Banyana’s coach remains cautious
ELLIS: WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE THREE POINTS
Tshepo Ntsoelengoe
Nothing is guaranteed yet, says Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis ahead of their last group stages game against Zambia in the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana today.
Banyana are the only side to have won two of their first three games in Group B and they top the standings with six points.
The South Africans only need a draw to book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition. But, looking at Nigeria and the Zambians who are both on three points, both sides still have a chance to advance through to the last four, and Ellis insists her team will go all out for a win against the Shepolopolo.
“It’s a game we have to win, nothing has been cast in stone yet. There are lots of permutations, so we have to make sure we don’t want to get involved in the permutations, we have to make sure that we get three points and get out of the permutations because you can play fanatic football in the first two games and next game you take your foot off the pedal,” said the Banyana coach.
“They are still in it, they know they are still in it and we only need a draw. But to be safe, we are not going to play for a draw, we are going for the win and will prepare as usual, analyse and then we will have to execute our plan.”
Ellis is content with the display of her charges so far at the tournament, particularly in terms of goal scoring, which was a worrying factor in the past.
In the last two games, Banyana have managed to find the back of the eight times with different scorers, but only striker Thembi Kgatlana has more than one goal, having scored three times in the tournament so far.
Meanwhile, Banyana have only conceded one goal and Ellis adds that goalkeeper Kaylin Swart’s distribution has also been a key for them in attack.
“The distribution by Kaylin is getting us on the front foot and when we get in the final third we have options and it’s great to see different goalscorers.”