Antonia Maponya Calls for Focus as Banyana Banyana Prepare for Madagascar Test

Banyana Banyana defender Antonia Maponya says the team remains fully focused ahead of their Olympic Qualifier second-leg clash against Madagascar at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday evening (18h00).

Maponya spoke to the media following training on Monday as preparations continued for the return fixture. The South Africans head into the encounter with confidence after delivering an impressive performance in the first leg, but the defender insisted the squad is not getting carried away.

According to Maponya, the players are not feeling any pressure despite their commanding victory in the previous meeting. Instead, the team is concentrating on maintaining high standards and continuing their preparations for future competitions.

The experienced defender emphasized the importance of approaching the match with the same professionalism and determination that helped Banyana Banyana secure a convincing result in the first leg. She believes consistency will be key if the national team is to continue progressing.

Maponya also highlighted the significance of playing in front of their supporters in Bloemfontein. She explained that the atmosphere created by home fans provides extra motivation for the players and can make a major difference during important matches.

The defender praised the depth within the squad following the opening-leg victory. Several players were given opportunities to contribute, and Maponya feels their performances demonstrated that the entire group is ready to step up whenever called upon.

Discussing the positives from the first encounter, Maponya admitted that keeping a clean sheet stood out as one of the biggest achievements from a defensive perspective. She also applauded the attacking display, particularly the performance of Ronell Donnelly, who grabbed a memorable hat-trick.

With the decisive clash now on the horizon, Maponya believes the squad is united, confident and fully focused on the task ahead. Banyana Banyana will be aiming to produce another strong performance against Madagascar as they continue their pursuit of Olympic qualification and build momentum for the challenges that lie ahead.