Unknown turf for Banyana

22 May 2015 - 02:08 By Mark Gleeson

Banyana Banyana head off into the unknown this weekend as they begin the qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games, seeking to emulate their feat of 2012 when they qualified for the final tournament in London. They start away in Gabon, which is a dilemma, coach Vera Pauw said yesterday."We don't know anything about them. We could not find out any information."So, we'll see what they come up with. We know the stories around them," she said in reference to reports that the Gabon team was filled with naturalised players from stronger West African countries.The first leg of the first-round tie will be followed next weekend by the return match in South Africa, with the aggregate winner moving onto the second round in mid-July."It is difficult to prepare without any information. You can only plan for yourself. It's a shame," Pauw said.Qualifying for the Games in Rio would be a huge boost, but not make up for the disappointment of Banyana's failure to qualify for next month's Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada, she said."To qualify for Rio we have to face Nigeria. We always have to face Nigeria in every cup. Only in 2012 somehow we were up against Ethiopia."Fifa have to help. It cannot be that we are drawn against the top of the continent every time. Next time I want to be at the draw," she said...

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