Van Wyk signs a deal with Houston Dash

Van Wyk has signed a deal with Houston Dash, pending approval of her visa and an international transfer certificate, following her displays with the South African National team.

After an outstanding year, both with Banyana Banyana and her club JVW FC, the Skipper’s tremendous efforts and die-hard attitude have sealed her a deal in the NWSL, the Women’s Professional Soccer League in the USA, with Houston Dash. Recently returning from the AWCON in Cameroon, where the Senior National Team finished in fourth position, and the Sasol League National Champs with her club team which saw them finish in second place behind Bloemfontein Celtic after their 1 – 0 loss, Van Wyk can look back at a fantastic 2016 and be proud of her achievements. To add to her successes, Van Wyk has also been nominated as one of the five finalists for the 2016 CAF African Women’s Player of the Year award.

Van Wyk, 29, is the first South African player to sign with the Dash. She has made 142 appearances with the South African Women’s National team, Banyana Banyana, since her debut in 2005. Since her national team debut, Van Wyk has played in two Olympic tournaments in 2012 and 2016, and helped her team finish second in both the 2008 and 2012 Africa Women Cup of Nations. Van Wyk also assisted her team with a goal against Nigeria, which went down in the History books as Banyana Banyana’s first ever victory over the Super Falcons.

“I’m very excited that Janine will join the Dash in 2017. She was recently named as one of the four finalists for the African Footballer of the Year Award – that is the quality she brings to the team,” head coach Randy Waldrum said in the team’s press release.

“Janine also brings a wealth of international experience to the club. I felt we had to address our central defending positions this offseason and add more experience and leadership, Janine certainly fills that need,” Waldrum said

Van Wyk will leave South African soil in the new year to pursue her career in the United States.