Rio 2016 Update - SA U-23 face baptism of fire

The men's under 23 team will face Brazil, in Brazilia, at 21:00 (SA-time) this evening (Thursday) in their opening match of Pool A. 

The team went down to Brazil 3-1 in a friendly held in Macelo in March, and will do well to hold their opponents to a draw, particularly with the massive home support. 

There is little question that the hosts will be out to redress their status after losing the 2014 World Cup, and with the last three Gold medal Olympic teams coming from the Americas, it is a tradition that Brazil will want to continue.

The side boasts a number of exciting and top players including FC Barcelona's mega star Neymar. 

Iraq and Denmark are expected to provide easier competition in the later pool A matches.

The encounter with Brazil will be the final pre-games competitive action prior to 400m World Champion athlete, Wayde van Neikerk, leading Team South Africa into the Macarana Stadium in Friday night's spectacular opening ceremony. 

Cyclists Daryl Impey, and Louis Meintjies, who finished 8th in Tour de France only two weeks previously, will lead Team SA into battle on the first full day of Olympic action in the 241.5 km Road cycle, where there is a chance of a podium position. 

Team South Africa only have two riders in the team,  but with only two riders they could find the going hard against those countries who have a full quartet in the mix.

Banyana go down with a fight

Banyana Banyana may have lost the opening match against Sweden, the top ranked side in pool E, but the South Africans were much improved from their 2012 London performance.

Fitness and midfield control saw virtually equal possession throughout the first half, although Sweden made better territorial use of their share with a two good attempts that were confidently handled by keeper Roxy Barker in the tenth minute.

Midfielder Mamello Makhabane was brought down midway through the first half and stretchered off, but soon returned to the frey.  Shiwe Nogwanya was not so fortunate when a right leg injury ended her game to be replaced by Linda Mothalo, who took the match to a goalless half time.

Sweden came out fighting and had early domination of both possession and territory, but to Banyanas credit each attack was thwarted until a Swedish corner in the 75th minute resulted in a goal.

The initial cross was deflected to the right by Barker but her attempt to catch the counter cross opened the opportunity for Swedish defender, Nilla Fischer to open their account. 

"Our momentary lack of focus cost us the match " said captain Janine van Wyk " but we showed the character to come back fighting"

Although still taking possession the substitution of defender Lebohang Ramalepe with Sanah Mollo in the 83rd minute was a solid attempt to strengthen the attack.

The step up in performance saw play maker Jermaine Seoposenwe looking to make the break but being called back for off-side due to incorrect timing of the pass. 

The matched ended 1-0 to Sweden but it could so easily have ended a draw, which would have been as good as a win for Banyana in this competition where they are the lowest ranked team in their pool. Brazil and China are the other contenders.

"It was a good performance, we played well, and now our focus will be on recovery tomorrow and preparing for China on Saturday," said coach Vera Pauw who doesn't like the comparison to London as this is a new team with new confidence, new goals and targets, and would prefer to keep the focus on the current task of getting through the pool.

They return to the Olympic stadium on Saturday (23:00) to face China in their next group match. China lost 3-nil to Brazil.

Olympic Snippets

UN Women Executive Director visits Olympic Village

We had the pleasure to be graced by the presence of the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka, who visited Team SA

in the athletes’ village on Wednesday.

She was accompanied by the Athletes’ Village Mayor, Janeth Arcain, and wished the team the best of luck in the upcoming games. 

Ramoneur 6 touches down in Rio

A special welcome to Ramoneur 6, our Equestrian horse that arrived in Rio at midnight after enduring a long journey from Germany to make it as part

of Team SA.

Not only athletes are part of this sporting extravaganza but even the horses are also excited to participate at the Rio Olympics. 

A flight carrying 34 event horses from 10 nations landed at Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport around midnight on Tuesday and SA’s Equestrian’s Tanya

Seymour’s horse was part of the horses.

The horses have settled in their stables at the Olympic equestrian centre in Deodoro. 

Meet Cyclist An-Li Kachelhoffer