Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Roxanne Barker used to cry every time she conceded a goal.
Now, a more mature Roxy – as Barker is known to her peers – is aware of what a clean sheet would mean for Banyana in their final bid today to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.
South Africa meet Equatorial Guinea in the return leg at Estadio de Bata this afternoon needing a win or a draw with goals to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro showpiece in Brazil.
The nations played to a goalless draw during the first leg in Tembisa a fortnight ago.
This is a game Banyana have to win, and the outcome will probably determine the future of coach Vera Pauw, who failed to guide the team to this year’s Fifa World Cup in Canada.
Banyana finished fourth at last year’s CAF African Women’s Championships in Namibia, and only the top three countries – Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana – qualified for the tournament in Canada.
But that is a distant memory for Banyana, as they are now a step closer to their second successive Olympics.
“Our team is so well structured and strong now that there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Barker, who last month was voted the best player at Thór Akureyri, her club in Iceland.
“I don’t think the girls know how good they are. They are so skilful and quick ... maybe they are not the biggest in the world, but size is not everything. Also, with Janine [van Wyk] and Noko [Matlou] at the back, the structure of the defence makes it easier for me to read the game.”
Barker, the daughter of former rugby-playing dad Bryn and ballerina mum Felicity, pointed to another reason for why she was so desperate to help Banyana book an Olympic berth.
Her dream debut at the 2012 Olympics in London turned into a nightmare after Sweden put four past her in a 4-1 thrashing in a group-stage match. She was subsequently dropped and played no part in the remaining games.
“It’s been a difficult journey, but I have never been in the team feeling this good,” said the tall goal minder, who graduated with a degree in biology at Portland Community College in the US in 2013.
“I really want to get a second chance at the Olympics and acquit myself better. I was too young then, but now I feel I have found my place.
“When I was younger, I used to cry every time I conceded a goal, but I am over that now,” said the lass who was born in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
Barker was six when her parents took her to the US with them to pursue a job opportunity. She spent most of her life playing college football while studying. She moved to Iceland two seasons ago.
. Today’s game kicks off at 5pm SA time