This was sixth time lucky for our ladies and one can only imagine the pain of coming so close, yet so far, from winning this trophy so many times. Coming home with silver medals must have felt the same as being knocked out in the group stages, at some point, as they also finished third twice (2006 and 2010) in their illustrious Wafcon campaign since readmission to international football. That makes this victory all the more important, fulfilling and interesting, especially with a former player, coach Desiree, at the helm. Banyana went into this tournament as one of the teams to look out for, but the mere presence of Nigeria, Zambia and other powerhouses in women's football was a clear indication that it was never going to be easy. As if that wasn't enough, these two countries were lying in wait for coach Ellis' charges en route to the final, as ticking timebombs that were ready to detonate and spoil the party, with one team pitted against Banyana in the group stages, while the other one was their semi-final opposition, respectively.
You don't fail five times in the final and twice finish as third-placed, without being under pressure each time you try once more. This is a massive achievement for our ladies, as they brought something to smile about for the whole country when we needed it the most. We are desperately looking for positive news and anything that can bring us joy and happiness at being proudly South African. This win couldn't have come at a better time as our ladies hoisted our national flag, beaming with pride, as they finally laid their hands on that sought-after trophy. They couldn't have done it in a better fashion than scoring 10 goals with our goalkeeper, Andile Dlamini, only collecting the ball behind her net three times, in six games. That's an impressive run, by any means, and it speaks to the organisation and structure of the team that has been on an upward trajectory. Not a single soul can argue about the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies' goal-minder bagging the Goalkeeper of the Tournament gong.
As much as coach Des changed her team around, from time to time, there were important positions that she didn't experiment with. One of those was the goalkeeping department. Even when it was clear that Banyana were through to the knockout stages, she remained with her number one goalkeeper because there was no need to fix it when it wasn't broken. Much as it would have been great to see the other two goalkeepers, the way Dlamini managed the goalposts saw no need for change. Credit to coach Des and the technical team for also making sure that there was enough depth in the team. Whether you want to agree or not, Thembi Kgatlana's injury and the COVID-19-related challenges could have easily spelt disaster and possibly the end of any realistic chances of Banyana reaching the final, let alone winning it, but – through the technical team's meticulous planning, preparation and ability to adjust and adapt – the impact was very minimal. Thembi has been, by far, our most prized asset, especially when it comes to creating and scoring goals, but the balance in the team proved so vital as everyone who was called upon gave as much, if not more, as the teammate they were called to replace. That can only happen when your team has an identity and you are dealing with player profiles rather than individuals. As much as we felt Kgatlana's absence, we still went on to get the job done and that is as a result of the quality and depth created by the technical team.
It is also very interesting to note that coach Des, her technical team and the players did all of this with their backs against the wall. There were a number of people who didn't believe in the coach, the whole team and even thought Banyana were just going to add numbers and continue to disappoint at Wafcon. Coach Des didn't prove anyone wrong, she just got the mission accomplished and that's what should be the focus. It is also interesting to note that it took coach Des' appointment – a Banyana legend and a local coach – to finally put an end to so many failed attempts. The very same coach whose decisions have been put under so much scrutiny from different sectors, a coach who spent over two years in charge of the national team without being offered a proper contract. The powers that be were clearly still contemplating over whether she was good enough to take over from her predecessor, Vera Pauw. It was just over two years after Pauw left that Ellis was finally appointed Banyana coach, in 2018, after being a caretaker coach. The legendary Ellis just couldn't get out of coach Pauw's shadow, with some legends, especially former teammate Portia Modise, claiming that she had not done anything special with the national team as she was enjoying the fruits of the hard work done by her predecessor. With no contract forthcoming, the impression was that SAFA were looking for a suitable candidate, possibly from abroad, when coach Des was right under their nose and doing a sterling job with the women's team.
Once again, coach Des didn't prove anyone wrong but just got the job done. Massive congratulations to you, coach. This is not only good for Banyana but women's sport in the country, in general. Now you're staking a claim for your place in the country's sport, playing your role and ensuring that your presence is felt. It is time women's football, and sport in general, is taken seriously and that corporate also comes on board to plough back to women's sport. Banyana players getting underpaid should be a thing of the past because they are not just playing for themselves or their families, they are representing the country. That means they are on national duty and therefore being paid a pittance in comparison to their male counterparts is an insult. Yes, women's football is not on the same wavelength as that of men's, but that doesn't make their patriotism any less. They are equally important to our country and therefore deserve the same respect and compensation. When SAFA president Danny Jordaan made a promise to reward our ladies handsomely for winning the tournament, we were all happy for them because it was about time they were shown some respect. Now, the ladies have delivered on their end of the bargain and it is time for the president to do the same. Let's not wait for months before our ladies can enjoy the rewards of their hard labour in representing our country. We can't just celebrate them on social media. They must have something to show for the work, sacrifices and commitment they have put into representing their country. Let them feel the love and appreciation because they deserve it. Once more, congratulations, coach Des and your team. It was a long time coming and it couldn't have been brought home by anyone more deserving. Congratulations also on your Coach of the Year award. 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, here we come!
