Banyana’s Ellis upbeat about her team’s tough challenges in 2018
THE South African national women’s football team have a tough assignment in an international friendly against Sweden at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday (2pm kickoff), but interim coach Desiree Ellis is focusing on the benefits the occasion provides.
With Banyana Banyana looking ahead to the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations and the aim of qualifying for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup, games against top class, high-profile teams like Sweden are vital in preparing the team. Sweden are ranked 10th in the world and fifth in Europe.
The SA side has been hit by the retirement of captain Amanda Dlamini, but Ellis still has the US-based quartet of Kaylin Swart, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Amogelang Motau and Kelso Peskin to rely on.
“This year there is an opportunity to qualify for the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations and we are aware that it also doubles up as a qualifier for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup,” said Ellis.
“Our target is to win the 2018 AWCON because any team going to a tournament wants to win it, and we are no different. But if we fall short, then we want to make sure we get one of those three spots available for qualification. For now, though, the focus is on the Sweden game, so this is great preparation so early in the year.
“Our last match was against Burkina Faso, but now it’s full steam ahead for a very big year. The level of the game and pressure will be much higher than some of the players have faced before.
“But it’s also a way of measuring where we are as a team and as individuals, and also what we still need to do to be a welloiled team.”
Cosafa champions Banyana will be meeting Sweden for the third time on Sunday. The Swedes won both previous meetings – the first a 4-1 success at the London Olympics and the second a 1-0 victory at the Rio Games.
Mired towards the basement of the standings, the coach tasked with breathing new life into Ajax was recently-appointed Muhsin Ertugral (for his fourth stint at the helm of the Cape club). Ertugral set about the task urgently, and with gusto, coaxing former Orlando Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro back from Saudi Arabia, where he was playing for Al-Faisaly. Also brought in to freshen things up for Ajax were rising young star Fagrie Lakay, midfielder Samuel Julies and hard man Gerald Takwara.
Over at City, there are new faces too. Highly promising defender Kwanda Mngonyama was signed from Sundowns and is obviously seen as a replacement when Johannes departs, Surprise Ralani was lured back from Swedish club Helsingborgs, while Kenyan scoring sensation Masoud Juma is expected to take the PSL by storm once he has adapted to his new surroundings.
With Ertugral now in charge at Ajax, there has already been a shift in approach. They have certainly looked far better in recent outings, there is a noticeable change in attitude and, no doubt, there will be
So far, City have been in the ascendancy, but, with Ajax improving under Ertugral, Saturday’s game has the potential to be really special. Most notable is that the new faces and new attitudes, on both teams, will bring new energy.
Much of this new Cape derby’s rivalry hinges on the club bosses. City boss John Comitis was one of the founding owners of Ajax, until he fell out with his partners, the Efstathiou brothers (the current owners of Ajax). But to add more spice to the fixture is the fact that Ertugral had previously sided with Comitis in the ongoing feud. Now, in an about-turn, Ertugral and the Efstathious have mended fences.