Premier Soccer League chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has hailed Banyana Banyana after advancing to the FIFA Women's World Cup last 16 for the first time in their history.
Desiree Ellis' charges claimed their first-ever World Cup win by defeating Italy 3-2 and in doing so, sealed a spot in the knockout round ahead of the Italians.
Read: History-Makers Banyana Advance To World Cup Knockout Stage
Khoza sent his congratulatory message to the team, who will face the Netherlands in the last 16 on Sunday morning.
Statement:
The Banyana Banyana victory answered the question “how do you win under such scrutiny and pressure?”
The answer is consciousness- you need to be conscious all the time. There is simply no place to hide, and where there is no place to hide, honesty is the only sustainable answer.
Well done Banyana Banyana!
Department of Sports, Arts and Culture minister Ziz Kodwa also expressed her happiness with the African champions' historic achievement in New Zealand.
“Banyana Banyana have not only displayed great talent on the field, but they have also shown great fight. Their match against Italy was a must win game. Banyana Banyana showed just what makes them the pride and joy of South Africa, by matching toe to toe against the world’s top teams and creating history once again," Kodwa said in a statement.
“I am thrilled that Banyana Banyana found it in them to get the necessary result to qualify for the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup. Banyana Banyana is an incredibly special team. All 60 million South Africans are behind this team and want them to do well.
“I would like to congratulate Banyana Banyana on making history. They have shown that they belong on the world’s top football stage. I urge the nation to continue to rally behind the team, as they seek to create even more history.”
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