Banyana Banyana’s interim coach Desiree Ellis has moved quickly to stamp her authority on the team by dropping former captain Amanda Dlamini from the squad that will play in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon next week.
“Toki” was a notable absentee in the 21-member squad that Ellis named yesterday at Safa House. Dlamini was given an ultimatum to choose between work commitments, which were finalised last month, or travel with the team to Harare on Wednesday for a friendly against Zimbabwe tomorrow.
Her failure to avail herself for that friendly, even though she would have been available for the tournament that runs from November 19 - December 3, cost her a place in the squad.
Dlamini’s management team asked for key dates that Banyana will use to prepare for the Afcon last month so as to align that with her schedule. But they didn't get the dates, which saw her trip to France as a Danone ambassador, clash with the friendly against Egypt last month.
“It’s unfortunate that this happened,” Dlamini said. “I have always availed myself to represent my country because it means a lot for me. I will still avail myself in the future if the coach wants me. There was a clash in my commitments because I have to be in Durban tomorrow to deliver a presentation - titled “Same Ball Game: Different Pay” - on the unfair salaries that women are paid compared to our male counterparts.”
The overseas-based pair of Roxanne Barker (Netherlands) and Jermaine Seoposenwe (US) missed the friendly against Egypt and will not be travelling with Banyana to Harare on Wednesday.
“The situation is different in their case,” Ellis said. “We are tied by the Fifa rules in their situation. These two matches are outside the Fifa calendar. The match against Zimbabwe is going to play a big part of our preparations for the tournament. She (Dlamini) also wasn’t available for our match against Egypt which means she would have missed two matches that are valuable to our preparations. But it goes beyond being available for these matches. It’s about being in camp. We would have made the same decision if she wasn’t available for a camp. It’s unfortunate. What message would I be sending if I allowed someone to come and go?”
Ellis was in a similar position as Dlamini just before she made her Banyana debut.
“I didn’t think twice about it,” Ellis said. “I was 30 years old and was going to earn my first cap. I don’t think that I would have received that opportunity again. I chose Banyana over work. I lost my job and I was unemployed for three years. I know teammates who have chosen their jobs ahead of the national team. I understood because they have to put food on the table.”
Both Ellis and Dlamini described the incident as unfortunate. They both promised that this won’t be the end of her time in Banyana. Meanwhile Safa said they support the coach’s decision.
“It was the choice of the player to withdraw because she had other commitments,” Safa Technical Director in women’s football Fran-Hilton Smith said.
The Star