Prof. Chris Nhlapo, vice-chancellor of the CPUT, puts the ribbon of the honorary doctorate around the neck of Banyana Banyana’s head coach, Desiree Ellis. (Theo Jephta)
Trails have been blazed by women before and after inspirational Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis, and her approach to the treacherous journey it entails after more than 40 years is, well, why not?
Looking back on her career and life, what was there to be afraid of anyway? She dodged bullets growing up on the Cape Flats, worked at a butchery to earn a living, and then went on to play a sport that had only been dominated by men since the beautiful game was first discovered centuries ago.
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