AYIA NAPA, Cyprus – Samford soccer player Jermaine Seoposenwe is competing in the 2015 Cyprus Cup with her native country of South Africa from March 2-12, and has immediately made a huge impact on the Banyana Banyana squad as she scored the team’s game-winning goal in its 1-0 victory over Belgium.
The Cyprus Cup is a world-class, 12-team competition being held at the Tasos Markou, Paralimni Stadium in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, which is located in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Seoposenwe scored the only goal of the match in the first half, sealing the much-needed win for South Africa head coach Vera Pauw’s charges.
Pauw made two changes to the starting team that played against Mexico on Wednesday. USA-based Seoposenwe, coming on for Sannah Mollo, who was injured in the last match, started up front with Portia Modise, while former U/20 National Team player Kelso Peskin started at right back ahead of Lebogang Ramalepe.
The South African ladies started the stronger between the two countries, with Seoposenwe’s header hitting the cross bar just three minutes into the match.
Seoposenwe then made amends for her earlier chance - after comfortably controlling the ball in the box in the 21st minute, she hit the back of the net. This was her first goal since returning to the National Team under Pauw.
Seoposenwe, Samford’s highly decorated native of Cape Town, South Africa, is widely regarded as one of the best young soccer players in her home country. She and her prestigious Banyana Banyana squad are preparing for qualifying matches in both the All Africa Games and the Olympics.
Seoposenwe was a member of South Africa’s U17 World Cup squad and scored a goal and tacked on an assist against South Korea on Sept. 5, 2010. She also scored a goal against perennial powerhouse Germany in another World Cup qualifying match held at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, on Sept. 8, 2010.
Additionally, Seoposenwe was selected in 2012 to join the South African Senior Women’s National Team, which featured the best 22 players in the nation. She was also named South Africa’s Young Player of the Year in 2010 by the South African Football Association.
Last season, in her sophomore year at Samford, Seoposenwe led the team with 13 assists and scored nine goals, which ranked second on the squad. She set the school’s all-time single-season record in points with 31 and surpassed former Bulldog great Marian Wagner, who set the previous mark in 2002. Seoposenwe also set the school’s single-season assist record with 13.
The annual 12-nation Cyprus Cup runs from March 2–12, and Banyana Banyana has been drawn in Group C together with Belgium, Czech Republic and Mexico. The Group will be based in Ayia Napa.
Group A is made up of Canada, Italy, Korea Republic and Scotland, while Group B is comprised of Australia, England, Finland and Netherlands. The final two groups will be based in Larnaca.