Ronnel Donnelly is showing she can lead the next group of Banyana Banyana players. The Mamelodi Sundowns striker scored her first international hat-trick on Friday afternoon.
Her three goals helped South Africa beat Madagascar 4-0 at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. The match was the first leg of the second round of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I feel good,” Donnelly told SAFA media after the match. “There were nerves at first, but after my first goal, I gained some confidence. I am happy and excited.”
The win puts Banyana in a strong position to reach the third round of qualifying early next year. The second leg against Madagascar is set for Tuesday night at the same stadium.
Toyota Stadium will now serve as Banyana’s home ground. The team missed out on the Olympic Games in both Tokyo and Paris, and the players want to make up for that.
Donnelly joined the squad before WAFCON 2025. She was seen as the player who could one day replace her role model, Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Injuries and a slow start in the setup held her back. Until Friday, she had not fully lived up to those high hopes, IOL reported.
Coach Desiree Ellis has made it clear she wants to mix young and new players with senior players. Donnelly started the match ahead of star forward Thembi Kgatlana.
Zoë October and Siyamthanda Qashani also came off the bench for short spells in Bloemfontein.
“This is what we want, a blend of senior and new players so the new players can showcase what they are capable of,” match captain Linda Motlhalo said. “It’s good to see them getting minutes; they can go far.”
Motlhalo was pleased with the result. But she said the team could have punished Madagascar more, after Banyana had most of the ball.
“It was a good job from the ladies, but we hold ourselves to higher standards. In terms of how we play, there’s still work to be done,” Motlhalo said. “We are just happy that we got the win we needed.”
Donnelly said the team had prepared well and did not take their opponents lightly.
“We obviously didn’t want to underestimate them, but we practised hard, stayed focused, and played as a unit,” she said. “I think that helped us because all the goals came from combination play. It was definitely a good start.”
Ellis fielded a largely makeshift side in the first leg. Banyana and Madagascar meet again in the second leg at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday night.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.