Johnnesburg - Being chosen as a back-up player in a major tournament is like a back-handed compliment. It shows that you are good, but just not good enough to be in the squad that will play.
But Chantelle Esau, pictured, doesn’t see it like that. She sees her inclusion in the Banyana Banyana squad for the Rio Olympics - albeit as one of the four players on standby, along with Kaylin Swart, Nomathemba Ntsibande and Thembi Kgatlana - as a dream come true.
That’s despite the fact that the only way the Palace Super Falcons forward can play in the Olympics is if one of the four strikers gets injured. It’s not an ideal position, but for her it means a great deal just being there (at the Olympics).
She has been constantly knocking on the door of the senior women’s national team but overlooked even though she has been in the set-up for seven years.
The High Performance Centre graduate made her Banyana debut as a 19-year-old in 2009 when she juggled the senior national team and the national Under-20 side. She went with the squad to the Cyprus Cup in 2009 but hasn’t made a bigger impact since then.
“This means a lot to me, to be in the Olympics is a dream come true,” Esau said.
“I have been pushing all along to be in the set-up. When I wasn’t getting a chance I told myself that I am a good player and I need to believe more in myself.
“There are a lot of politics in football. I am just happy that the coach gave me a chance to be back in the team.
“She has been pushing me all the time. In life you must know what you want, forget the negatives and just work hard on realising your goals, no matter what.
“I was a little bit disappointed that I wasn’t part of the squad that went to the Olympics in 2012 because I thought I had played well.”
Esau has had to change her game and be more direct because most of the skilful players have been overlooked by coach Vera Pauw.
Bongiwe Thusi and Silindile Ngubane aren’t in Brazil because of that, while Stephanie Malherbe, born in California to South African parents, was called from the US and selected for the Olympics squad because she is a 'technical' player.
“I had to just manage myself so that I can be in the team,” Esau said. “But it’s one of those things. We have a different coach who has a different playing style. I just had to manage what she expects from me and play the way that she wants. In a way she is a good coach; she wants players who are working hard.”
Esau is sure to watch Banyana from the stands when they start their campaign against Sweden in Rio tomorrow, followed by a clash with China on Sunday and then hosts Brazil on August 9. She was among the crowd last Thursday when Banyana suffered a 4-1 defeat to New Zealand in a training match.
Being that close to the action, but not close enough to take part, will test the 26-year-old’s mental strength.
“I am a very strong girl,” she said. “I know I'm a good player; that’s why I've been able to handle the disappointments. Sometimes in life stuff won’t go the way you want it to be. You just have to push.”
The Star