Nicole Michael eager to help Banyana Banyana reach Olympics

Nicole Michael eager to help Banyana Banyana reach Olympics

TS Galaxy Queens and Banyana Banyana attacker Nicole Michael says her biggest goal this year is to help the team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Banyana are in the third round of the CAF Olympic qualifiers, after they beat DR Congo 3-1 over two legs in October last year, to setup a tie with Tanzania, who swept aside Botswana with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the previous round.

Michael, who was on the scoresheet when Banyana qualified for the WAFCON, says Banyana’s main objective in camp is to be part of the Olympics.

READ: Asanda Hadebe grateful for support from Banyana Banyana senior players

“The mood in the camp has been good, everybody is happy to be here and we are working hard towards qualifying for the Olympics. Qualifying for the Olympics is one of the goals I set for this year. It will be a good experience for me and for everyone [in the team],” Michael said.

“I was happy to score for Banyana, it felt really great and I’m hoping to score more goals for Banyana. I’m working mentally to be strong. I’m also working hard where I’m lacking. The main aim is to work qualify now and then the rest will follow.”

The 23-year-old was nominated for the Fan’s Player of the Season award at the Hollywoodbets Super League awards in December last year after helping TS Galaxy finish fourth in the league.

She was one of the top goal scorers in the league, having netted 14 times in 29 matches, and says the goal this year for the team is to win the league.

“We want to win the [Hollywoodbets Super] League. We want to go to CAF also. My goal for the season is to be the top goal scorer, so I’m working on that,” she concluded.