3 February 2018 – Head coach of the South African U17 Women’s National Team, Simphiwe Dludlu, was elated to have visited two schools in Dobsonville on Friday, 2 February.

Dludlu led her squad to Enkolweni and Ithembalihle Primary Schools, near the Dobsonville Stadium, where they are going to face Morocco in the first leg second round 2018 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier.

The clash takes place on Sunday, 4 February and kickoff is at 15h00.

Entry is free.

The visit was part of an effort to garner support for Bantwana in their crucial clash against the North Africans.

“It was so heart-warming to see those learners as they were looking at the players in front of them – for others it was obviously the start of a dream, to some day play for the national team or to be just a football player. And it was also great that players got to meet their fans. I am just hoping that someday one of the learners will get to play for Banyana Banyana and look back to this visit as the one that inspired her,” said Dludlu.

“But I must say it was a very fulfilling visit and I hope we do more of these in future because I remember we used attend a lot of these during my time at Banyana Banyana and I know they really meant a lot to both the players and the school children. Some of us never got the chance to meet our heroes up close and personal, so these children must count themselves as fortunate, and make good use of the opportunity. For me it’s this kind of act that complete me.”

The squad also handed out access tickets to the learners and the educators.

Bantwana will conclude their preparations this afternoon at the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus before taking on Morocco in perhaps one of the most important matches of their lives.

The second leg will be played in a fortnight, Saturday, 17 February 2018 at Stade Boubker Aamar in Sale, Morocco.

Kickoff is at 14h30 local time (16h30 SA Time).