Residents of Salt River in Cape Town, where Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis grew up, are jubilant. Many have fond memories of a young girl who only wanted to play football.

Salt River in Cape Town, residents of the street where Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis grew up are jubilant. Many have fond memories of a young girl who only wanted to play football.

It was on this street in the shadow of Table Mountain that Desiree Ellis spent many days playing football. Residents of Greeff Street remember the family fondly as Ellis stayed here with her grandmother after school. There were no women’s clubs back then, but Ellis wouldn’t be held back by such a minor detail.

Shaheem Sauls, who resides on Greeff Street, says: “We’ve seen Des growing up on this street, plying his trade, playing the boys you know. This was the pitch here where it all happened. This is the starting point for her. Maybe the street should be renamed Des Ellis Street, but as I say, great memories.

The street was the pitch and those who played with it say no stoop or window stood a chance against their lively games.

Another resident of Greeff Street, Yusuf Salie adds that “we all had fun on this road. As I can tell between this post there and this post here, it was the football posts (laughs) and it was the pitch. Cars standing on this side and this side oh my god these people here especially his grandpa we couldn’t play here. She had to hide behind cars if she played with us (laughs), she was a very talented girl.

A small group of people gathered to rewatch the game inside the home of Sharky Solomons, who also lives in Greef Street.

“What she’s been through and what she’s achieved, I mean, there’s nothing to explain what she’s achieved,” Solomons says of Desiree.

“I’m proud of her for what she did here. I couldn’t believe it. I thought maybe she wasn’t going to make it but she did, there was no There are no words I can say about her. She just made us proud, that’s the main thing,” says Zain Adams of Greeff Street.

Video| Banyana Banyana crowned African champion at WAFCON 2022:

Parliament congratulates Banyana Banyana

Parliament has congratulated the Banyana Banyana Senior Women’s National Team for winning the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

According to Parliament, by lifting the cup, team coach Desiree Ellis and her charges have once again highlighted the potential of women in sport on the international stage.

Parliament Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said: “We salute our senior women’s football team for raising the South African flag high, strengthening our nation-building agenda, inspiring the hopes and aspirations of the nation and improved social cohesion. Banyana Banyana’s victory, which catapulted the nation to the dizzying heights of continental football and World Cup qualification, is a much-needed lift amid the current economic challenges and social hardships.

Ellis not only brought pride to his country, but also to old friends and neighbors in this little corner of the mother city.

It takes a team💚💛🇿🇦

Technical team 👩🏻‍🏫👨🏽‍🏫
Medical team 🩺
The media team 🎙

Some celebratory photos from last night’s support staff.#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 #LiveTheImpossible pic.twitter.com/mvn0YM3ZW5

— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 24, 2022