Desiree Ellis backs Banyana Banyana’s experienced players after Wafcon exit

Desiree Ellis has defended Banyana Banyana’s senior players after South Africa’s disappointing quarter-final elimination at the Wafcon, rejecting calls for the squad to be overhauled in favour of younger talent.

Banyana Banyana were knocked out by hosts Morocco in Rabat a fortnight ago, ending their hopes of retaining the title they won for the first and only time in 2022.

The result has prompted debate over whether South Africa should have begun rebuilding sooner. Sixteen members of the current squad were part of the team that became champions of Africa in Morocco three years ago, leading to criticism that the group is now too old to compete at the highest level.

Ellis, however, believes the experienced players continue to make an important contribution and says their value cannot be measured by age alone.

“People always look at people’s ages and think that’s it. I think Noko [Matlou, who played a big role in Banyana’s Wafcon triumph in 2022] played until the age of 39,” Ellis insisted.

“If I were to listen to people saying ‘she’s old, she must go’ where would we be now? If you look at the experienced players in the team, they still do the job. Look, there’s something that you cannot buy and that’s experience.”

Ellis also pointed to the presence of younger players within the squad, although she said the coaching staff preferred to introduce them gradually rather than expose them before they were ready.

“We are of the opinion that we always blood new young players slowly rather than just throw them in. You throw them in, they have a bad game, the media turns it around and says we should have protected them, so we’ve got to strike that balance,” said Ellis.

She named Isabella Ludwig, Ronnel Donnelly and Lonathemba Mhlongo as examples of players being carefully integrated into the national team.

“Isabella [Ludwig] is 23, Ronnel [Donnelly] is 21, Lonathemba [Mhlongo] is 24, so we do have young players in our squad that we are blooding in slowly.

“Football is a matter of opinions. One day the team wins and everybody is doing a great job, and the next minute the team loses and there’s too many old players in the team.”

South Africa’s defeat by Morocco also cost them automatic qualification for the World Cup. Their campaign is not over, though, after Banyana Banyana beat Nigeria 2-1 to claim a place in the intercontinental play-offs.

The draw for those play-offs is scheduled to take place in Zurich on Thursday.

Banyana Banyana’s 2022 Wafcon triumph remains their only continental title, and their early departure from this year’s tournament has increased scrutiny of Ellis’ squad selection and the timing of any generational change.

The coach insists that transition must be managed carefully, with experience retained while younger players are gradually given opportunities to establish themselves in the team.