Sheryl Botes joins Banyana Banyana for Cyprus Cup

The head coach of the South African U20 Women's national team (Basetsana) Sheryl Botes has joined the Senior Women's National team (Banyana Banyana) in Cyprus for the annual Cyprus Women's Cup set to kick-off nextWednesday, 6 March 2013.

Botes is also the head coach at the SAFA High Performance Centre based at the University of Pretoria.

Botes has worked with 13 of the players announced in the Banyana Banyana squad that left for Cyprus on Monday. Most of the players are a product of the High Performance Centre and have played in the junior national teams; Bantwana (U-17) and Basetsana (U-20).

The SAFA NEC took a decision to see that junior national team coaches should assist the senior team coach in the development and progression of national teams at all levels.

Acting Technical Director Fran Hilton-Smith said: "This appointment is in line with the vision of the NEC to have continuity between all the National teams-men and women-of coaches and players. This fits in with the world football trends we desire to follow. Our teams can only progress with the implementation of this concept of development and continuity between the teams, " said Hilton-Smith.

The Basetsana mentor has welcomed the appointment to assist the Banyana Banyana technical team and says it is a great opportunity and a learning curve that will bring valued experience in order to empower the junior national teams.

"It is a great honour to be assisting the head coach of the senior women's national team. Banyana Banyana made a name for themselves having attained a lot last year. I am here to give my full support to the national team coaching staff. There will be a lot to learn on this international assignment and I am really looking forward to this trip.

"I hope to learn a lot and implement some of what I will observe there among our junior national teams," said Botes.

Banyana Banyana arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday and Coach Mkhonza said the girls were fired up for this year's tournament.

The head coach of the South African U20 Women's national team (Basetsana) Sheryl Botes has joined the Senior Women's National team (Banyana Banyana) in Cyprus for the annual Cyprus Women's Cup set to kick-off next Wednesday, 6 March 2013.

Botes is also the head coach at the SAFA High Performance Centre based at the University of Pretoria.

Botes has worked with 13 of the players announced in the Banyana Banyana squad that left for Cyprus on Monday. Most of the players are a product of the High Performance Centre and have played in the junior national teams; Bantwana (U-17) and Basetsana (U-20).

The SAFA NEC took a decision to see that junior national team coaches should assist the senior team coach in the development and progression of national teams at all levels.

Acting Technical Director Fran Hilton-Smith said: "This appointment is in line with the vision of the NEC to have continuity between all the National teams-men and women-of coaches and players. This fits in with the world football trends we desire to follow. Our teams can only progress with the implementation of this concept of development and continuity between the teams, " said Hilton-Smith.

The Basetsana mentor has welcomed the appointment to assist the Banyana Banyana technical team and says it is a great opportunity and a learning curve that will bring valued experience in order to empower the junior national teams.

"It is a great honour to be assisting the head coach of the senior women's national team. Banyana Banyana made a name for themselves having attained a lot last year. I am here to give my full support to the national team coaching staff. There will be a lot to learn on this international assignment and I am really looking forward to this trip.

"I hope to learn a lot and implement some of what I will observe there among our junior national teams," said Botes.

Banyana Banyana arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday and Coach Mkhonza said the girls were fired up for this year's tournament.