Head coach Joseph Mkhonza is impressed by the showing of his players and is the first to admit selecting the final 22 players will not be an easy task.
However, he will be without the services of all three international-based players in Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker for the coming assignment.
Nyandeni has pulled out of the Banyana squad due to club commitments as her Russian club Rossiyanka are preparing to take part in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Louw and Barker, who play their club football in the United States, will not be joining the national squad due to study commitments.
Banyana will continue with their preparations at the North West University High Performance Centre in Potchefstroom before their departure for Cyprus on February 25.
Banyana will open their Group C campaign at the Cyprus Women’s Cup against South Korea on March 6. The next group stage encounter is against the Republic of Ireland two days later, before finishing against Northern Ireland on February 11.
England, Italy, New Zealand and Scotland will play in the Group A, while Group B will contested by Canada, Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
“I want to use the Cyprus Women’s Cup to bring in new players and prepare the country for future tournaments,” Mkhonza says. “The 22 players I will select will form the core of the squad that will take part in the World Cup, the Olympics, as well as the African Women’s Championship next year.
“Those that will not form part of the trip to Cyprus must not lose hope as my bigger aim is to create a bigger pool of this Banyana squad. That will put the team in good steady in case of injuries and suspensions.”