Banyana's Kgatlana And Ellis Win Big At CAF Awards

Banyana's Kgatlana and Ellis win big at Caf Awards

By Babatunde Abidoye

Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana won
Women's Player of the Year and Goal of the Year, while coach Desiree Ellis won Coach of the Year at the Caf Awards in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday night.

Banyana's 22-year-old emerging global superstar Kgatlana top scored for losing finalists South Africa at the African Women Cup of Nations (Awcon) in Ghana with five goals.

She beat off the challenges from the Nigerian duo of Asisat Oshoala and Francisca
Ordega for Player of the Year.

Banyana – who won the COSAFA Cup and
were losing finalists on penalties against now 11-time winners Nigeria in the AWCON in 2018, qualifying for this year's World Cup in France – were the big winners on the night with three Confederation of African Football
(Caf) awards.

They only missed out as nominees for the
Team of the Year award they won for 2017, which was taken by Nigeria.

Also Kgatlana won Goal of the Year for her stunning winner against Nigeria in Banyana’s 1-0 opening group stage win at the AWCON.

“I'm honoured and privileged to receive this award in this beautiful hall of legends,” she said receiving her award.

“I would like to dedicate this award to all the women’s players in South Africa who are
about to start their career, and all the girls
who want to become champions.”

However Ellis was nominated having steered Banyana to the COSAFA Cup and 2019 FiFA Women’s World Cup qualification with a top three place at the AWCON.