Veteran Banyana Banyana forward Jermaine Seoposenwe has called time on her international career after 15 years of dedicated service, citing unresolved issues within the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the national team setup as her primary reason for walking away.

The 31-year-old, who earned 112 caps and scored 20 goals, made her final appearance for South Africa during the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in their third-place playoff loss to Ghana. But her retirement wasn’t just about hanging up her boots — it was a protest.

Before the tournament kicked off, the Banyana squad had already made headlines after refusing to attend a training session in Morocco due to unpaid allowances from two previous camps. It was a reflection of the deeper challenges plaguing the team behind the scenes.

On July 31, Seoposenwe took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain her decision in a powerful message:

> “The association, the coaching and the culture is why I’m retiring!
If we as a nation say we love football as much as we say we do, then we have a responsibility to bring change.”

She expressed hope that her departure would ignite the long-overdue conversation around systemic issues in women’s football in South Africa.

> “My hope is that my retirement will start a necessary conversation, one that we have been ignoring for years.
But if it doesn’t, I have done my part! And I will fight for change in whichever way I can, because the next generation deserves that.”

Seoposenwe’s legacy will be remembered not just for her goals and assists, but for her courage to speak out and pave the way for future generations of South African women footballers.