'We are no more in the shadows' - Banyana's Van Wyk echoes calls for financial support

Janine van Wyk has skin in the game.

The former Banyana Banyana captain finally got her just rewards, 17 years since her making her debut in 2005 at the African Women’s Championship.

The defender, capped more than 180 times for her country, the most by a South African footballer by some stretch, called Banyana’s achievement in Morocco a “dream come true” and doubted she'd take her medal off.

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But she wasn't content being part of Desiree Ellis’ history-making, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning team.

Like many, she’d like to see women get financially supported for playing and succeeding in the game.

"This really means the world to me. It’s a dream come true for me," Van Wyk said at the team’s welcoming at OR Tambo International Airport.

"It’s something that I’ve been striving for, working towards and something I wanted to achieve with the national team. And now I finally have the gold medal hanging around my neck today.

"I’m not going to take it off for a while. It just means so much for women’s football in our country as well.

"A lot of doors are starting to open for female footballers and getting the recognition that we deserve.

"Women’s football in our country is no more in the shadows. I’m really glad that we have achieved this, being proud African champions, so that we can the financial support and women can make a career out of the sport we love so much."

Back to her skin in the game.

Van Wyk was the first South African drafted to the US National Women Soccer League in 2016 after joining Houston Dash.

In 2012, she founded her own JVW Football Club, which has won the Sasol League. Her mark on the game is indelible.

She was grateful for the