Banyana evolved under Ellis but it seems her time is up

THE ol’ adage “a good dancer knows when to leave the stage” couldn't have been more befitting for Banyana Banyana’s coach Desiree Ellis at the moment.

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Ellis has given her all for the national team, transforming Banyana from being ‘the other team’ to becoming powerhouses of continental football.

Her journey has been fulfilling and rewarding in a personal and collective capacity as she defied the odds and led Banyana to improbable achievements.

Before she took over the reins, Banyana had never qualified for the World Cup - let alone win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

So, enter Ellis. In a space of five years she changed all that - won Wafcon and qualified for back-to-back global showpieces in France and Australasia.

The success story of the national team made every ‘girl child’ to dare to dream, with the semipro Hollywoodbets Super League also becoming the springboard of women’s football.

People started to take interest in women’s football, while the number of exported players increased rapidly as well.

Ellis didn’t walk in the shadows during the transform - she basked in its glory as well, getting deserved recognition from all and sundry.