Banyana Banyana number one Roxanne Barker has signed a one-year contract with women’s Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen Vrouwen.
Barker will link up with her new teammates after the Rio 2016 Olympics where she will be appearing in her second Olympic Games.
According to safa.net, Barker was scouted during the South African senior women’s national team recent trip to the Netherlands and was immediately identified as a transfer target.
‘I am very happy about it,’ Barker said after concluding the deal.
‘I think it is going to help me become more known in Europe, which is difficult when you are an African-based player.
‘It’s hard for clubs to see you and they don’t want to risk their money to bring you over when they can use their own players, so it’s good that we got to play in Europe and they (Heerenveen) could come to the game and watch me play.
‘The video that you may send them cannot really help with making a decision because at the end of the day they want to see you in action and they ask if you can fly yourself over – which means as an individual you take a chance to spend money to travel and see if they like you or not. So The Netherlands match was perfect timing.’
The former Pepperdine University student was on the books of Iceland side Thor before leaving to take her place in the extended buildup preparations for Banyana’s Rio 2016 bid. A move which she believes helped her secure a quick deal.
‘I guess I did in a way because I took the chance to leave Iceland, assuming that being in the squad with coach Vera, who is also well known, that I would get to be seen more – especially with the programme that she had planned out for us. So I thought along the way I would get the opportunity, if not I would go back to Iceland.’
Player Profile: Roxanne Barker
Full Names: Roxanne Kimberly Barker
Place of Birth: Pietermaritzburg
Nickname: Roxy
Date of birth: 06/05/1991
Position: Goalkeeper
Current Club: SC Heerenveen Vrouwens
Club History: Thor/KA (Iceland), Maties, Pepperdine University (U.S.A), Durban Ladies
Honours: 2012 London Olympics, Four Time NCAA Division 1 WCC selection,
LA Soccer News Women’s College Player of the Week.
Caps: 27
Banyana debut: v Zimbabwe on 10 December 2011
