Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has explained why she stuck with goal keeper Kaylin Swart despite some heavy backlash as Banyana made history at the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The African champions sealed a spot in the last 16 of the international showpiece with dramatic 3-2 victory thanks to goals from Thembi Kgatlana, Hildah Magaia and an own goa form the Azzurri's Benedetta Orsi.
READ | Ellis responds to criticism of Banyana goalkeeper
One of the major talking points from the match was the inclusion of shotstopper Swart, who had come under fire as Banyana conceded late against both Sweden and Argentina.
"Look, you know sometimes a player makes one mistake and then you look at that she makes 15 or 16 good other actions, so do you drop the player?," Ellis responded when asked on decision to stick with Swart.
"Lebogang Ramalepe made a mistake for the goal against Sweden, against Argentina she made a match-winning save on the goal line and was immense. Do you drop the player? No.
"I've got to trust what I put out there and making one mistake doesin't make you a bad player. Tonight (Wednesday) she was immense again, Lebo."
?? Banyana Banyana make history as they progress to the #FIFAWWC knockout stages for the very first time! ?? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????#RSA 3??2? #ITA#SABCSportFootball #Sisonke #GameChangeHer pic.twitter.com/eZL1d1DPH7
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"So, players are going to make mistakes. No one plays a perfect game but look at the things they do and sometimes we forget the good things a player does and we always look at the mistake.
"With other players, sometimes there are positional changes, sometimes you make a change, it's tactical. We had trust in Kaylin.
"She (Swart) put Thembi away quite often but besides that, giving trust in a player, they also show you by giving their trust back and that's what they did.
"You heard what Hildah said. Hildah has been up and down in some of the games abut really given us what we wanted defensively and in attack and that's how players are."
"You have to stay true to who you are and when you make a decision, stand by it. If it didn't work then I'm a bad coach. If it works, I made masterstroke. So I take the good with the bad.
"Football is a matter of opinions and you cannot change what people think and what people say, but we trust the process."
Next for Banyana is a last 16 clash against the Netherlands to be played on Sunday. Kick-off is at 04:00.
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