By Benjamin Nyirenda
South Africa’s women’s national football side, Banyana Banyana, face a difficult task of winning their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final when they face hosts Morocco on Saturday even in Rabat, Morocco.
Ellis, who was named the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year at an event held in Morocco last night, says she is not faced by the 12th player their opponents will be bringing on game day, with the game being played in Morocco, Moroccans will surely come out in numbers to support their team. Ellis says her players are focused on the game.
“The players are focused. We are all focused on this game. We achieved our first objective which was to qualify for the World Cup next year and now we are on into our second objective which is to win the WAFCON trophy. We know it won’t be easy but the players are focused and they want to do this,” adds Ellis.
Ellis has also thanked the players and the technical team for reaching the finals.
“We thank everyone for coming this far. We thank the players for their dedication and commitment to reach this far. We thank the supporters back home for being with us throughout the journey until this far. We thank everyone who has been behind the team to achieve what we have achieved and now it’s all up to us to finish off the job on Saturday, ” she adds.
On her third award as Women’s Coach of the Year, Ellis says the award is not an individual award because they play as a team and there are other people who help her achieve the desired results.
“Though it looks like an individual award this is a team award. We work together with the technical team and the players to achieve this award. I am thankful to everyone who has helped me accomplish the work and receive this award. As I have said this is a team award and we are now up to the finals and we have to concentrate on the game against Morocco. I actually didn’t even want to go to the award ceremony but the team encouraged me to go.
And knowing that there are capable people to stay and work with the team I had to go and attend the award ceremony knowing that the team is in good hands. This is not my award but the team award, ” Ellis concludes.
In a message to the team the South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the team to bring back the WAFCON trophy home.