8 November 2015 – President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Dr Danny Jordaan paid a visit to Basetsana at their team hotel to wish them luck ahead of the all-important clash against their counterparts from Nigeria.
The South African u20 Women’s National Team and the Falconets meet in the second leg of the third and final round of the u20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Papua New Guinea 2016 qualifier.
The match will be played at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on Sunday, 8 November 2015.
Kickoff is at 15h00 and entry is free.
The South African u20 Women’s National Team and the Falconets meet in the second leg of the third and final round of the u20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Papua New Guinea 2016 qualifier.
The match will be played at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on Sunday, 8 November 2015.
Kickoff is at 15h00 and entry is free.
“You can write your own history because no South African u20 Women’s National Team has ever qualified for the World Cup. The exciting thing is that you are just one match away from doing just that. In order to get here you went through a difficult path during the qualifiers – you went to Botswana, Zambia, and Nigeria - now it’s the last hurdle, perhaps the most important 90 minutes of your lives. Go there and play with your hearts, give your all and never give up,” said Dr Jordaan.
“I can’t give you a place in the World Cup, nobody can give you a place in the World Cup, you must take it. You need determination, a fighting spirit and a spirit of never to surrender. You have just one chance to go to the World Cup, and that chance is now.”
The President also gave the players a lesson in history to inspire them. He told them of many years ago when there were still slaves in the United States and they would run away from their masters to escape slavery.
“There is a song that goes ‘We have come too far to turn back now, nobody told me the road would be easy but I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me.’ That song was sang by the slaves. In their journey of running away, they would see the bright lights of a city in front of them, and behind them would be the police with dogs trying to capture them again. They would discuss whether to turn back or continue with their escape plan and they would sing that song,” added Dr Jordaan.
“That’s where you are at the moment, you are sitting at the corner of the cotton fields, you can see the bright lights of Papua New Guinea, and you are saying to yourself we have come too far to turn back now. We are behind you all the way and by the grace of God we will make it. We are going forward, and in this country we say Siya phambili. Good luck.”
Nigeria u20 won 2-1 in the first leg played at the Abuja National Stadium two weeks ago. The overall winner will qualify for the World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
PLEASE NOTE:
• With Nigeria leading 2-1 from the first leg, any draw means Nigeria qualify for the World Cup
• 1-0 win for South Africa means the home side qualifies for the World Cup
• Should the match end in a 2-1 victory to South Africa, extra-time of 15 minutes each half will be played
• If both teams score the same number of goals in extra time, the visiting team is declared the winner on the basis of the away goals counting double
• If no goals are scored in extra time, penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner
“I can’t give you a place in the World Cup, nobody can give you a place in the World Cup, you must take it. You need determination, a fighting spirit and a spirit of never to surrender. You have just one chance to go to the World Cup, and that chance is now.”
The President also gave the players a lesson in history to inspire them. He told them of many years ago when there were still slaves in the United States and they would run away from their masters to escape slavery.
“There is a song that goes ‘We have come too far to turn back now, nobody told me the road would be easy but I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me.’ That song was sang by the slaves. In their journey of running away, they would see the bright lights of a city in front of them, and behind them would be the police with dogs trying to capture them again. They would discuss whether to turn back or continue with their escape plan and they would sing that song,” added Dr Jordaan.
“That’s where you are at the moment, you are sitting at the corner of the cotton fields, you can see the bright lights of Papua New Guinea, and you are saying to yourself we have come too far to turn back now. We are behind you all the way and by the grace of God we will make it. We are going forward, and in this country we say Siya phambili. Good luck.”
Nigeria u20 won 2-1 in the first leg played at the Abuja National Stadium two weeks ago. The overall winner will qualify for the World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
PLEASE NOTE:
• With Nigeria leading 2-1 from the first leg, any draw means Nigeria qualify for the World Cup
• 1-0 win for South Africa means the home side qualifies for the World Cup
• Should the match end in a 2-1 victory to South Africa, extra-time of 15 minutes each half will be played
• If both teams score the same number of goals in extra time, the visiting team is declared the winner on the basis of the away goals counting double
• If no goals are scored in extra time, penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner
By: Editor
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