Uncertainty of job won’t distract Ellis
Banyana caretaker has a point to prove
As the SA Football Association’s (Safa) search for a new Banyana Banyana coach seems to be taking forever, caretaker Desiree Ellis remains committed to guide the national women’s team.
Going into their international friendly against Burkina Faso at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday (3pm), Ellis will be out to show Safa once more why she deserves the post which was left vacant by Vera Pauw in August last year.
“I am enjoying every minute of it [coaching Banyana]. Until I am told differently, I will continue to do what I love doing,’’ said Ellis.
“The focus is solely on this game and we have prepared well. This game came at the right time after winning the Cosafa Women’s Championship [in Zimbabwe last month]. It will help us keep the momentum.”
Though she is brimming with confidence going into the tie against the Burkinabe, the Cape Town-born tactician admitted that she knew little about their opponents.
“I do not know much about them but I know that they have not been playing much football in a while. What I am expecting from them is that they will be more physical,” Ellis said at the Banyana training camp in Soweto yesterday.
“We will be getting some information about them before the game,’’ said the 54-year-old mentor.
Ellis also explained the absence of star midfielder Amanda Dlamini, insisting that the door is still open for all the players who are not part of the current squad.
“Amanda played this [past] weekend but prior to that she did not play two games. In the previous two camps where we called her, she was not available and we needed to take players who have been regularly in camp, however the door is never closed.”