Heredia says selection ‘politics’ undermining Banyana after Tanzania defeat

Veteran goalkeeper coach Alex Heredia has warned that “football politics” and external pressure on team selection are harming Banyana Banyana after their 2-1 defeat by Tanzania at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Banyana, firm favourites going into Monday’s match, were beaten by underdogs Tanzania in a result that has intensified scrutiny of coach Desiree Ellis’ choices, particularly in goal.

Speaking to KickOff, Heredia questioned the process behind the selection of the starting goalkeeper and suggested that public opinion has been allowed to influence technical decisions.

Heredia questions fan influence on Ellis’ line-up Heredia, a long-serving and respected goalkeepers’ trainer, argued that supporters should not dictate who starts for the national team, insisting that selection must be based purely on form and performance.

He pointed to the switch from Kaylin Swart to Andile Dlamini as an example of what he believes is undue pressure on Ellis and her staff.

“I’m not sure who is the current goalkeeper coach at Banyana because before it was Cameron Cox, and now that there is a new goalkeeper coach, yesterday it was Andile Dlamini in goals,” says Heredia.

Heredia said he felt Swart had been performing well before being replaced, and suggested that the clamour from fans for Dlamini to play may have influenced the change.

“Kaylin Swart was doing well, but still all the time people were calling for ‘Andile! Andile! Andile!’ She’s more charming and more active, but she makes silly mistakes sometimes, and yesterday was one of those times she made mistakes.”

Goalkeeper selection ‘criteria’ unclear Heredia stressed that he does not have full insight into the inner workings of the Banyana camp, but believes the rationale for goalkeeper selection is not sufficiently transparent.

Heredia says he doesn’t know what the criteria of selecting a goalkeeper at Banyana is.

“To understand fully, you need to be in camp with the team to know what is really happening there and why some decisions are taken. In my opinion, whoever is performing better is the one who should play.”

He was particularly critical of Dlamini’s positioning during the defeat by Tanzania, arguing that a fundamental error contributed to one of the goals conceded.

“Andile’s positioning is what let her down yesterday. It was in action and she missed it. She was in the wrong place.”

‘Football politics are costing Banyana’ Heredia believes that off-field dynamics are starting to impact performances and results, and called on the coaching staff to explain clearly how key decisions are made.

“I think football politics are costing Banyana. The coach, the assistant coach, and the goalkeeper coach should be able to tell us what criteria is used to choose who will be in goals for a match,” he adds.

Banyana, who now face increased pressure after the loss to Tanzania, will look to respond when they take on Ivory Coast on Friday at 19:00 (SA time) as their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign continues in Morocco.