Desiree Ellis: Banyana Banyana is not celebrated enough

Banyana were eliminated in the semi-finals of the WAFCON and also lost their third-place playoff match against Ghana.

The national team were the defending champions having won the trophy in 2022 and also represented South Africa in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, exiting in the last 16.

Speaking to Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000, Ellis believes that the team is not given enough credit.

“I’m talking about Banyana as a whole, I think this team is not celebrated enough for their achievements. I think with everything that this team has done on the field, there’s no sponsors coming in, all of those things. I think they need to be celebrated more, they need more recognition, they deserve more because of that,” Ellis said.

“I’m talking about everyone that is involved in Banyana because I don’t work alone, I work with the assistant coach, goalkeeper coach, analyst, conditioning coach, and put so much in but there’s no recognition for the work that they do. Banyana deserves more.”

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England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who recently retired, signed a long term deal with Puma from adidas last year. 

She has also been part of a lot of campaigns and adverts.

The 61-year-old has urged South African brands to invest in women’s sport.

“That’s what I’m talking about, it’s not just Banyana, it’s women’s sports in general, women's sport is not recognised. KG has done so well in tennis but all you see is she does well but there’s no noise, then it’s very quiet,” the coach added. 

“That’s what I’m talking about, women have to do extra ordinary things to get recognised, women have to do extra ordinary things to get sponsored and I don’t think it’s fair because they put in the same work. 

“Some of them even have  a 9-5 [full-time job] and then they still have to go out there and perform. So, let’s give them the recognition, we have to celebrate each other because we don’t celebrate each other enough."