…and significant growth of African champions, South Africa
- Constantly, a great battle against Nigeria
- I had to make a lot of changes and sacrifices to be the best
- The unity and chemistry in the Banyana Banyana team is second to none
Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart is expected to play a key figure when the reigning African champions take on Nigeria in the third and final round of the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifier on Friday, 05 and 09 April, in a two-legged affair.
The Super Falcons are South Africa’s longstanding rivals. With a place at the Olympics at stake, the two-legged qualifier promises to be a highly tactical but thrilling affair.
Speaking to CAFOnline ahead of the first leg, Swart, coach Desiree Ellis’ first choice at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, where the team historically made it into the round of 16, says the team is looking forward to facing Nigeria.
She also discusses the team’s growth and how it has contributed to her being a better goalkeeper.
CAFOnline: Facing your arch-rivals, Nigeria, in a crucial final round, what do you make of your chances?
Kaylin Swart: Playing against Nigeria is always a great battle; we are familiar with each other only because we have been fighting for many years up until now, and this one is no different. I have complete confidence in my teammates, and I think if we stick to our strengths as a team and play for each other, we will get the results we need.
What have you made of your progress as a Goalkeeper before and after the World Cup?
I have grown so much over the years, and leading up to the World Cup in 2023, I had to make many changes and sacrifices to perform at my best with the help of my coaches. Ultimately, it came down to working on myself and my well-being, which has given me so much confidence and belief that I can be the best, and I strive to be the best every day.
There is healthy competition in the group of goalkeepers; what do you think has given you the edge in recent times?
Competition brings out the best in us, and I’m so grateful for our goalkeeping department on the national team because we push each other to the limits, but I can’t pin it on one thing. As I said, I’ve worked hard to be where I am, and I think my confidence has grown. I show up every day and give maximum effort. It’s the coach’s decision.
You will be drawn into Group C against Spain, Brazil, and Japan if you qualify. How do you fancy your chances against the world’s best?
There are massive opportunities for us to show and level up with the best, and I think to be the best, we have to compete with the best. African football has evolved so much; knowing that Spain, a world champion alongside Japan and Brazil, could be our opponents is a huge boost. All we need to do is focus on ourselves and prepare well to give us the best possible chance to get results.
SA has grown into one of the most respected teams on the continent; what can you attribute this to?
As a national team, we have grown so much over the years, and every obstacle we faced helped us grow day by day. The main thing that led us to where we are now is this team’s unity and chemistry, which are second to none, combined with the individual brilliance of our players and the overall growth of women’s football in our country.
CAFonline
