Van Wyk on why she stormed out of Banyana camp

For the first time, Banyana Banyana legend Janine Van Wyk opens up on why she decided to storm out of camp when they faced DR Congo in October.

Just after announcing her retirement after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament, Banyana coach Desiree Ellis included Van Wyk in her squad.

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It was a good gesture by Banyana coach to honour Van Wyk considering she needed two international caps to become the most-capped player in Africa.

However, Van Wyk was not given a chance to play in the first leg away from home, leading the former defender to leave the Banyana camp before the second leg.

VAN WYK OPENS UP ON WHY SHE STORMED OUT OF BANYANA CAMP

In an interview with the South African Football Journalists Association, the 36-year-old explains her decision was justified.

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Van Wyk states that there were promises made to her in that camp and was not kept either by Banyana coach Ellis or SAFA.

The Alberton-born former defender was set to break Egypt legend, Ahmed Hassan’s 11-year-old record as the most-capped African player of all time.

“It’s all about timing and look I didn’t know about the record until lately about a year or two ago, just before AFCON actually,” Van Wyk told SAFJA per iDiski Times.

“Then I knew that I would need four caps to reach the record and if I had played regularly, I would have probably got it at the AFCON 2022, where I didn’t play much. I had one game, where I played and I needed three caps only thereafter.

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“Already those caps that we just spoke about at AFCON, going into camp, it was already promised to me that at AFCON whether I start or don’t start it would happen. And you know, when something gets promised to you, you expect it.”

LEGEND ON THE ENTIRE STORY, STORMING OUT OF CAMP

The founder of JVW Ladies FC adds that people have a right to their opinion but she didn’t feel entitled to play against Congo.

“So, of course, people will say ‘Janine feels entitled that she deserved these two caps and so on’,” adds Van Wyk.

“And people just don’t know the entire story, which I’m okay with because people will assume things happened or assume this is the way and only look at the factor right now and not what has previously happened.

“So as I said, ‘I’m not going to give you much because I am busy writing something’.

“I am doing something and that story will come out eventually, but my story will come out eventually and I just don’t think it’s the right time to say or tell it now.”

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