Desiree Ellis: A coach whose work is yet to be given the respect it deserves.

Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis. 

Banyana Banyana lost 3-2 to Serbia on Monday in a match played at the Sportski Centar Fudbalskog Saveza Srbije.

Coach Desiree Ellis's girls were 3-0 down by the 23rd minute, but fought back to score two goals via Hilda Magaia 30' and Jermaine Seiposenwe, 79'.

Serbia, as was expected, controlled possession with 62%, while Banyana had a meager 38% of the ball.

But is in the goal mouth stats that Banyana impressed, having managed 11 goal attempts, with Serbia getting 12.

The fact that Banyana managed to create some valuable opportunities, with an xG of 1 53, close to Serbia's 1.82, says a lot about the strides they have taken tactically under the Ellis's tutelage.

They might have lost yesterday, in a game that formed part of their World Cup preparations, and they will probably not get past the group stages at the main event, which is to be expected considering their level of experience when it comes to international women's football.

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But one thing one can always from Banyana, is 100% effort, and where it is possible to win, they never disappoint, as they proved when they won the AFCON 2022 in Morocco.

The way the team is fighting to be the best they can be, against all odds, reflects the determined spirit of their coach, Desiree Ellis.

Despite women's football not getting enough support and the respect it deserves, Ellis and her girls keep improving and impressive with each game they play.

And Banyana's rise is not surprising, the three time African Women's Coach of the year, is a hard-working mentor who is passionate about the game, something that was evident even during her playing days.

To get where she is, Ellis has had to break a lot of boundaries, and beat many an odd.

"After finishing school I found some work here and there but it was not easy. I worked at a butchery just before Banyana was formed. I was fired from that job because I was juggling work at the butchery and playing football. It was my only source of income because we didn't earn much playing for the national team. I was also doing a balancing act as I was also playing for Spurs," Ellis told Sowetan a few years ago.
https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-01-20-not-in-her-wildest-dreams-did-desiree-ellis-think-shed-become-a-coach/

"I pride myself in the long hours I put into my work. I have dedicated my entire life to football and wouldn't have it any other way."

Perhaps, Ellis's passion for the game, is even better reflected in the following comment from the same interview.

"I do not have a biological child but the players have become my kids. That is the sacrifice. Coaching has taught me to care about the people I am working with. Sometimes you have to be stern but you have to care and have compassion."

With such a women of the game at their helm, one can rest assured that Banyana will keep improving, until they reach their full potential.

At 60-years of age, Ellis is still a teenager in the world of coaching, yet she has achieved so much, something she deserves a lot of credit and respect for.

Her name should be mentioned in rooms where great coaches like Pitso Mosimane are spoken about.

That much she deserves! And the exciting part is, the best is yet to come from her. 

Ellis, and Dlamini are happy with Banyana's World Cup preparations.

Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis. Image: Twitter

Banyana Banyana will kickoff their 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup against Sweden on the 23rd of July at the Wellington Regional Stadium.

Banyana are in a difficult Group G, with Argentina and Italy as the other two nations.

But before that, adequate preparations will be key if Banyana are to prove themselves competitive in the main event, hence their friendly international against Serbia on Monday 10 April at the SC FA of Serbia-Stara Pazova.

As the African Champions wrap up their preparations, goalkeeper, Andile Dlamini, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League, believes the lessons learned from their previous World Cup appearance in France, will help them do better this time around to make the country proud.

"The first World Cup was incredible for us, we went there for experience and we learnt that the game has much improved. The World Cup is the highest level and mentally we are switched on and we understand the demands," said Dlamini as quoted by Sowetan Live. https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-04-08-serbia-friendly-will-assess-quality-of-banyanas-preparation-says-dlamini/ 

"The lesson that we have learnt from the previous World Cup is that the speed of play is on a different level. You make sure that you focus on the task at hand, which is the group stages. 

"We must make sure that we perform to the best of our abilities and make the country proud."

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Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, has been left impressed with the improvements the players have shown so far in their preparations.

"I think it was a worthwhile and fruitful exercise bringing in the players early and working on some things that we needed to work on. I think it really helped us," said Ellis.

"We had a bit of a break with players going back to play (in the Hollywoodbets Super League) and when they returned we could see players showing up. Nicole Michael scored a hat-trick, Thubelihle Shamase scored a bicycle kick and Katlego Moletsane did well as a goalkeeper. This is what we want to see when players go back to their clubs.

"The attitude, the work rate and effort was all there. We worked a lot and could see slowly but surely, the improvements. Now we go to the next part of the camp where we travel to Serbia and we meet the overseas-based players."