Ellis believes Banyana can capture Cosafa Championship

BANYANA BANYANA interim coach, Desiree Ellis, is confident that her side can go all the way and challenge to win this year’s Cosafa Women’s Championship, despite having 10 new faces in her current squad.

Ellis, who was speaking after Banyana’s first training session in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe ahead of their first match of Group C against Lesotho tomorrow at Luveve Stadium (4.30pm kickoff), stated that the majority of her players showed hunger in training that they really wanted to win this championship.

Banyana are also pitted alongside Botswana and Namibia in their group, as they seek to reach the knockout stages.

“I told this group that they mustn’t put themselves under undue pressure now that they are selected to be in the senior national team,” Ellis said. “I told them that they must just continue with whatever they were doing in their respective teams, because that’s what got them here in the first place. They must always remember to push themselves to improve in whatever situation they might find themselves in, on the field. Doing that, will help up their game and confidence.

“The intention is to take it one game at time. Our focus is now set on our first game which is against Lesotho, in which we hope to come out as winners.”

Meanwhile, Banyana vice-captain, Refiloe Jane, is expected to lead the national team as Janine van Wyk is unavailable due to club commitments with her US-based outfit Houston Dash. Ellis said Jane has been in fine form in training and expects her to deliver a similar type of quality with her style of play and leadership skills, to help Banyana win the title.

“Refiloe has been a captain before, and though this is her first Cosafa tournament to ever feature in, we know that she can handle that pressure quite well,” Ellis, pictured, said. “She’s just a born leader. That’s just how she is. She’s been that way ever since. Even when Van Wyk is around, you can’t help but notice that leadership spark she has on the field. This decision was a no-brainer for me because she has those qualities expected from any good leader. I truly believe that she will do well, as well.”

Hosts Zimbabwe will get their 2017 Cosafa Women’s Championship under way today.

Zimbabwe are among the pre-tournament favourites and their coach, Sithethelelwe Sibanda, has largely gone for tried and tested players.