Head coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, will from Thursday, 25 April 2024 be known as Dr Desiree Ellis.
The four-time CAF Woman Coach of the Year will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for her contribution in sports.
“CPUT will be rolling out the red carpet for more than 7 000 graduates during next week’s autumn graduation series. The University will be celebrating the success of 6 373 undergraduates and 735 postgraduates during 14 ceremonies, which are scheduled to start on 22 April and conclude on 26 April,” said the institution in a statement.
“On Thursday (25 April 2024), an honorary doctorate will be conferred on Desiree Ellis, whose significant achievements as a professional sportsperson and Head Coach of the South African women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, has positioned her at the top of the African and global sport fraternity.”
Ellis is one of a few high profile persons who have been honoured by CPUT – these include, among others:
2019:
- Rivonia trialists Denis Goldberg and Andrew Mlangeni – who spent 22 and 26 years in prison respectively
2016:
- Dr Selvanathan Mudaly in the field of Environmental Health
2015:
The first ever recipients of the honorary doctorates at CPUT were Dr Brigalia Bam – former chairwoman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) – for her contribution in Education, as well as Dr Christo Wiese, who was awarded a Doctorate in Technologia, Marketing (DTech) for his outstanding contribution to industry.
For Ellis, this is one of the highest honours that Ellis has received in recent times.
In April last year, the former Banyana Banyana player and captain was bestowed with the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold for her contribution in sport – the honour was done by South Africa’s State President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria.
At the beginning of the year, Ellis was part of an esteemed group of individuals who were awarded with Civic Honours by the City of Cape Town, led by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The Banyana Banyana mentor has been a trailblazer in her field, with several accolades since taking over permanently the reigns at the South African Senior Women’s National team in 2018. As an assistant to former coach Vera Pauw, they masterminded qualification to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
When the Dutchwoman left, Ellis took over on an interim basis before signing on the dotted line in 2018.
Since then, she has led South Africa to two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments in 2019 (France) and 2023 (Australia and New Zealand). In the latter global showpiece, she made history by helping Banyana Banyana qualify for the Round of 16 – the first ever South African national team to do so in FIFA tournaments.
In between, she won gold at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The only blemish on her CV is that on two occasions she was not able to qualify Banyana Banyana to the Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo, and the upcoming event in Paris later this year.
The graduation ceremonies in Cape Town will be broadcast live via CPUT’s YouTube channel.
Ellis’ awarding of the honorary doctorate comes hot on the heels of one of South Africa’s most successful football coach, Pitso Mosimane, who is set to receive the same honour from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 25 July.
This is for the work he has done in championing African football and fighting for it to be given more respect globally.
By Matlhomola Morake
