Desiree Ellis opens up on emotionally taxing Banyana Banyana selection

Banyana Banyana's 23-player contingent headed for Australia and New Zealand was confirmed at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Friday evening, and it was easy to spot the usually bubbly Ellis holding back the tears for those who missed out.

Though the three-time CAF Coach of the Year and 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations winner has done this countless times, there was a very sincere expression of empathy for the players who have narrowly missed out on an opportunity of a lifetime.

"Very emotional, very taxing. It takes me a while to get over it because I can see the disappointment, I can see the hurt, I can see that 'My dream is over' [expression]," explained Ellis.

"But I have to do it, and for me, I say, you can't be a coach and not care – and that [chopping players] for me is the hardest part because you know that they've put in so much, but also maybe there's just someone that put in more.

"And that's what I try to explain to them, that, 'I can see that you've put in a lot of effort. I can see that you've put in a lot of work, but you may be in a position where there are so many players to choose from and then you've got to stand out.'

"I can only select [based] on what I see, but it's been the most taxing for me. I've been up... Sometimes I wake up [in the middle of the night] and go to my laptop, and I look again and I put the formations down, with players' names, just to make 100 percent sure."

Focussing more on those who did make the final squad, the 60-year-old tactician explained the balance she went for in her selections.

"When I looked at it [the final squad], you have players that can play in a lot of positions – the midfield, your centre-backs, but you also have some of them... We've seen Bambanani [Mbane] playing in a DM role, Bongeka [Gamede] playing in a DM role, etc," she added.

"We've seen Tiisetso play as a right-full-back at Mamelodi Sundowns, and we know the quality they bring. In the midfield, I think Refiloe Jane's most probably played in every position bar goalkeeper. 

"Linda [Motlhalo]'s played in a lot of positions, even Jermaine [Seoposenwe] and Hildah [Magaia], even Thembi [Kgatlana]. So, like we analyse opponents, they will analyse us, and we've got to have something different, which we're working on."