‘For me it’s not about how old you are but what you can offer,’ says national coach

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has backed veteran midfielder Refiloe Jane as the senior national team prepares for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup play-off tournament against Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan.

The preliminary phase of the play-offs takes place from November 28 to December 5 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat and Football Academy Mohammed VI in Salé.

The final phase is scheduled for February next year.

Banyana are doing it the hard way after they missed out on automatic qualification for the showpiece in Brazil after they failed to reach the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).

Banyana will rely on the experience of central midfield stalwart Jane, 34, who Ellis said still has a lot to offer to the senior women’s team.

“‘Fifi’ [Jane] still has quality. The thing is that when players reach a certain stage, we tend to say their time is up,” Ellis said announcing her squad at the SABC studios in Auckland Park on Tuesday.

“Noko Matlou played for the national team until she was 39 and for me it’s not about how old you are but what you can offer.

“At the past Wafcon, she [Jane] was good at set-pieces and it is important she can still add value to the team. Experience means nothing if you can’t add value anymore because then it’s just a word.

“Until they cannot add value anymore, I still think they can give a lot to the team.”

These teams can play but we have never gone into any tournament and underestimated anyone and we won’t do it this time.

—  Desiree Ellis

Ellis named the strongest possible squad, including experienced players like Kaylin Swart, Karabo Dhlamini, Bambanani Mbane, Fikile Magama, Sibulele Holweni, Linda Mathlalo, Jane, Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia.

Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan are not world beaters but Ellis warned they cannot be taken lightly, especially goven the motivational factor of what is at stake in the play-offs.

“We have two Asian teams in Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan and one from South America in Ecuador. Chinese Taipei recently played in the Asian Games and Uzbekistan lost 6-3 and drew with China Taipei.

“We also have Ecuador who played in the 2027 Conmebol [South American] play-offs and they drew with Chile 1-1 and lost to Argentina.”

“The reason for their high ranking is because they play teams that are highly ranked, while we beat teams like Madagascar that are lowly ranked and we lose points when we play them.

“These teams can play but we have never gone into any tournament and underestimated anyone and we won’t do it this time.”