ELUHEWINI Ladies FC and Nyanga High School striker, Oyisa Marhasi, is understandably happy with her call-up to the South African Under-17 Women’s Soccer squad.
Marhasi is one of the players called up by ‘Bantwana’ head coach, Simphiwe Dludlu, for the U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia, with the first leg kicking off tomorrow in Lusaka.
The Bantwana coach initially had 30 players in the camp as they prepared for the clash, but has since trimmed her squad to 20 players, who travelled to Lusaka yesterday for the match.
The coach released 10 players from the camp after analysing them in the practice match they played on Sunday against JVW FC.
The 15-year-old Marhasi, from Greyspan Village in Cacadu, made history in the COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championships, held in Mauritius last year, against the Seychelles when she scored a first half double hat trick and became the player of the match.
Marhasi told Komani-Karoo Express that she was happy to be selected again to participate in the World Cup qualifiers.
“I am very happy to get this opportunity again – beyond words really.
“It is not easy to explain, but for now I need to work even harder and not think that things will always happen automatically.
“Getting called up is a huge honour for any player. For me right now the focus is on our next game against Zambia,” said Marhasi.
Her coach at school and in her local team, Eluhewini Ladies, Dumisani Gcina, was very excited for Marhasi.
“When we got the news it was like a dream to me. I know she has potential, but since she was contesting for a place with other players anything could have happen,” said Gcina.
The final round of the U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying will be played in May.
