Retired South Africa women’s national team player Jermaine Seoposenwe has broken her silence on why she chose to step away from international football after 15 years of service.
Seoposenwe, a 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champion, made over 100 appearances for Banyana Banyana and scored 20 goals for the senior team.
The 31-year-old brought her international career to a close following the 2024 WAFCON, where Banyana Banyana failed to defend their title after a 2-1 semifinal loss to Nigeria. They later lost the third-place playoff to Ghana 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Seoposenwe famously scored the goal that secured South Africa’s place at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also represented the nation in two FIFA Women’s World Cups and four WAFCON tournaments.
“Football has given me everything, and it’s tough to walk away from the national team after 15 years,” she told Robert Marawa on the 947 radio station.
She revealed that she hasn’t been happy with the national team environment in recent years but forced herself to carry on.
“I just want to love football. I don’t want to be unhappy. I don’t want to continue to struggle for things that, as a national team player, you deserve… I know what I can bring to the national team, but it’s best that I walk away.”
Lack of transparency at SAFA forced Seoposenwe to retire?
Seoposenwe pointed to ongoing frustrations with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and how the women’s team has been treated.
“Equality within those structures is important… It speaks a lot about the treatment of Banyana within the Association, and how serious they take women’s football.
“The treatment—every time we go to a major tournament—we have to fight about money, we have to fight about basically everything… why do we have to fight? Why can’t you plan out for the year? FIFA gives you a calendar, why don’t you budget?”
She also disclosed that the players were still striking just last week, ahead of the third-place playoff against Ghana, due to unresolved issues with SAFA. The team only departed for the match after a delayed agreement.
“It becomes difficult for you to do your job at the best of your ability… the country expects us to do these amazing things, but they don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes… how we have to constantly fight.”
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