1 December 2025 – As Sasol Banyana Banyana gather for their final camp of the year, defender Bambanani Mbane reflects on the atmosphere within the squad, the lessons of a challenging year, and the significance of facing an ever-improving Morocco.
With several new players joining the team, the camp has taken on an added sense of evaluation and growth. “The atmosphere is good. You can see everyone is working towards the same goal,” she says. With the year coming to a close and a number of new faces in the group, the technical team can use this camp as a chance to assess where the team stands. “This final camp allows us to see how far we are as a team and to improve where we need to get better.”
Sharpening the Defensive Line
As an experienced leader in defence, Mbane keeps her intentions clear. “For me, keeping a clean sheet just makes my job easier,” she laughs, “but sometimes that’s hard.” Despite the challenges, she and the backline have been focused on strengthening their structure and communication, especially with newer players learning the system. “The defence is always working hard. We set goals for each match, we work together, and we advise each other.”
A difficult year with lessons to carry forward
Looking back on 2025, Mbane is honest about the team’s struggles. “Honestly, the team’s growth this year was bad because we were not consistent, something was lacking,” she says. Tough qualifiers, including a physically demanding tie against the DRC, tested the team’s resilience. “Yhoo, the DRC were very physical and strong. But I’m glad we managed to qualify under those circumstances. I’m still proud of the squad.”
She believes the key to turning things around next year lies in building consistency match after match. “If we can be consistent in our performances, we can be a better team.”
Mbane entered this camp with a clear mindset and personal ambition. “I wanted to perform better than in the previous camp and to keep a clean sheet like we did last time.” Her leadership continues to be grounded in preparation and discipline. “I just try to stay consistent and work closely with my teammates. We push each other.”
Morocco: A Real Test for the Team
Tuesday night’s match against Morocco is one that Mbane is approaching with respect and excitement. “It’s going to be a tough one because they’re a good and consistent team,” she says. With several new players in the Banyana squad, the international offers an ideal benchmark. “I’m happy that we’re playing against them, just to weigh ourselves and see how far we are as a team with the new faces we have.”
Morocco’s strengths are clear to her. “Their passing, movement off the ball, and counter-attacks… Yoh!” she says. Still, she believes Banyana Banyana’s priority should be sticking to their own identity. “We need to focus on our own strengths because we know how good we are. We just need to play our own game.”
For Mbane, finishing the year in national colours remains deeply meaningful. “Representing my country is always an honour, and I will forever be grateful for that.”
She ends with a heartfelt message to supporters: “Please keep supporting Banyana Banyana, we need you more than ever.”
South African Football: The rivalry between clubs often transcends sports, representing broader social dynamics.
HighBomber
Sport Trivia: Who was South Africa\’s first Olympic Gold Medal winner? Answer: Reginald Walker. Reginald Walker was born in 1889 in Natal and in 1907 was the South African 100m champion. He battled with finances to get to London for the 1908 Summer Olympics but once he was there he managed, very unexpectedly to all those competing, to beat the field and walk off with the Gold for the 100m. As at 2005 Reggie Walker was still the youngest winner of the 100m Olympic Gold Medal.
Boost Princess
Diary of an Englishman after he moves to South Africa….
**August 1**: Just got transferred with work from London, UK to our new home in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa. Now this is a town that knows how to live! Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings. I watched the sunset from a deckchair by our pool yesterday. It was beautiful. I’ve finally found my new home. I love it here.
**September 1:** Really heating up now. It got to 31 today. No problem though. Living in air-conditioned home, driving air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this. I’m turning into a sun-worshipper – no blasted rain like back in London! Had the back yard landscaped with tropical plants today. Lots of palms and rocks. No more mowing lawns for me! Another scorcher today, but I love it here. It’s Paradise !
**October 1:** The temperature hasn’t been below 35 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least today it’s windy though. Keeps the flies off a bit. Acclimatizing is taking longer than we expected. Fell asleep by the pool yesterday. Got third degree burns over 60% of my body. Missed three days off work. What a dumb thing to do. Got to respect the old sun in a climate like this!
**October 25:** This wind is a bastard. It feels like a giant fucking blow dryer. And it’s hot as hell! The home air conditioner is on the blink and the repair man charged R200 just to drive over and tell me he needs to order parts from @#$# Johannesburg. The wife & the kids are complaining.
**October 30:** The temperature’s up around 40 and the parts still haven’t arrived for the fucking air conditioner. House is an oven so we’ve all been sleeping outside by the pool for 3 nights now. Bleeding R4 million house and we can’t even go inside. Why the hell did I ever come here?
**November 4:** Finally got the fucking air-conditioner fixed. It cost R1,500 and gets the temperature down to around 35 degrees. Stupid repairman. Fucking thief. If one more smart bastard says ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I’m going to fucking throttle him. Fucking heat! By the time I get to work, the car radiator is boiling over, my fucking clothes are soaking fucking wet and I smell like baked cat. Fucking place is the end of the Earth.
**November 9:** Tried to run some errands after work, wore shorts, and sat on the black leather upholstery in my car. I thought my fucking backside was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh, all the hair on the backs of my legs and off my fucking behind. Now the car smells like burnt hair, fried bum and baked cat. The Weather report might as well be a fucking recording – hot and sunny. Hot and sunny, Hot and fucking sunny. It’s been too hot to do anything for 2 bleeding months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Fuck!!
**November 15:** Doesn’t it ever rain in this darn place? Water restrictions will be next, so my R5,000 worth of palms might just dry up and blow into the fucking pool. The only things that thrive in this hell-hole are the fucking flies. You don’t dare open your mouth for fear of swallowing half a dozen of the little buzzards!
**November 20:** Welcome to HELL! It got to 45 degrees today. Now the air conditioner is gone in my car. The repair man came to fix it and said, ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I wanted to shove the car up his backside. Anyway, had to spend the R2,500 of the mortgage payment to bail me out of jail for assaulting the stupid fool. Fucking PHALABORWA! What kind of sick, demented idiot would want to live here!
**December 1:** WHAT!!!! The FIRST day of Summer!!!!
You are fucking kidding me, right?