The award is huge, but we don’t do things for awards or rewards.

Desiree Ellis is the coach of the Banyana Banyana football team and a woman with a deep love for the sport. “I just love football with all my heart; the passion I have for this game is indescribable,” says Ellis. “I am inspired by this sport and believe, along with the players and the staff, that we can achieve more.”

Being recognised as a woman who is changing the face of South Africa did little to change Ellis’s focus on the team. She believes that it is a collective effort by players and staff that has resulted in this award, and in achieving the impressive Women’s Coach of the Year award from  the South African Football Association.

“The award is huge, but we don’t do things for awards or rewards,” she says. “If the team does well, then that is the outcome. Qualifying for the World Cup has got to be the ultimate for any player or coach, and winning the Cosafa Cup for three consecutive championships — we remain unbeaten — is also a huge achievement for the players and staff.”

Ellis believes that the conversations around women are changing in South Africa, albeit slowly, but they are changing. “Caster Semenya has been our beacon of hope: through all the adversity she goes out there and consistently raises our flag. The Protea Netball team has been absolutely incredible and now the Women’s Springboks have also qualified for the World Cup,” she says.

These achievements give any young girl the hope that she can achieve her dreams if she puts in the hard work. “I would advise any women looking to enter into this industry to continuously improve their education, know their worth and value, and just keep on doing their best,” concludes Ellis.

— Tamsin Oxford

Twitter: @descaptain