South African women’s football legend Janine van Wyk has officially retired from international football after making a record 185 appearances for her country, surpassing Egyptian Ahmed Hassan’s record of 184 caps.
Van Wyk, a 36-year-old central defender, made her final appearance for Banyana Banyana (The Girls) in a 2-0 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifying victory over Burkina Faso on Monday. She played for eight minutes before being substituted and confirming her retirement.
Her illustrious career spanned 18 years, having debuted for South Africa in 2005. She reached 100 caps nine years later and matched Hassan’s record by playing in the first leg of the AWCON qualifier against Burkina Faso last week.
Van Wyk’s highlights with Banyana Banyana include representing South Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
Emotional as she left the pitch, Van Wyk expressed her gratitude to those who supported her throughout her career. “I am deeply grateful to all those who helped me during my long career. I could not have achieved this amazing feat without the help of many others,” she told AFP.
Acknowledging the importance of paving the way for younger players, Van Wyk added, “It is important for senior players like me to accept that younger players are seeking selection. We must develop them, make them feel at home, then we must step aside.”
Van Wyk’s retirement comes as South Africa prepares to defend their AWCON title, having won the 2022 tournament in Morocco. The victory over Burkina Faso secured their place in the next finals.
Apart from playing for her own club, JVW, a Johannesburg club she formed, Van Wyk also had spells with Houston Dash in the United States, Fortuna Hjorring in Denmark, and Glasgow City in Scotland.