Time for Change in Banyana Banyana's Leadership as coach Desiree Ellis struggles to run a watertight ship

The winds of change must blow within the senior national women's team set-up. It is clear that the binder that is supposed to hold the structure together has lost its bearings.

Desiree Ellis achieved the improbable with Banyana Banyana over the years, and for that, the nation will always worship the ground she walks on.

Perhaps, if it wasn’t for her, Banyana wouldn’t be regarded as one of the powerhouses of African football today as many came and failed before her!

Under Ellis' tutelage, the SA women’s national team broke barriers, won their maiden Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and qualified for back-to-back World Cup finals.

Perhaps, if it wasn’t for her, some childhood dreams wouldn’t have been realised and lives of some individuals and families wouldn’t have been changed.

And so, given all that she’s done and more, she’s duly befitting of all the recognition that she’s received, including the coveted Order of Ikhamanga and Honourary Doctorate.

But as rousing as that may have been, Banyana’s unsavoury fourth-place finish at recent WAFCON and allegations against Ellis don't mitigate that her time is up.

Judging by the team's performances during their preparations of the teams on home soil and external, few believed that they’d achieve the improbable and retain their title in Morocco.

And instead of making sure the team made their naysayers eat humble pie - as everyone tends to love a twist in the tale - Banyana played right into the critics and finished fourth.

Sure, losing is part and parcel of the game as even the reigning and 10-time champions Nigeria also finished fourth when Banyana triumphed in 2022.

But what’s worrisome and adds fuel to the fire of Banyana’s poor run at WAFCON, is the revelation of Jermaine Seoposenwe during a recent interview on Marawa Sport Worldwide.

“I don’t have anything against Des, no matter what people say,” said Seoposenwe who recently called time on her international career.

“I do understand that she’s also given the tools that she has and must work with (by the association).

“But I do believe that she has more that she can do for the team. As a group, standing up with us to fight against the association, (is one the things she can do).

“I understand that she’s employed by them, and that’s her job. But Vera Pauw (Ellis' predecessor) used to go up and fight for us, and she wasn’t scared of that!”

You see, the teething problems of everything that has happened at Banyana is from the South African Football Association's (Safa) poor treatment of the team, especially when it comes to match bonuses.

But Ellis needed to do right by her troops - stand by them when they decide to boycott games or training matches as they fight for her and the nation on the pitch as well.

It doesn't seem that Ellis has it in her though. When Banyana boycotted a friendly before the last World Cup due to another batter with Safa, Ellis coached the makeshift team that turned up.

Ellis might have been a loyal employee to Safa, which continues to not do right by her after reports that she has been working without a job since 2022, but it seems that happened at the players' expense. And that's unwarranted!

Ellis must do the noble thing and preserve all that she’s achieved and her reputation by stepping down and allow someone else to take the team to a new direction.