By Mohamed Allie BBC Sport

Phewa is South Africa's top scorer

South Africa's top female player Veronica Phewa and three of her team mates arrived in England on Tuesday for trials with Arsenal Ladies FC.

This is the first time that members of 'Banyana-Banyana', as the South African ladies team is known, have been invited for international trials.

Phewa and her colleagues, Portia Modise, Mpumi Nyandeni and Tanya Carelse travelled to the UK with Banyana-Banyana manager, Fran Hilton-Smith.

Hilton-Smith and former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey were instrumental in securing the trials with the London-based side.

"Ever since Banyana-Banyana played Arsenal in 1999 I've built a relationship with the club and asked them to have a look at some of our players. Now it's become a reality," said Hilton-Smith.

Phewa, South Africa's top goal scorer, nearly missed the trip but Tovey came to her rescue by securing sponsorship for her.

The women said they were very excited at the prospect of securing an overseas contract.

"Going to Arsenal is a big experience. I'm going to do my best," said striker Carelse.