The post-mortem of Banyana Banyana’s performance in the Fifa Women’s World Cup was predictable, borrowing a tired line that was used after their two Olympic appearances. Coach Desiree Ellis and the South Africa Football Association blamed the lack of a professional women’s league for Banyana crashing out in the group stage after scoring just one goal in France.
Although South Africa doesn’t have a professional women’s league, they are one of the few countries on the continent that has an organised competition for women. The Sasol League houses 144 teams that compete provincially in the hope of becoming the country’s best in the championships, which pit the nine provincial winners against each other. The University Sports South Africa play-offs also offer a number of female players the chance to play competitive football.
Banyana’s technical team let the side down with their approach. The team, which usually attacks, played deep into their own half throughout the World Cup. They showed too much respect to their more accomplished opponents. “I had to leave the VIP suite to go behind the bench and ask them why we were defending. We had to attack but we played defensively, inviting them into our half. I asked them, but no one answered me,” said Banyana legend and World Cup ambassador Portia Modise.Playing defensive football was not the only questionable decision Ellis made at the tournament. After Nothando Vilakazi was suspended for the match against China, South Africa needed an experienced player to fill her shoes.
Banyana were better prepared for the World Cup than Cameroon or Nigeria. They played nine matches that included facing World Cup finalists the US and Netherlands , along with Sweden and Jamaica, and participating in this year’s Cyprus Cup, where they regressed from the sixth place they achieved last year to finish 10th. Ellis chopped and changed the team in those matches, ensuring that everyone was given a chance and she could find a solid team.
So what are you saying,the coach is the problem,the tone of the article seems to suggest that. I think she has done exceptionally well,the team is growing and the belief is naturally gonna grow stronger. We are beginning to develop team of players with character
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