Banyana Banyana Coach Banyana Banyana Receives Order of Ikhamanga From President Cyril Ramaphosa

• Desiree Ellis has been honoured for her contributions to the continued growth of women's football in South Africa
• The Banyana Banyana coach was bestowed the Order of Ikhamanga in gold by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday
• She was one of a select group of citizens who were given this special recognition by the South African government

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis was on Friday honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa with the Order of Ikhamanga in gold for her contribution to the sport. 

Ellis was one of several recipients who were awarded top honours by Ramaphosa at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Bryntirion, Pretoria. Her crowning achievement in football was guiding Banyana Banyana to continental glory at the 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations last year in July.

She said after receiving the honour to the Sunday World:

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"I am very overwhelmed, I will be honest with you, this feels like getting a knighthood. I am very grateful. I am very blessed to be able to receive it and I am even more blessed that for the first time at any event, my mother has been able to come with me. So, this is very special.”

South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan responded:

“Through her amazing achievements, coach Desiree Ellis has become a continental brand and this latest honour further cements her status as one of the best football coaches in the country, and on the African continent. She has achieved some wonderful accomplishments in a sport predominantly dominated by her male counterparts.

“I hope this presidential honour will inspire her and the girls at the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”

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The world spectacle kicks off on 20 July and Banyana will be battling it out with Argentina, Italy and Sweden in Group G.

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Following Banyana Banyana's WAFCON triumph in Morocco last year, the political party believes that the team should be earning the same amount of money as their underachieving male counterparts Bafana Bafana.