Ellis has earned her stripes with Banyana

Sports fans can be fickle at times and calls for Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis to be axed after her team’s failure to qualify for the Olympics are premature. The spotlight on Ellis’s future with the team heightened when Banyana were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by the Super Falcons of Nigeria at Loftus. Making full use of home-ground advantage, Nigeria clinched the tie after winning the first leg 1-0 in Abuja

Though Ellis failed to deliver an Olympic berth, not even Banyana’s harshest critics can deny that she has enjoyed unprecedented success with the national team.

Banyana won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), beating hosts Morocco in the final, in 2022 and became SA’s first senior national football team to progress past a World Cup group stage in Australasia.

In addition, Ellis has led Banyana to two World Cup qualifications and inspired a new generation of women players in SA.

Banyana failed to impress in the second leg at Loftus against Nigeria and prompted speculation Ellis had run out of ideas.

Nigeria are the No 1 ranked women’s team in Africa and the pivotal battle at Loftus was always going to be a fierce duel for continental domination between formidable teams.

The record books show Nigeria have won 11 of the 14 women’s Nations Cups and qualified for all nine women’s World Cups.

This crop of SA players is regarded as Banyana’s golden generation of players, which makes Olympic failure more disappointing.

An emotional Ellis battled to hold back tears when she talked about the profound disappointment of failing to lead Banyana to the Olympic Games in France.

Ellis has always worn her heart on her sleeve and her total commitment to keep SA’s flag flying high on the international stage has been a shining beacon for women’s soccer.

Ellis admitted Banyana disappointed the country and she did not know if she would be around for the next Olympic qualifiers.

However, Ellis indicated she would like to help Banyana defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

Ellis has earned her stripes and deserves to remain at the helm for Banyana.