Banyana Banyana soccer coach Desiree Ellis says the Cosafa Women’s Championship is not only about defending their title – they will use the event to also assess players ahead of the Afrrica Cup of Natios tournament.
Ellis, 55, who was appointed Banyana’s new coach in February – taking over from Vera Pauw – said being selected to be part of Cosafa did not automatically give one a free pass for Afcon. Players would have to prove themselves.
“The Cosafa Cup is not only about defending the title, but it is also about seeing where the players are at, because being here for the Cosafa does not mean they will be in the Afcon squad,” the coach said.
“There are a lot of players outside that we could not choose as we could only choose 20. Players who are in this squad obviously have their foot in the door, but it is totally up to them to raise the standard and make it difficult for us to select.”
In its sixth year, the Cosafa Women’s Championship will be played at the Wolfson and Nelson Mandela Bay stadiums, starting on Wednesday and finishing on September 22.
There are 12 teams in the competition and Banyana have been drawn in Group A alongside Botswana, Madagascar and Malawi.
Banyana are the defending champions, having also won in 2002, 2006 and in 2008. The national side take on Madagascar in their opening fixture.
The squad of 20 players arrived in Port Elizabeth earlier this week to acclimatise.
“It is important that we do well at home. It’s important just for the momentum. Winning gives you that momentum and it gives you confidence as well,” the former Spurs midfielder said.
“The reason we came here early is that we know PE is not called the ‘windy city’ for nothing. The weather challenged us a bit on Tuesday but we managed to cope towards the end of the session.
“We came early because many of the players are not from the coast, so it helps to adapt, but it also helps us to get used to the conditions playingwise and weather-wise.
“I think we have adapted very well. I think the enthusiasm is great among the group, the team work is great.
“Before, often when we camped players would go to their rooms once they had done eating, but now everybody sits for an hour later and just chats.
“It is great to see that even though there is competitiveness, there is still that friendship and togetherness.
“That is important because that is what has pulled us through, specially during last year’s Cosafa.”