Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has been the fuel behind the team’s drive in recent years, and this is thanks to her positive outlook on the team’s performances.
As such, when Banyana ended their year with back-to-back losses to Jamaica early this month, she cut a positive figure about the team’s performance.
“It’s been a long season. Players are coming from the Cosafa Cup and the Caf Women’s Champions League, and the straight into this camp,” she explained.
“So, it’s been a long season for everyone, and that’s why you’ve been seeing all the niggles. But I am happy and proud (of this group of players).”
Played Top Opponents
Banyana’s two successive losses to Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz marked their fourth loss in a row in less than a month, having also fallen to Denmark and England last month.
But be that as it, the fact that Banyana were able to play these four friendlies – especially against the Danes and English – meant a lot for their Afcon title defence in Morocco next year.
Denmark and England are ranked in the top 12 in the world, making them forces to be reckoned with not only in Europe, but around the world.
Ditto, the fact that Banyana were able to qualify for back-to-back World Cups in 2019 and 2013 and win their maiden Wafcon in 2022 is due to these friendlies against top opponents.
Banyana Bench Equipped
There were also some individuals and contributing factors to this Banyana team that made strides in the last few months, something that could aid their performances in future.
Assistant coach Thina Mbuli was busy with her coaching badges prior to the European tour, before leading her University of the Western Cape team in the Champions League for the first time.
UWC won the Cosafa Cup inter-club competition, and qualified for the continental showpiece, becoming the second SA team in the finals alongside Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mbuli’s individual and collective efforts were rewarded by Caf as she was one of the finalists for the Women’s Coach of the Year – an award that Ellis had won for the last three years in a row.
Banyana Players Rewarded
And while Mbuli lost that award to her TP Mazembe counterpart Lamia Boumehdi at the continental awards in Morocco this week, four Banyana players were rewarded for their exploits.
Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, defenders Karabo Dhlamini and Lebohang Ramalepe and midfielder Linda Motlhalo were all voted into the Caf Women’s Best Xl of the Year.
The first trio didn’t only play a role in the Banyana set-up, but in Sundowns clinching the Super League title for their fifth season in a row on home soil, which was an unprecedented feat.
Motlhalo, meanwhile, continued to shine bright in the US for Racing Louisville, following her exploits for the national team and her previous club Glasgow Rangers.
FLAWLESS. 🔥⚽️
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 16, 2024
Presenting the 𝐂𝐀𝐅 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐗𝐈 and it’s as extraordinary as they get! 🙌⁰#CAFAwards2024 | @FIFProAfrica | @FIFPRO pic.twitter.com/UIN6wqj9IW
Banyana Beat Safa, Jordaan Controversy
Banyana’s big finish to the year spoke volumes of the team’s abilities to rise above adversity, especially given that their poor relationship with their mother body and their president continued.
Banyana were owed money by Safa this year, which needed the intervention of the sports ministry as they advanced R5 million for their unpaid salaries.
And that’s not all. Safa president Danny Jordaan was arrested and charged with fraud after being accused of using the association’s funds – mounting to R1.3 million – for personal use last month.
This was not the first time Banyana rose above their challenges with the association. They finished in the last 16 in the Australasia World Cup, despite being involved in a brawl with Safa over bonuses.
Stars Set International Stage Alight
Maturity and growth within this Banyana team was evident this year. A couple of key figures in the Banyana set-up continued to make strides, including abroad.
Motlhalo’s impressive exploits in the US are well documented. The country has been sent into a frenzy over the performances of Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe in Mexico.
Banyana’s legendary defender Noko Matlou, 39, continued to defied her age as she joined Spanish Primera Federacion side CP Cacereno Femenino in August.
However, there’s no doubt the year belonged to UWC on home soil, as their duo of Noxolo Cesane and Bongeka Gamede bagged international moves to Saudi Arabia and Denmark.
Banyana Shrugged Off Poor Start
It was, perhaps, befitting that Banyana ended the year with performances that Ellis was “happy and proud of” especially after a poor start.
Banyana incredibly failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris in April, following their loss to arch-rivals Nigeria in the last round of the qualifiers.
That loss stung for Banyana so much so that there was doubt over Ellis’ abilities to still coach the star-studded team, as it may have outgrown her.
Added to that were some rumours that she had lost the dressing room as players apparently preferred her assistant Mbuli to take over the reins.
Ellis Duly Honoured
Sure, that loss to the Super Falcons cast doubt over Ellis’ future and abilities, but she still engraved her name in the hearts of South Africans.
Ellis was celebrated with a honorary doctorate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) – at the same time that the North West University honoured Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus with his.
Desiree Ellis Receives Honorary Doctorate from CPUT This Afternoon.
— CPUT (@CPUT) April 25, 2024
Banyana Banyana Coach Desiree Ellis dedicated her Honorary Doctorate to all those who believe in the power of sport to propel them from their circumstances.
Read more here https://t.co/0YovocTOlP pic.twitter.com/DmV6Y0W0QG
The 61-year-old Ellis took things up a notch last month in her achievements. She was inducted into the SA Hall of Fame, alongside some of the finest football figures in the land.
These two recognitions added more feathers to Ellis’ cap, having been a recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga, which was bestowed upon her by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year.