Banyana coach Ellis confident of getting victory away in DRC

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is confident that the team will be able to get a positive result when they face Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the first leg of the Caf Olympic qualifiers side at the Stade des Martyrs on Wednesday.

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Ellis’ charges have already arrived in the DRC, but the Banyana coach had to leave the country without players like Nomvula Kgoale and Tiiesetso Makhubela who are injured, while Bongeka Gamede is busy with her exams.

The Banyana mentor will also be without the services of Jermaine Seoposenwe and Samkelisiwe Selana, but two will join the team for the second leg.

Despite all the obstacles, Ellis remains positive with her team and she says the whole team is looking forward to the game.

“We are looking forward to the game, but it’s very hot and humid. But we will be ready for the game,” said the Banyana mentor.

“We have come in before in a very short period of time, traveled and played. I think a lot of players know each other from playing with and against each other. It is just about fine tuning some things and making sure that we start well in the away leg. And to make sure that we get a good result so that we make our home game easier.”

The DRC will host Banyana at an artificial pitch, but Ellis is unfazed about the situation. The Banyana mentor says her players just need to adapt as quickly as they can to the field.

“I think it’s probably a first time in a long while that we played on Turf. There is only one team in the Hollywoodbets Super League that plays their games on Turf which is Richmond Ladies,” she added.  

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“But I think it’s the same for them as well, they have a couple of players playing in Europe. I’m not sure where the rest of the players play, but this is the national stadium. They (DRC) have played a game or two before on Turf, we just have to adapt really quickly.”

The return leg will be played at the Orlando Stadium on Monday, 30 October.