The number of South African women footballers plying their trade overseas is on the increase and the number now stands at 17 in total.
The latest overseas recruits are defenders Caryn van Ryneveld and Jamie Lee Witbooi, who have been snapped up by IBV in Iceland – both have featured in the SAFA junior women’s national teams.
Of the 17, four are affiliated to Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma.
They are leaving Wednesday, 17 May 2017 to join the club that Lerato Kgasago, Antonia Carelse and Rose Jijane played for previously.
The duo will be followed abroad by former U20 Women’s National Team captain, midfielder Amogelang Motau, who is headed for Oral Roberts University.
She departs in August to play for the same university attended by midfieder Koketso Mamabolo and defenders Drishana Pillay and Charmelle Wiltshire.
‘With the u17 and u20 National teams becoming active soon, these players will gain valuable international experience to bring back to the teams which will help us qualify for more major tournaments,’ said SAFA Assistant Technical Director, Fran Hilton-Smith.
High profile Banyana Banyana players include captain Janine can Wyk and Jermaine Seoposenwe, who are based in the USA as well as goalkeeper Roxanne Barker who is in the Netherlands and striker Andisiwe Mgcoyi who plays in Germany.
There are also a number of Banyana Banyana players who are studying at Universities in the USA including Kaylin Swart, Stephanie Malherbe, Kelso Peskin and Robyn Moodaly.
‘This is good news for our national teams as the players gain experience in a different environment and are exposed to different levels of competition,’ added Hilton-Smith.
‘These ladies are paving the way for more interest in South African women players. Our players are competing on an equal footing and this raises the chances of more players being invited to play overseas.’
In the picture are Wiltshire (left) and Motau
SA Women National Team Players abroad:
PLAYER POSITION CLUB
1 Roxanne Barker (Goalkeeper) SC Heerenveen, Netherlands
2 Janine Van Wyk (Defender) Houston Dash, Houston, Texas
3 Stephanie Malherbe (Midfielder) Texas A&M University, Texas
4 Koketso Nelly Mamabolo (Midfielder) Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma
5 Meagan Robyn Newman (Defender) Lee University, Cleveland
6 Jermaine Seoposenwe (Striker) Samford University, Birmingham
7 Kelso Peskin (Striker) Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
8 Kaylin Swart (Goalkeeper) Menlo College, Atheron, California
9 Nomvula Kgoale (Midfielder/defender) Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana
10 Drishana Pillay (Defender) Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma
11 Robyn Moodaly (Midfielder) University NorthWestern Ohio, Ohio
12 Charmelle Wiltshire (Defender) Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma
13 Jessica Xentsa (Defender) Charlton Athletic (on loan)
14 Andisiwe Mgcoyi (Striker) FC Saarbrucken, Germany
STILL TO LEAVE SOUTH AFRICA
15 Caryn Van Ryneveld Defender IBV – Iceland
16 Jamie Lee Witbooi Defender IBV – Iceland
17 Amogelang Motau Midfielder Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma