Ellis just gets on with the job
I JUST LOVE IT
It must be somewhat frustrating for Banyana Banyana caretaker coach Desiree Ellis, with the South African Football Association continuing to dither over whether they want her or someone else as the leader of the women’s senior national team.
But even if it is, she is certainly doing a fine job of remaining graceful during the process.
“All I can do is go ahead with the job, which is to prepare the team as best I can,” Ellis told Phakaaathi last week, at a breakfast arranged by the Laureus Sport For Good Foundation.
“Whatever decision is made, whether I am the coach or someone else is, the team is in a good position, and all we can do is act as professionally as we can, and continue until told otherwise. That is what I am doing. There are endless headaches, going to games, scouting players, getting players together, but I love it. No matter what happens, Banyana will always be close to my heart.”
Ellis’ permanent appointment, meanwhile, is backed by former Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini.
“If Safa is going with the notion of empowering female coaches, why not?” adds Dlamini.
“She is her own person with her own philosophy and it is time we really invest in our own … I really need to commend the way coach Desiree has handled it … any other coach wouldn’t be confident calling camps.”
Dlamini also says she is available to play if Banyana need her, though the midfielder has also been busy lately off the field, with her foundation and work for SuperSport TV.
Giving back to the community was a large theme of Laureus’ breakfast last week – the foundation, in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, have given between R10 and 12 million to 26 charities in South Africa over the past year.
“What we do at each breakfast is bring in programmes within the immediate vicinity, projects we fund that are affecting changes in the communities. Today we have Grassroots Soccer, which is an international programme. We have funded the South African part for six years, and it is now one of the strongest programmes and best practice programmes,” said Laureus SA’s Executive Director Brett Graham.