SA Women’s coach Ellis reflects on Banyana’s CAF award win

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Jan 06, 2018. 12:00

South Africa women’s team caretaker-coach Desiree Ellis was happy to see Banyana Banyana crowned 2017 CAF Women’s National Team of the Year at the CAF Awards on Thursday.

Ellis was in charge of the Banyana team that won the 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Zimbabwe last September.

Former Banyana captain Ellis could not contain herself‚ also giving much credit to her team.

“We all did it – I am overwhelmed. I knew we stood a good chance of winning this award but when it actually happened all I could say to myself was‚ ‘Wow’‚ and it just brought tears to my eyes,” she told SAFA.net.

There was‚ however‚ no success in the category of Women’s Player of the Year‚ where Banyana striker Thembi Kgatlana lost out to Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala.

“I am sad for Thembi and I was confident she was going to win it‚ but I guess it was not her night. I was really hoping she would follow in the footsteps of Noko (Matlou) who won it in 2008‚” Ellis added.

“But she is young‚ and … I believe just being nominated into the top three she is already a winner – because it is not many who get to receive this accolade of being nominated for such a big award.”