Refiloe Jane grateful for Banyana return after tough time on sidelines

Refiloe Jane is filled with gratitude after she finally returned to the pitch following a daunting time in the medical room due to a long-term injury.

Jane signed for Hollywoodbets Super League side TS Galaxy during the start of the season, ending any speculation about her career going forward.

The future of the Banyana Banyana captain had been a major talking point after she left Serie A side Sassuolo in June last year amid her injury woes.

It was at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australasia in which Jane got injured, which saw her missing out on the team’s maiden last-16 clash against The Netherlands.

The 32-year-old’s journey back to full fitness was not easy. As such, she’s grateful to everyone that played a huge supportive role in her recovery.

 “It was a really tough period. It wasn’t easy – a lot of things happened behind the scenes,” Jane explained.

“But I am grateful to all the doctors, and physios. I am also grateful to my families, and the trainers who also tried to help me as well.

“A lot of us things happened in making sure that I stayed motivated. I would like to say thank you to TS Galaxy for making sure that I had recovered whatever I had lost.”

Galaxy played a significant role in helping Jane return to full fitness, and that’s why it was easy for her to choose to play for the club when the Super League season started.

“It’s a lot of things that I needed to consider before choosing the team that I was going to play for,” Jane explained.

“While I was still overseas, I was in contact with a lot of owners. When I came back, I trained with TS Galaxy before I fully returned to competitive football.

“The environment inspired me to what made me link with the team – how they were gelling together – and the players were welcoming and loving.

“That environment was really critical for me in coming back. I had to find a place where I would be happy first, and not be put under so much pressure.”

Joining Galaxy helped Jane to easily transition back into competitive football, and she has also earned a call-up back to the Banyana team.

Jane is part of the South African squad that will face Botswana and Zambia in the one-day Three Nations tournament set to be hosted at Lucas Masterpieces Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday.

A lot has changed since Jane was in the Banyana fold, with coach Desiree Ellis integrating some new blood into the team.

Jane has opened up on their senior players’ new role.

“We are trying to help the youngsters and make sure that they move forward as individuals and as a team,” Jane revealed.

“We try to give them guidelines and tools to succeed, both locally, continentally and internationally.”

The Three Nations tournament is set to prepare Banyana for their Wafcon title defence, which is set to take place in Morocco between July 5 and July 26.

“Over the years, there’ve been challenges when it comes to preparing for major tournaments, but thanks to Sasol and Safa, things have changed,” Jane said.

“In every Fifa window, we try to get to play in tournaments and things like that.

“That gives the team enough time to gel together, and the coaches time to work with the players.”

Banyana will be clear favourites to win the event, which will be hosted in Atteridgeville, but Jane knows that they’ll undermine Botswana and Zambia at their own peril.

“We are expecting tough matches against Botswana and Zambia.

“We know that they are preparing for Wafcon, so this is part of building towards a bigger picture,” Jane said.