Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has been named the CAF Women’s National Team Coach of the Year 2018 and forward Thembi Kgatlana was named the CAF Woman Player of the Year 2018 at the CAF awards in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday, 8 January 2019.
Ellis was up against strong competition in Joseph Brian Ndoko (Cameroon) and Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria). Both coaches will be leading their respective teams at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in June.
The former Banyana captain is the only person to win the COSAFA Women’s Championship as both player and coach. She is also the first coach to qualify the South African Senior Women’s National Team to a FIFA World Cup.
In addition to being named the CAF Woman Player of the Year 2018, Kgatlana also won the CAF Goal of the Year award for her strike against Nigeria (Banyana won 1-0) in their opening match of the 2018 Women’s AFCON. The Goal of the Year winner was decided via online public voting.
Kgatlana scored four more goals in the 2018 Women’s AFCON and finished as the top goalscorer with five goals.
The Houston Dash forward was up against Nigerian duo of Asisat Oshoala and Fransisca Ordega for the CAF Woman Player of the Year 2018.
She is the second South African to be named CAF Woman Player of the Year after fellow Banyana Banyana player Noko Matlou ten years ago.
Written by: Diski Voice
