Casablanca, Morocco – Banyana Banyana don find demself for one serious crossroads as dem prepare for the WAFCON third-place playoff against Ghana on Friday. This match fit turn the page for the finest chapter wey dey shape the women football story for South Africa.
Since 2016, Coach Desiree Ellis don lead these women like ghetto soldiers, making dem the most successful set of Banyana Banyana players wey South Africa don ever see. But na so e be, as dem dey talk say things fit change soon with some key players wan chop the retirement pepper and new faces don dey waka come join the team. Even Ellis self dey consider wetin go happen next, as she no wan spill any tea on whether she go continue with the team after this tournament.
“For now, I dey focus on the playoff,” she yarn for ESPN, no wan talk about her future. “But when we go back, I go take small break, sit down, and plan the next move.” She sabi say the wahala wey affect their ambition to reach the final upset dem, but she still get hope say dem fit end the tournament on a high note.
Under Ellis, dis team don break records, like when dem qualify for WAFCON for the first time in 2019 and later reach the round of 16 for 2023. No be small matter, as South Africa don dey struggle to get to the finish line since dem be runners-up four times before. But with Ellis, na victory dem dey find, as dem clinch their first WAFCON title last year by beating Morocco in the final.
This year’s campaign sweet honestly, but e come rough as dem lose key players like Jermaine Seoposenwe for personal reasons, and some veterans don decide to call am quits. Dezzy (na wetin dem dey call Ellis) still dey try to ensure say the young players fit carry the baton well. Players like Ronnel, who no too dey very familiar with the pressure, don start to shine.
“We don refresh the squad plenty,” Ellis talk. “The young players don dey carry the future, they don experience road to the World Cup and dey learn plenty from the older ones.” Yup, the torch don pass, and the young girls dey jump on the chance to shine.
Seoposenwe talk say she dey optimistic about the future of Banyana Banyana and how Ellis don lay strong foundation for their success. “The young ones dey come to me to learn,” she said. “Even if I no fit play their original position, dem still dey see me as role model.” Na real big moves dem dey make as the team no just dey play for theirself, but for their families and the entire country.
As Friday dey approach, everybody dey ready to start action for that third-place match. Ellis confirm say: “We wanted to go to the final, but since we no fit, we go just dey play for pride and make sure say we give Jermaine better send-off.”
So, as Banyana Banyana dey gear up for the bronze-match, with all the drama and uncertainty, one thing be clear: dem don show plenty courage and resilience. No matter wetin happen, dem go fight well to carry that bronze medal home.
