Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis asks that her team be given more respect

It’s been a bumpy run-in for Banyana Banyana as they aim to defend the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title, which they won for the first time in 2022. Off-field administrative issues have threatened to derail South Africa’s title defence before it even begins.

The South African Football Association’s (Safa) hierarchy scrambled to do damage control as Banyana Banyana’s players boycotted training for a couple of days a fortnight ago, not long after landing in Morocco, where this edition of Wafcon is taking place.

The disagreement stemmed from unpaid match fees by Safa after the team played preparation friendlies in the run-up to their Wafcon title defence in the continental competition. 

After giving the players reasonable timelines when it comes to paying them some of what they are owed, calm has been restored in the Banyana camp. On the surface at least. 

South Africa’s opening Wafcon match – against Ghana on Monday, 7 July at 6pm – will offer some insight into the physical and mental shape of the team. They will be targeting a morale-boosting win which will send a message to other title hopefuls that the reigning champions of Africa will not surrender their continental crown easily.

Respect this team

Coach Ellis believes the struggles that South Africa’s senior women’s soccer side constantly face have shaped the team’s personality. However, the former Banyana Banyana captain said the players should not have to experience these, especially considering some of their recent achievements with the national team.      

“Banyana Banyana don’t get the credit that they deserve. Through all the challenges and issues they consistently rise to the occasion. They show resilience and courage,” Ellis said.

“We have a group of players that can rise to the occasion. We have a group of players that never knows when to quit… It’s a group you can rely on; it doesn’t matter who comes in. A little more credit needs to come [the team’s way], because the players deserve that,” the coach added.

“We don’t celebrate this team enough. We don’t celebrate the achievements of this team enough. That needs to change because many of them are not full-time professionals; that’s what makes it the hardest part. What I’m saying is that when the team does well, you need to stand up and applaud.”

In addition to the issues with the financially embattled Safa, Banyana Banyana head into this Wafcon without their headline sponsor of 16 years, Sasol. The chemical company and Safa have not agreed on terms for a new deal after the expiration of the previous agreement at the end of last month. 

Sasol said it is still open to negotiating with the association, but it is also reportedly displeased with how Safa is being run. Hence the deadlock. 

“We await feedback from Safa regarding the terms of a potential renewal. Until an agreement is reached, Sasol no longer holds the rights to associate with Banyana Banyana and the Sasol League (the women’s second-tier league),” said Sasol.

The more things change…

After losing five Wafcon finals, Banyana Banyana finally leapt over the final hurdle three years ago in Morocco, vanquishing the hosts 2-1 to erase decades of continental heartbreak.

The team hoped that this success would open a number of locked doors. In some aspects it did. Banyana generally enjoy healthy public backing and there is an increased interest in their movements. South Africa defying the odds to reach the round of 16 at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup added to this positive public perception.

Grouped with formidable nations Sweden, Italy and Argentina – all possessing some of the best players in the world – no one anticipated seeing the African champions making it to the knockout phase. Yet they dug deep to defeat Italy, draw with Argentina and frustrate Sweden (despite losing 2-1).

In the process Ellis’s side became the first and only South African senior national soccer team to make it to the knockouts of a World Cup – a major achievement in just their second participation at the global showpiece. They debuted in 2019. The team has also played at the Olympics twice, although they failed to qualify for the previous two editions.

‘We’ve done our job’      

Asked what more she feels Banyana Banyana need to do to attract sponsors, Ellis said she was not certain.

“As a team, we’ve done our job on the field. There’s nothing more we can do, we’ve done our job. When we came to the last Wafcon, no one expected us to win it. When we went to the 2023 World Cup, we were told we are going on a holiday,” Ellis stated. 

“But deep down we knew what we were going to do. We got out of the group stage and made it to the last 16, the first time a senior team has got out of the group stages. Our players have played in some of the best clubs in the world. 

“Yet the sponsors don’t come on board. Maybe it’s the marketing of the team that needs to be better. But on the field, we’ve done our job. What more can you do?... Women in sports, in general, are getting the leftovers. It’s not fair on the women in sports because some of them have full-time jobs.” 

Another contributing factor to the lack of sponsors may be that even though the team enjoys great support on social media and some eyeballs on TV (especially for major tournaments), this does not always translate to stadium attendance. In fact, more often than not the African champions find themselves playing in front of paltry crowds on home soil.

In an increasingly numbers-over-substance world, empty stadium seats are not attractive to potential sponsors, even with an opportunity to use the team’s decent digital presence. Then there’s the dark cloud of Safa’s president, Danny Jordaan, and chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo, being out on bail for alleged fraud within the association.

As Ellis points out, the team has done its part over the past few years, improving with each triumph and setback. It’s the matters beyond the team’s control that pose a threat to its continued success. DM

Banyana Banyana Wafcon fixtures:

Monday, 7 July: South Africa vs Ghana – 6pm.

Friday, 11 July: Tanzania vs South Africa – 9pm.

Monday, July 14: South Africa vs Mali – 9pm.