Banyana Banyana’s decorated centre-back Janine van Wyk is on the move again back to Europe—this time around she has secured a contract with top Greece women’s football club Ergotoris.
Van Wyk, who was part of the recent 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations-title winning party in Morocco where she hardly played, has confirmed the latest development.
“Looking forward to start this new and exciting chapter that I believe would be yet another platform for me to continue to grow to become the best version of myself. Another challenge to improve, get better and continue to strive towards greatness,” she said.
The Greece team has also announced the capture of the defender who last played in Europe at Scottish side Glasgow City FC from the 2020 to 2021 season.
“Our team made a great transfer, coming to an agreement with the South African defender. Player with an incredible football resume, @janinevanwyk counts participation in various events. More specifically, she made her first professional steps in the Houston Dash team in the United States in the year 2017/18,” the club says in a statement.
The Ergotoris said they felt excited to add to their roaster the Banyana Banyana stalwart who returned home at the end of her adventure in Scotland to play for her club, JVW FC.
“The experienced player’s next notable stop was Glasgow City F.C. (2020-22), where she managed to win the Scottish Championship, participate in the phase of 32 of the Champions League and also in the quarter-final of the same event next year,” the club added.
The Greece side acknowledged the defender’s rich resume as among the longest serving players in South Africa senior women’s national football team having made her debut in the 2005 season before earning the armband in 2013.
“A great moment for the South African National Team was their participation in the 2012 Olympics, culminating in the very recent victory of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (2022).
“In terms of individual distinctions, the South African international player has been crowned Coaches’ Player of the Year and Club Sportswomen of the Year at Glasgow City F.C., and Best Female Player by CAP (2010). Its most important individual distinction is that of the most participation at the national level, among women and men, counting over 180 in official games.
“Janine Van Wyk made her choice and came to Ergotelis to raise the bar even more, with her experience and mindset,” the Greece side adds.
Janine is the latest Banyana Banyana player to secure a high-profile move after striker Jermaine Seoposenwe who signed for Mexican outfit Juarez FC, months after Thembi Kgtalana’s move to Racing Louisville in America.
