They lit up the Girls’s World Cup with their singing and dancing and whereas their marketing campaign got here to an abrupt finish in opposition to the Netherlands, South Africa are hoping their influence would not finish right here.
Two moments determined Sunday’s 2-0 round-of-16 loss to the Dutch in Sydney with targets to Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn sending the Netherlands by means of and Banyana Banyana packing.
South Africa depart with their reputations enhanced after some spirited shows in opposition to European heavyweights which propelled them out of the group stage for the primary time of their historical past.
However with the nation not too long ago throwing its hat within the ring to host the 2027 version, hope stays that their subsequent displaying might be even stronger.
“I need to consider that individuals at residence are happy with what we have achieved,” stated captain Thembi Kgatlana.
“We consider South Africa is within the race to host the 2027 Girls’s World Cup – that might be one thing superb.
“African groups have closed the hole and need to host a World Cup.”
South Africa have enthralled followers with their arrivals at this match, singing in unison as they bought off the crew bus earlier than going toe to toe with the likes of Sweden, Argentina Italy and the Netherlands.
“We need to be remembered as a crew that lit up the World Cup as a so-called underdog,” stated coach Desiree Ellis.
“After we walked across the stadium after the match, we might see how the folks appreciated what we delivered to the match and I consider we might be again in 4 years and we might be again greater and higher.”
Ellis is aware of her aspect can match it with the world’s finest however pointed to goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, who “works a 9 to 5” job, for example of how her aspect had been being left behind within the increasingly-professional world of ladies’s soccer.
“I believe the company world wants to face up and actually take discover,” Ellis stated.
“In any other case we’ll come again in 4 years time and we’ll undergo the identical factor and everyone’s going to say how effectively we performed and we might have gone additional.”
