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Banyana star sad about missing China clash
Banyana Banyana defender Nothando Vilakazi feels bad about missing the team’s second World Cup clash against China in Paris, France tonight.
LE HAVRE, FRANCE – JUNE 08: Referee Maria Carvajal shows a yellow card to Nothando Vilakazi of South Africa during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group B match between Spain and South Africa at Stade Oceane on June 08, 2019 in Le Havre, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
The left-back received a red-card after receiving her second yellow card in their clash against Spain which they lost 3-1.
But, Vilakazi believes that whoever replaces her at the position will be able to do the job at hand.
“It’s very sad that I won’t be part of the team for this game inside the field, but I’m still part of the team in everything they do. What happened to me in the Spain game can happen to anyone, I was fighting for the team and such mistakes happen,” said the defender.
“It’s very sad that I won’t be playing, but I believe that whoever the coach puts in will do the job. They will push hard for a win and I trust everyone that the coach will decide to start with.”
Going into the China where three points is vital for the team to increase their chances of going to the next round of the competition. Vilakazi adds that the team should not sit back and defend, but rather, they should go out on attack.
“When you look at our game against Spain, there was a pint when we were going all out for 15 minutes attacking them. Going into this game, we should not play to defend because when we play yo defend that’s when we make a lot of mistakes. It’s time we also realise as a team that these European nations are also scared of us. It’s just that we tend to give them respect. In tonight’s match, we should go out there and not give them respect.”
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