Banyana Banyana will not be star-struck even though Saturday’s first-ever meeting with the USA‚ the Brazil of women’s football‚ is a dream match for the SA national women’s team‚ said star midfielder Amanda Dlamini. The dreadlocked playmaker with a sweet right foot‚ and eye for a pass and for goal‚ said Banyana’s aim in their friendly against USA at Soldier Field in Chicago is to show they can come through pressure against the best there is ahead of their participation in the Rio Olympics in August.“It’s a dream come true going to the US and playing the world champions. We only have admiration for what USA have achieved‚” Dlamini said.“We’re all excited at the opportunity to play the world champions‚ and put on the final touches to our game before Rio.“Not a lot of nations get that chance. We know how much it means. So we give it that respect that it deserves – that it’s an important match for us.“But in terms of working hard we are on the field – we need to make sure we apply what we have practised and achieve the goal we have set for ourselves.” It is a sign of the gulf in experience of the two teams – SA the emerging nation‚ and USA the behemoth – that while Dlamini will earn her 100th international cap on Saturday‚ US goalkeeper Hope Solo will earn a staggering 100 clean sheets should her side prevent Banyana from scoring. This in 196 matches for the Seattle Reign keeper.Dlamini said if Banyana can put in a competitive showing on Chicago’s famous Soldier Field – host to the opening ceremony of the USA 1994 men’s World Cup‚ and first match between Germany and Bolivia – it will give the South Africans great belief for the Olympics.SA meet Sweden (August 3)‚ China (August 6) and Brazil (August 9) at the Games‚ in Banyana’s second successive Olympics since their first qualification for London four years ago. SA coach Vera Pauw has said what she wants from the game against USA – coached by 49-year-old Jill Ellis‚ who masterminded last year’s World Cup triumph – is for the Banyana defence to be tested to the maximum.“We’re looking for competitiveness. That’s one of the aims of this game. We want that high level of pressure‚” Dlamini said.“And I think if we can come through that‚ and tick that box‚ then we can say that maybe we are ready.“This is the ultimate test and that’s why we’ve put so much concentration and hard work into this game. Everyone is really focused on trying to get a result‚ but also putting into practise what it is that we really need to achieve.” It is a sign of Banyana’s growing stature internationally that the US have deemed the South Africans a worthy side to be part of their preparations for Rio.“It doesn’t get better than this. You can see where Banyana started and where we are now. It’s taken so much hard work‚” Dlamini said.“It starts with respect for ourselves as players that if we really believe in our ability‚ and can qualify for major competitions. Then people will really take us seriously.”Among the giants Banyana face is forward Carli Lloyd‚ scorer of a 16-minute hat-trick in USA’s 5-2 World Cup final thrashing of Japan in Vancouver last year‚ and 2015’s Fifa Player of the Year.“It’s a motivation for us more than anything meeting a player like Carli Lloyd‚ who has more than 200 caps and more than 80 goals‚” Dlamini said. South Africa’s match in Chicago follows two competitive defeats away against Netherlands (1-0 and 2-0) last month.“Playing away from home‚ and in front of a full stadium for the second game‚ against a team like Netherlands taught us a lot‚” Dlamini said.“The movement and the mobility of that team. Just chasing after the runners‚ how the team organisation should be. How we need to control the game at a high tempo.“And I’m happy we were able to match them in terms of fitness. Obviously there are some technical aspects we still need to learn.”South Africa are just the second African country the US have faced‚ having played Nigeria four times. - TMG Sport..