It is an undeniable but unfortunate fact that globally, women’s football has had to fight for the right to be recognised as a commendable sport in the world of football.
It is not easy to break down barriers that have long been accepted as a norm in most societies across the globe, and women’s football is a great example of this.
There is a perception amongst many football fans that women simply cannot play football, but as history has proven, women footballers across the globe have accomplished just as much as their male counterparts.
The interim head coach of the South African senior women’s national team Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, is amongst those women breaking down gender barriers in football.
Forced to join male football clubs from a young age, Ellis, like many other women, did not let the non-existence of women football clubs deter her from pursuing her passion. She grew up playing with boys until she eventually found and joined a women’s football club, Spurs Ladies, in 1991.
Since then, Ellis has had a full and illustrious football career. She was among Banyana Banyana’s star players in the team’s first official match on 30 May 1993 against Swaziland where South Africa achieved one of their biggest victories ever – winning 14-0 against its neighbouring country. Ellis was one of two players to score a hat-trick that day.
She went on to become the second captain of Banyana Banyana after Anthea Childs, and in 2000, captained her team to a runners-up finish against Nigeria when South Africa hosted the Women’s African Nations Cup. In the same year, she was nominated alongside Nigerian footballers Mercy Akide and Florence Omagbemi for the African Woman Footballer of the Year.
Ellis retired in April 2002 at age 38, but not before she led her team to a 2002 COSAFA Cup victory. She also received a Silver Presidential Sports Award in recognition of her services in football.
With 32 Banyana Banyana caps, 23 wins and only seven losses and two draws, coach Ellis’ playing career is affirmation that women’s football has earned its place in the world.
To Sasol, Ellis serves as a beacon of hope to young women in South Africa to keep striving so that someday, they too, can realise their dreams.
Ellis is currently in Cameroon with Banyana Banyana for the 2016 edition of the Women African Nations Cup, and could lead the team to the final if they beat Nigeria on Tuesday night.