Banyana nominated for CAF awards
Sports Reporter
Banyana Banyana and coach Desiree Ellis have been nominated for the CAF Women’s Team of the Year and the Women’s Coach of the Year award.
Ellis guided South Africa to the 2018 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in December last year but lost the final to rivals Nigeria.
However, they qualified for the 2019 Women’s FIFA World Cup in France but failed to advance beyond the group stages.
Meanwhile, Pitso Mosimane was shortlisted for the Men’s Coach of the Year award as he guided Mamelodi Sundowns to the Absa Premiership title last season, as well charging them forwarded to a CAF Champions League semi-final.
Mosimane faces some stiff competition for the award with 2019 African Cup of Nations winning coach Djamel Belmadi also on the ballot, along with Senegal head coach Alious Cisse and Nigerian mentor Gernot Rohr.
The 55-year-old won the award back in 2016 after leading the Brazilians to the CAF Champions League trophy.
Meanwhile, Denis Onyango and Themba Zwane have also been nominated for a CAF award.
Onyango’s impressive run as the Brazilians’ number one shot-stopper has seen him earn a nomination on the African Player of the Year.
Also, former Brazilian and team-mate Percy Tau was also shortlisted for the accolade.
The CAF awards will take place in January 2020 with the official date to be confirmed.
Notable South African nominations
Men’s Coach of the Year: Pitso Mosimane
Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis
African Player of the Year: Percy Tau and Denis Onyango
Interclubs Player of the Year: Themba Zwane and Denis Onyango
Women’s Player of The Year: Refiloe Jane and Thembi Kgatlana
Women’s Team of the Year: Banyana Banyana