At the ongoing Cyprus cup invitational tournament, South Africa women’s captain, Janine Van Wyk stole the heart of fans and sports lovers around the world with a show of great gesture and sportsmanship.
The Banyana Banyana captain Janine Van Wyk who was playing in her record 7th Cyprus Women’s Cup handed over her armband to her vice-captain Refiloe Jane who was playing her 100th International, in their first game of the tournament against Finland.
Van Wyk in a tweet explained what leadership meant to her;
“As a leader its not about the armband. I know what it takes for anyone to reach such a milestone & I admire anyone who puts in the hard work. Therefore I had to give my vice-captain @fifinhojane the armband to thank her for the work she has put in for our Country.”
As a leader its not about the armband. I know what it takes for anyone to reach such a milestone & I admire anyone who puts in the hard work. Therefore I had to give my vice captain @fifinhojane the armband to thank her for the work she has put in for our Country. ???????? https://t.co/dYcyLptTLE
— Janine Van Wyk (@Janinevanwyk5) February 27, 2019
The selfless move has gotten loads of reactions from sports stars including Super Falcons and On-loan Barcelona’s player Asisat Oshoala, who tweeted “respect” in response.
Van Wyk is the highest capped player – male and female – in the country with 161 games. The Australia-based midfielder has scored 12 goals for Banyana Banyana, including a brace in the final of the 2018 COSAFA Women’s Championship held in Port Elizabeth to help her country retain the title they won in Zimbabwe a year earlier.
