"We're not underestimating any team" - Desiree Ellis confident ahead of World Cup opener - a podcast by Zayn Nabbi

from 2023-07-22T12:16:32

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She's led them to the World Cup, she's led them to WAFCON glory, and now Desiree Ellis is back on the world stage leading South Africa to a second successive World Cup. The Banyana Banyana head coach discusses her career, how things have changed in the 30 years since her debut and how the African Champions are shaping up ahead of the World Cup.

This interview was recorded before Banyana Banyana's boycott of their friendly against Botswana which is why the podcast didn't discuss any of the issues around the team that emerged.

Host: Alasdair Howorth

Guests: Firdose Moonda (women's football editor in chief), Desiree Ellis (head coach of South Africa women's national team)

#FIFAWWC #BanyanaBanyana #LiveTheImpossible #BeyondGreatness

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Show Notes

00:00 - Intro

02:33 - World Cup preparation

05:07 - Banyana carrying SA flag high

07:53 - "Africa is a gold mine of talent"

10:03 - Some progress post WAFCON but not enough

12:14 - 30 years on from Ellis' own debut

14:40 - Playing in Banyana's first ever match

17:07 - Losing her job because she played for South Africa

18:12 - Desiree Ellis the door-to-door saleswoman

20:55 - Advantages of growing up playing with boys

22:38 - How she got the "magic" nickname

24:17 - Receiving the Order of Ikhamanga

26:57 - Could South Africa host the next World Cup?

29:58 - How the different generations grew women's football in South Africa

34:06 - Former players need to stay involved in football

26:30 - Helping players to develop as people

42:10 - What comes next after the World Cup

Duration: 45:15

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