By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Coach Desiree Ellis knows what Malawi, who meet Banyana Banyana in their opening match at the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha on Tuesday, can offer on the field.
Winners of the last four editions of the tournament, Banyana Banyana face the Malawians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 15h30 and Ellis will be out to ensure that her team start the tournament on a positive note.
The two teams have met thrice in the last three editions of the tournament with Banyana Banyana emerging victorious in all those matches.
“We played Malawi in 2018 in the group stages as well as in 2019. In 2019 we had to come from behind to beat them 3-1. We then played them in the semi-finals in 2020,” the Banyana Banyana coach said.
“In essence, all the matches we played against them have really been tough. We are not expecting anything less.”
Fresh from winning the Aisha Buhari Cup after they beat the Nigerian Super Falcons 4-2 in Lagos, Nigeria, Banyana Banyana will need to be on top of their game as they seek a brilliant start in Gqeberha.
“We have to be on top of our game. It’s important that we really start well. It’s important that we make sure we don’t concede first,” Ellis said.
“We are not expecting any easy game, but we have to make sure we are on top of our game and execute our plan. They also have a new coach, which is the acting coach and the players will obviously play very hard to impress him.”
Meanwhile, the Malawians landed in Gqeberha on Saturday evening and their coach McNelbert Kazuwa revealed that they know Banyana Banyana.
“We know South Africa is a big team. They are just coming from a tournament, the Aisha Buhari Cup. We are going to play as we always play,” Kazuwa said.
