“Soccer is something my dad and I share, and seeing these women at the top level motivates me. One day, being like them would be a dream.”
Fellow learner Mihle Nthuli said watching the team train was especially meaningful for girls who are still finding their place in school sport. “It’s beautiful to see girls playing soccer. Some girls think soccer is only for boys, but it’s open to everybody. Having a girls’ team at our school is wonderful, and getting to watch Banyana Banyana train makes it even better. It really encourages us to play.”
Banyana Banyana have been based at St Dominic’s since November 24 as they sharpen their preparations for the upcoming clash in Morocco. The friendly will serve as an important test ahead of next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which has been expanded from 12 to 16 teams.
The squad currently in camp consists of 23 players, many of whom are new faces who will experience conditions in Morocco for the first time. They are scheduled to depart on November 28 before facing the WAFCON hosts in Rabat on December 2.
Head coach Desiree Ellis said the final international window of 2025 is critical for fine-tuning ahead of the World Cup. “This window gives us another opportunity to look at players, especially with November traditionally being a difficult period because of injuries, exams and limited availability,” she said.
She added that playing away in Morocco is a deliberate test of temperament and readiness. “It’s important for us to go to a place we’ll return to in a few months. Morocco are very physical, very technical, and playing in a packed stadium prepares us for similar conditions at the World Cup.”
Ellis emphasised the need to blend the next generation with senior players. “It’s not going to happen overnight, but bringing young players into camp helps them understand the intensity of senior international football. The experienced players are guiding them, and we’re planning for the future.”
She also praised defender Fikile Magama following her strong WAFCON campaign. “She really stepped up, and that’s what we want- players showing they can take the next step.”
Looking ahead to the match against Morocco, Ellis said performance and player management will be balanced carefully. “Of course, we want to win, but it’s also about seeing the things we’ve been working on. We’ll manage players well and put in a good performance while continuing to build for WAFCON and the World Cup.”
For the learners at St Dominic’s, however, the biggest win has already taken place: the belief that the path to a professional soccer journey might begin right on their school field.
