Banyana Banyana's failure to qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn a lot of attention and cast doubt on coach Desiree Ellis' future, with some including former Banyana striker Portia Modise lambasting the head coach, while others are calling for her dismissal. This is the second time, under coach Des, that Banyana have failed to book their ticket to the Olympics following their 2020 setback.
While emotions are understandable, when the national team does not do well, it is important to put things into perspective and look at the overall picture rather than just the disappointment. First of all, since coach Des took over the reins from coach Vera Pauw, who laid a solid foundation and took Banyana Banyana to the next level in terms of organisation and ensuring that our women's national team was in the hands of a female coach and, there has been a lot of stability in our national team. A lot of ground has been covered since then, with some achievements having come too soon, all things considered. There has been stability both in the technical team and playing personnel under coach Des' tutelage. The last thing we want is to 'relapse' to the old way of doing things and undo all the progress we've made so far. That would lead us to another rebuilding phase.
We've made so much progress with coach Des at the helm, despite all the shortcomings. Maybe the reason for people to start calling for her dismissal is the quick success that she's achieved in a short space of time! Suddenly, Banyana Banyana are a household name in continental football and definitely one of the best teams in the world, if Banyana's recent World Cup performance is anything to go by. In case you've forgotten, coach Des guided our team to their very first Last 16 at the highest level when Banyana came 2-0 short against Netherlands, as they tried to secure their spot in the quarterfinals. In comparison to other teams, that was a massive achievement for a team with so many challenges. That, together with Nigeria and Morocco, we were one of the top three African teams after reaching the Last 16, while Zambia, the fourth African team in the tournament, finished third in Group C, should definitely count for something and it is a progressive move to be proud of!
We've dominated the continent, winning COSAFA and Women's Africa Cup of Nations and our team has become a force to be reckoned with. All Banyana need is more support from not just the supporters and the corporate world, so that we can get our foundation intact. Coach Des, truth be told, is just a victim of her own success! A few years ago, failure to make the cut to the Olympics would have been just another blip in our team's journey but, owing to her great work, now we see ourselves as world beaters and feel it is our birth right to qualify for top competitions.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with our people feeling disappointed, more than anything it shows the level of faith and expectations they have on their team. We seem to have been blinded by all the success and, instead of appreciating and giving credit to coach Des and her technical team, we keep asking for more. Some even think all is rosy with our women's football when the reality is a complete opposite. A simple diagnosis of South African women's football will show you that we have overachieved. Look at the number of our players who have earned lucrative overseas contracts in the last four or so years and you will see the ground covered by our national team. These players, even more than their male counterparts, have been spotted in the colours of Banyana Banyana and continue to play important roles in their teams.
They were not seen playing for their teams, so you have to credit coach Des and her technical team for a job well done. The more players we have in these well-organised overseas teams, the better the chances of our national team doing well. This is from a country that doesn't have a full-time professional league where some payers lack resources and their teams operated from a 'boot of a car' because of lack of support. Hollywoodbets is doing a wonderful job, getting our women's football off the ground and pushing towards professionalising our game. For a league that was formed six years ago, we have every reason to be optimistic of the future. Admittedly, a lot has changed and improved in our women's football but when you look at Banyana's feeders, when was the last time we heard or watched them play? This is the same problem even in male football.
It is important for us to get our ducks in a row, before we can complain about Banyana because, truth be told, our ladies have done really well in recent years. They are the reflection of our women's football and, unfortunately, owing to their success they are now judged as if they are selected from top professional leagues. A proper professional league for women and active junior national teams is what our football needs. Putting pressure for coach Des' sacking should be the last thing on our minds because she's done really well. It is good to see that SAFA have secured two international friendlies against Senegal for our Banyana during the upcoming FIFA break. It is vitally important for our team to keep active so that the coach can experiment and find different combinations. That's how she will be able to grow her pool of players to select from, so that we continue to be on everyone's eyes and minds when they are looking for women footballers.
Yes, it is sad that we are not going to the Olympics but is it certainly not the end of the road. Coach Des and her technical team have done so much for us to start pressing panic buttons. All they need is our full support because they are on the right track. The international exposure enjoyed by Banyana will go a long way in strengthening our national team andour football. Bafana made a mark on the international stage when they had a number of our players plying their trade outside of our borders. That's where they got top-notch coaching and that experience rubbed off their locally based players and it benefited the national team in return. Coach Des and her technical team are slowly but surely headed in the same direction with their team.
There is no reason for anyone to doubt their work, so let us support them rather than being critical. Once again, not going to the Olympics is a bitter pill to swallow but certainly not the end of the world. Our ladies will bounce back and do us proud. So, don't be too hard on coach Des! Let us support her and the technical team.
It is great that SAFA President, Danny Jordan is on the record that coach Des' future is secured. The President made it clear that the Association will not panic and undo all the hard work done by coach Des and her technical team by firing her. A commendable statement from the President. Once again, don't be too hard on coach Des!
Cheers.
VeeJay
