Desiree Ellis Wins 2019 CAF Women Coach Of The Year
Desiree Ellis, coach of Banyana Banyana, has won the women’s Coach of the Year category at the CAF Awards held at the Albatros Citadel Hotel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, on the shores of Egypt’s Red Sea.
Ellis created a watershed moment in South African women’s football when she guided Banyana to their first ever Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The 56-year-old retained the award she won in 2019 after Banyana finished runners-up at the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations, which sealed their qualification for the World Cup in France.
“God is great, this is for all the coaches that coach women’s football but most importantly this is for Banyana Banyana,” said Ellis after accepting the award.
Banyana Banyana lost all three of their group games, but gave good account of themselves and earned the respect of the elite in the women’s game.
She is also the only person to win the COSAFA Women’s Championship as both player and coach.
By Gerald Dandah
