For the second year running, Head Coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis dug deep into her pockets to put a smile on the less fortunate.
Through her foundation, the Desiree Ellis Foundation, she teamed up with, among others, the Alcardo Andrews Foundation, the Michel Davids Foundation, the Lavender Hill Sports Club, long time friend Shilene Booysen, another friend Sharon Lombard, who also runs a soup kitchen in Atlantis, to hand over food parcels to families, mainly the elderly, around the areas of Hanover Park, Lavender Hill, Riverlands, Atlantis, Salt River, Tafelsig in Mitchels Plain.
“This is the time of the year I always look forward to, mainly to wind down and spend with my family but also to give a helping a hand to the less fortunate than I am. It is a sad fact that while many people are out there having enough to eat and drink, there are those who have nothing, and, more often than not, are all alone with no one to take care of them,” said Ellis.
“It is a known fact that some families haven’t recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic, while others were already struggling even before then. I am praying that more hands will come on board so we can spread the Christmas and festive cheer even further.”
The 60-year-old, who was recently named the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year for the fourth time in a row – which is a record – donated the food hampers to about 40 pensioners around the Cape Flats area.
“We normally give to the youth, but we gave the parcels to the grannies who will lessen the burden over the Christmas period. It’s not a handout, it is just my way of giving because we all have a little to give,” she told the Daily Voice in Cape Town.
Ellis is currently out of the country for a much-needed rest after leading Banyana Banyana in 18 matches in 2023 – the final one being the 100th of the career as the South African Senior Women’s National Team mentor.
It was also in that same game that she led her charges to qualification for the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where they are the defending champions.
They faced Burkina Faso in a two-legged clash, playing to a 1-all draw away in Kinshasa before finishing the job at home at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria in a 2-0 victory.
Before her departure abroad, Ellis was bestowed with the Cape Town City Civic Honour earlier this month, along with, among others, the late Queen of African Pop music, Brenda Fassie, legendary playwright Athol Fugard, former Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs, and late cricketer Basil D’Oliveira. The Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis presided over the ceremony.
Upon receiving the honour, Ellis had this to say:
“This goes out to all the women in sports. I think it was a fantastic year for women’s sport. I’m just privileged to get the civic honour, I’m a Capetonian through and through.”
Earlier this year (Friday, 28 April 2023) she was bestowed with the Order of Ikhamanga in gold by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, for her contribution to sport.
Banyana Banyana’s first assignment in the new year is a crucial 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifier against Tanzania which is scheduled for February.
The two nations face off in a two-legged third round encounter.
Third round fixtures:
| Team 1 | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||||||
| Ghana | vs | Zambia | 19–28 Feb | 19–28 Feb | |||||
| Tunisia | vs | Morocco | 19–28 Feb | 19–28 Feb | |||||
| Cameroon | vs | Nigeria | 19–28 Feb | 19–28 Feb | |||||
| Tanzania | vs | South Africa | 19–28 Feb | 19–28 Feb |
The fourth and final round will be played in April.
The African continent has only two spots at the Olympic Games, which are set to take place from 25 July to 10 August.
By Matlhomola Morake
