JANINE VAN WYK SIGNS WITH FORTUNA HJORRING

With the Women’s World Cup debut appearance still fresh in her mind, and returning home with a Gold Medal from the most recent COSAFA Women’s Championship (although she picked up an injury against Malawi), Banyana Banyana Captain and JVW Founder Janine van Wyk has now embarked on a new journey, signing with UEFA Champions League bound, Fortuna Hjorring. Van Wyk returned from a two-year stint with the Houston Dash at the end of 2018 and began preparations with the Senior Women’s National Team ahead of their historic appearance at the Women’s World Cup. To add to this memorable achievement, she also became the first Captain to qualify for and lead the team at this prestigious tournament, not forgetting that the defender also holds the record for the most appearances for her Country, both male or female. Although van Wyk picked up an MCL Sprain during the COSAFA Cup, she is well on her way to recovery and flew into Denmark at the beginning of the week to finalise her contract with the team.   Fortuna Hjorring has had a good showing in past competitions, their biggest achievement in European football was reaching the 2002 – 03 UEFA Women’s Cup final where they lost 1–7 on aggregate to Umea IK. In the 2016/17 season they reached their best result since the final in 2003, when they made it to the quarter-finals which they lost on aggregate to Manchester City. The Hjorring based team is heading into the Round of 32, and have been drawn against Vllaznia on the 11/12 and 25/26 September 2019 in home and away matches respectively. Van Wyk’s commitment to Hjorring is a common concern between Fortuna and the Dana Cup Academy. Besides being an active National team player, she runs a soccer academy in Bedfordview. A JVW select team participated in the 2019 Dana Cup and in that connection a relationship was formed between Fortuna, Dana Cup and Janine van Wyk. The primary reason for the South African stalwart’s arrival to Hjorring is to be a player, however, the idea is to establish a collaboration with her academy and the Dana Cup. Besides playing on the field, Janine van Wyk and the Dana Cup Academy have built a relationship and look forward to work together in the near future and create benefits for both parties. Van Wyk returned back to South Africa yesterday and will continue with her rehab before heading back to Denmark to start her new journey with the team.