Banyana's Seoposenwe joins exclusive list

Striker Jermaine Seoposenwe has joined an exclusive list of just nine players over the years who have reached a huge milestone as Banyana Banyana defeated Tanzania on Tuesday.

Banyana secured a spot in the next round of qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Tanzania played at Mbombela Stadium Tuesday night, courtesy of a Thembi Kgatlana strike.

The night however will mark another special occasion for one Seoposenwe. The 30-year-old made make her 100th appearance for the national team – a feat that just nine other Banyana players through the years have been able to reach.

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These players include Janine Van Wyk, who in December 2023, recently retired as the most capped footballer (male or female) with 185 international appearances to her name. 

Van Wyk unseated Egyptian legend Ahmed Hassan, who had 184 international appearances under his belt.

Current Banyana captain Refiloe Jane is another name on the nine-women list, who reached 100 appearances for Banyana in February 2019 and captained Banyana to a Women's AFCON title in 2022. 

Leandra Smeda also reached the extraordinary milestone in 2019 and currently sits at exactly 100 appearances for Banyana while based in Spain.

In the same 2019, striker-turned-defender Noko Matlou clocked 150 appearances for Banyana.

The resilient centre-back was far from finished and was even part of Banyana's 2023 FIFA World Cup squad in Australia when the women's national team made history – becoming the first football national team to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup. 

From one long-serving player to another, Portia Modise is perhaps the most prominent name on the list. The 2014 South African Sports Star award was a nightmare for any defence.

Modise is the all-time highest goal scorer in international football on the continent, having scored an incredible 102 goals for Banyana.

Modise's teammate, Amanda Dlamini, who is now a top-notch analyst and commentator, reached 100 caps for Banyana back in 2014 and most recently made history at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), held Ivory Coast between 13 January to 11 February 2024, where she became the first female commentator in the history of the cup competition. 

Meanwhile, Nompumelo Nyandeni is just one cap away from making 150 appearances for the national team. The midfielder was part of Banyana at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games but missed out on Both of Banyana's World Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2023.

Behind Nyandeni, is Nothando Vilakzi with 137 appearances and reached 100 caps back in 2017. Vivow has been to two Olympic Games, in London 2012 and in Rio 2016, she has also played in three separate WAFCON competitions (2012, 2014 and 2016).

TS Galaxy Queens Mamello Makhabane boasts 121 appearances for Banyana, just four three less than Portia Modise's 124. 36-year-old Makhabane reached 100 caps for the women's national team in August 2019.

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Speaking to SASOL on the milestone, Seoposenwe said it's not something she keeps in her mind too often.

"I think it's a privilege and an honour to be a part of the national team for such a long time," the attacker said.

"I think it's just another milestone in my career at the end of the day. I'm not really a person that puts a lot of emphasis on whether I have one cap, 50 caps or 100 caps. It doesn't really matter to me. 

"All I care about is the game and what the game has given to me and I want to give that back to the game.

"Everyone knows how passionate I am about playing for the national team and or my country.

Hot on the heels of Seoposenwe is Lebohang Ramalepe whose 97 appearances place her just several matches away from a 100th appearance.

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