By Michael Madyira
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has admitted to enduring a difficult time in coming up with her final 23-member squad for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Ellis ended an anxious week on Friday evening when she announced the players she will travel with to the tournament jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August.
No major surprises were witnessed in the World Cup squad but the Banyana coach concedes she went through a torrid time in making her final selection.
Included in the squad was uncapped University of Pretoria forward Wendy Shongwe while Royal AM goalkeeper Kebotseng Moletsane has played just one match for South Africa.
“It has been a tough week,” Ellis told Safa media.
“It might have not been easy for you as players but it was also not easy for me as the coach. If I could, I would have taken everyone but unfortunately, I can only take 23 players.”
Ellis said she opted for the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns defenders Bambanani Mbane and Bongeka Gamede due to their versatility.
Banyana has been in camp since 12 June and the coach assured those dropped that “this is not the end of it.”
Tuks midfielder Thalea Smidt was the biggest omission from the 36 players who appeared in the preliminary squad.
With Smidt having been prominently part of the group in recent years, Ellis justified her dropping and a few others by saying “The World Cup stage is a different ball game.”
The Banyana coach will bank on the experience of players who were at the last World Cupo edition like Thembi Kgatlana, captain Refiloe Jane, Noko Matlou, goalkeeper Kaylin Swart and Linda Motlhalo.
Pictured above: Desiree Ellis sitting alongside Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa, Safa president Danny Jordaan, Lucas Radebe, Pitso Mosimane and Banyana Banyana players in front
Image source: Safa
