Banyana legend Janine van Wyk to retire from international football. Image: @janinevanwyk5
Banyana Banyana captain to get send-off match
Long-serving Banyana Banyana player Janine van Wyk will get a send-off match later this month against DR Congo/
Banyana legend Janine van Wyk to retire from international football. Image: @janinevanwyk5
Long-serving Banyana Banyana player Janine van Wyk will get a send-off match when the team face DR Congo in two 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifiers this month.
Van Wyk, who served as captain for many years, earned 183 international caps during a gloried career.
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Should Banyana coach Desiree Ellis play her in the two matches, she will become the most capped player, male or female, on the continent.
The team played DR Congo in the first leg away from home on 25 October 2023 and then host the Congolese in South Africa a few days later.
Banyana legend to retire
“This has been by far one of the hardest decisions of my life. This decision has always been one I have wanted to make on MY terms. And this is my time to say goodbye to football as a player while I watch the next generation shine,” Van Wyk said.
“It has been my greatest honour and privilege to play this beautiful game, in particular playing for my Country, which has and always will be the greatest gift football has ever offered me,” said the Banyana captain.
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Ellis said Van Wyk “deserves her flowers” and has been an icon, an inspiration and a massive ambassador for South African football in general.
“There are so many superlatives that I can use to describe Janine. I think she’s an absolute legend of the game, not just in South Africa, but also on the African continent as well as globally,” the Banyana Banyana coach said.
The 38-year-old led the team at Olympic Games and the World Cup.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said Van Wyk has left an indelible mark both here at home and on the global stage.
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“Janine has been a selfless servant of the game and her legendary playing career has influenced so many young girls who have taken up this sport as a career,” the SAFA President said.
“Today, Banyana Banyana are continental champions and also achieved a historic second round milestone in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. All these epic stories and many more could not have been achieved without the massive contribution of this giant.”
