Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has big decisions to make in the next few weeks: plan the future for the South African national senior women’s national team or pursue a new career path.
Following yet another good showing by Banyana in an international football tournament, after reaching the knockout phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, iDiski Times understands that Ellis is a coach in demand.
Ellis qualified Banyana for their second World Cup after having also taken them to France in 2019, meaning she is the only coach to have qualified the SA women’s senior national team for the big spectacle. In another first, the former Banyana captain had also won the maiden Women’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Morocco in 2022 and they came to the World Cup as African champions.
At this year’s World Cup, the 54th-ranked African football nation punched above its weight, beating highly ranked teams like Italy (16th), coming very close to drawing level with third-ranked Sweden – who are now also semi-finalists – and throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw with Argentina (29th).
All of this happened under the watch of Ellis and it’s believed that these kinds of performances and also tactical acumen from the bench have not gone unnoticed around the world, despite the team being knocked out in the second round by one of the strongest teams at this year’s World Cup, the Netherlands.
iDiski Times sources with close knowledge of the situation have revealed that Ellis has attracted offers in Europe, from some countries and clubs in the Gulf region, and some African nations.
Speaking to the media upon her return from Australia last Friday, Ellis revealed that she is taking her time to decide on the future.
“I haven’t decided, I need to sit down with the South African Football Association (SAFA), I need to take a break first. Go home and visit my family which is very important,” said Ellis about her future.
“We will sit down and discuss the final… the way forward.”
Asked if something is stopping her from coaching in Europe or other football markets…Ellis responded… “not at all.”
Banyana are also scheduled to play international friendly matches against outgoing world champions, USA in Cincinnati and Chicago on 21 and 24 September 2023 but it remains to be seen whether it will be with Ellis on the bench.
This story first appeared in the iDiski Times newspaper, edition 117.
