The announcement comes shortly
after Sasol and SAFA renewed their successful partnership for the next four
years.
The USSA team comprises 18 players
who all play in the Sasol League for different tertiary institutions around the
country. This dominance of Sasol League players in the national team further
highlights the league’s influence as the premier development platform for
women’s football players in South Africa and the biggest feeder of national
teams.
The League has 144 teams
participating in all nine provinces and the majority of the universities in the
country are part of that structure.
“The mere fact that we have so
many universities playing in the Sasol League is a sign of the work that Sasol
is doing for women’s football,” said Jerry Laka, coach of the USSA Women’s
Football team.
The team has a wealth of
international experience which Laka hopes to draw from during the tournament.
With 16 of the 18 player in the team having played for the senior national women’s
team (Banyana Banyana), their experience in other international competitions
will be a confidence booster for the team during the tournament.
For captain, Amanda Dlamini, who first
participated in the Games at the tender age of 17, this may be the last time she
will compete at the World Student Games and she is hoping that the team does
well.
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