Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame on Wednesday, which is the latest accolade in her already legendary career.
The coach who hails from Cape Town has played a pivotal role in the development of women’s football in South Africa while setting new standards at the helm of the women’s national team. Since taking charge as Banyana coach in 2018, Ellis has led the team to new heights during her six-year stint.
Ellis and her Banyana charges have been ripping up the history books during that time, guiding the side to back-to-back appearances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019 and 2023. All of this, while establishing the team as an African heavyweight.
Incredible. Obviously, she’s elevated women’s football massively in the country – it’s only been on an upward trajectory since she’s taken over. A lot of props because she’s definitely bringing a lot of credibility to the women’s game.
In 2022, Ellis earned her crowning moment after leading Banyana to their maiden continental title by winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco – beating the host nation 2-1 in the final. At the World Cup a year later, Ellis and her team made more history down under by becoming the first senior South African team to advance to the knockout stages of a World Cup.
South Africa made it to the Round of 16 for the very first time, something no other men’s or women’s team has done, where they were ultimately defeated 2-0 by the Netherlands.
In the months that followed, Ellis received her flowers and got the recognition she deserved. In April this year, the Banyana tactician received an Honorary Doctorate in Sports Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) for her contributions to women’s sport. Ellis however, is no stranger to receiving major accolades.
Look at what Banyana’s doing on the world stage as well, so it’s just a good time to be a South African football supporter and it’s people like Desiree that are elevating our game massively on all fronts.
The former Banyana captain has had somewhat of a stranglehold on one of the continent’s top honours, having been named as CAF Women’s Coach of the Year a record four times in 2018, 2019, 2022 and in 2023.
Being a good player doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an amazing coach. You gotta go do the badges, you gotta go do all the hard work and the hard graft. To become a coach it’s a whole new ball game – when you become a coach and gotta learn from the get-go.
Ellis was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Wednesday 20 November, alongside fellow South African legends who, according to the South African Hall of Fame, “have shaped the history of South African football and will be celebrated in a grand ceremony that recognizes their unparalleled contributions both on and off the field”.
A humbled Ellis thanked her players and coaching staff as well as the South African Football Association (SAFA) for supporting her growth during her successful time in the dugout.
I am truly humbled and blessed. A big thank you to the South African Hall of Fame for the induction… we always speak about teamwork, and we always say that individuals will get recognition and I’m just blessed that I’m one of those individuals.
She understood the [Banyana] culture and she knew what was required to turn us into a winning nation but she’s done the hard graft in the coaching world after her professional playing days which is even more credit to her. She’s really done it as a player and now again as a coach.
Other inductees include former Bafana Bafana captains Neil Tovey and Lucas Radebe as well as former Bafana coaches coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba and Jomo Sono.
The likes of former South African President Nelson Mandela and the 1995 and 2007 Springbok Rugby World Cup-winning teams as well as a handful of Team South Africa Olympic Medalists have been inducted in the past.
It’s only fitting that a pioneer of women’s football in South Africa headlines the latest list of legends the South African Hall of Fame.
