Gordon: Fewer Games Not Ideal

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola 



JvW Girls Football Club and Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Casey Gordon spoke with ShakingInk about the Blue Diamonds' preparations for the upcoming season, the inland and coastal streams that will play simultaneously, and working under coach Cameron Cox at Banyana.


The second-tier league, the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC), which was previously known as the National First Division (NFD), was divided into two streams: coastal and inland. Though the league has since eliminated streams in favor of the elite Betway Premiership, the Hollywoodbets Super League will follow suit with two separate streams beginning with the 2026 season. Gordon believes that the proposed streams will reduce games for teams in the league, and that is not ideal. 

"The introduction of streams will bring new challenges and experiences for us. However, it will also result in fewer league games, which is not ideal." Said Gordon. 

JvW Girls Football Club was one of the best-performing teams last season. Gordon, who finished second in the log standings, says the team has been preparing for the upcoming season and is ready to begin the 2026 campaign in the same way it ended the 2025 season.

"Pre-season has been going well, and we feel well prepared. Our goal is to build on where we finished last year and continue improving on the small details." Gordon elaborated. 

Gordon was entrusted with protecting the Banyana Banyana goalposts in the COSAFA tournament held in Polokwane. The 19-year-old goaltender claims the platform has helped her evaluate her performance at the highest level. 

"Participating in the COSAFA tournament was an amazing experience. It presented new challenges, allowed me to build new relationships, and gave me the opportunity to showcase my abilities while gaining a better understanding of how the team plays." Emphasized Gordon.

With experienced campaigners like Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart, and Dineo Magagula also gunning for the national team's number one jersey, Gordon says there is a great camaraderie among goalkeepers at Banyana Banyana. The Johannesburg-born star claims she learns a lot from her seniors and enjoys competing against these experienced players.

"The relationship between us is strong. We all understand what we are working towards, and there is a shared commitment to supporting one another. We know that sticking together and helping each other is key to succeeding as a team. They have also been generous in sharing their knowledge, which has been incredibly valuable in my game." Clarified Gordon. 



Cameron Cox has been training goalkeepers at Banyana Banyana for some time, and Gordon says she enjoys working with Coach Cox.

"We haven’t worked with him recently, but he has a wealth of knowledge and has already shared valuable tips with me as a goalkeeper."  Sealed Gordon. 


@Lamola_Herold 












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