Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has dedicated the Woman Coach of the Year award, she won on Thursday evening, to the whole team.
The 59-year-old coach, who has won the award three times, insisted that he wouldn’t have made it had it not been for the team she coaches.
“It’s an individual award, but also not an individual award because we play in a team sport. This would not have been possible without the team. It’s an award I received on behalf of everyone,” Ellis remarked.
Ellis is going to lead Banyana when they meet Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Saturday evening. And she’s happy with how focused her players are ahead of the match.
“When I look at the players now, they are so focused, they are so happy. They are united. They want this really bad,” Ellis said.
“I thank them for getting us this far. It’s their day to shine, it’s their day to go there and bring that trophy back. I have full confidence in that they will go out there. I have full confidence that they will bring that trophy back to South Africa.”
