Cape Town – Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellishas been named the CAF Women’s National Team Coach of the Year for 2018, while forward Thembi Kgatlana took home two trophies – the CAF Goal of the Year and CAF Woman Player of the Year awards.
This is an historic win for Ellis, who is also a former Banyana Banyana captain. Ellis capped off a fine 2018 after she made history by becoming the first person to win the COSAFA Women’s Championship as both a player and coach.
She is also the first individual to lead the South African Women’s National Team to qualification for the World Cup.
The awards took place in Dakar, the capital of Senegal on Tuesday night.
Ellis beat off the strong challenge of Joseph Brian Ndoko (Cameroon) and Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria) – with the trio set to lead their teams at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in June.
The 55-year-old was the only woman nominated for the prestigious Woman’s Coach of the Year award.
She 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.
Player of the Year
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Women’s Player of the Year
Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Houston Dash)
Youth Player of the Year
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmunmd)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Herve Renard (Morocco)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Men’s National Team of the Year
Mauritania
Women’s National Team of the Year
Nigeria
Platinum Award
His Excellency Macky Sall (President of the Republic of Senegal)
Federation President of the Year
Fouzi Lekjaa
Goal of the Year
Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Houston Dash)
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