Coach Desiree Ellis has put her South Africa’s Banyana’s 3-4 loss to Malawi at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship into context.
Ellis said this in a post-match press conference after the Cosafa Women’s Championship Group A match in Pretoria on October 4 2023.
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WHAT DID ELLIS TELL THE PRESS AT COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP?
“We only had one player from the FIFA Women’s World Cup squad and that’s the third- choice goalkeeper [Dineo Magagula],” she said.
The trainer said Banyana played well despite having not trained together properly ahead of the Cosafa Women’s Championship.
“I am very proud of the team if you consider the challenges we had before game,” Ellis added.
WAFCON-WINNING COACH ATTRIBUTES LOSS TO MISTAKES
The WAFCON-winning mentor then attributed the loss to individual mistakes.
“I said to the girls that at this level, if you make mistakes, they will punish you. However, I am proud of the way the girls played,” the former Banyana skipper added.
The group’s second match of the Cosafa Women’s Championship’s opening day took place at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
The Banyana boss said her charges punched above their weight against the Malawi Scorchers.
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DID INEXPERIENCE COST BANYANA BANYANA?
Ellis said most players in the Banyana squad were new, young and inexperienced.
The hosts are missing experienced players such as first-choice keeper Andile Dlamini and forward Thembi Kgatlana.
China-based striker Temwa Chawinga bagged a second-half hat-trick for the Scorchers. Leticia Chinyamula had given Malawi a first-half lead with a simple finish.
Shumelele Shamase’s double and Khesani Nkuna’s strike were all Banyana could afford.
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WHO DO SOUTH AFRICA MEET NEXT?
Banyana next date Madagascar on October 7 2023 whereas the Scorchers take on Eswatini on the same day.
Earlier in the day, Eswatini beat Madagascar 2-1 at the same Pretoria stadium.
The action continued on October 5 2023 with Group B matches involving Angola and Comoros islands.
The next match of the second day of the tournament involved holders Zambia and Mozambique at the same venue.
The tournament involves 12 teams split into three four-member groups. Top two sides from each pool will advance to the semifinals.
This edition of the annual championship runs from October 4 to 15 2023 in Gauteng.