'I Must Give Credit to Us' – Banyana Banyana Goalkeeper on Strength Amid Coaching Uncertainty

Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart has acknowledged that the prolonged contract negotiations between head coach Desiree Ellis and the South African Football Association (SAFA) created a sense of uncertainty within the squad.

Desiree Ellis was notably absent during the team's recent camp, where they secured their spot in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

In Desiree Ellis’ place, assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli guided the team to a 2-1 aggregate victory over DR Congo.

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Kaylin Swart explained that the senior players made a concerted effort to shield the younger members of the team from the tension and ambiguity surrounding the situation.

"Discomfort? No, just a little bit of uncertainty of whether she's coming back or we'll get a new coach, but we never focused on that," Swart stated as quoted by SABC Sport. "We were always focused on ourselves."

"As the senior leadership group, we really tried to do our part to try and shield the younger ones from any of the difficulties of understanding what was going on.

“I think we did a really good job, so I must give credit to us as a leadership group for really stepping up and making sure the younger ones knew we always had their back, no matter what."

Under Mbuli, who also coaches UWC Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League, Banyana Banyana managed a 1-1 draw in Kinshasa before a late Thembi Kgatlana goal secured a 1-0 win in the return leg at Dobsonville Stadium.

Kaylin Swart praised assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli for her efforts in stepping into a challenging role with the team.

She acknowledged that it was not an easy task, but noted that Mbuli had shown dedication and commitment in guiding the squad.

Kaylin Swart highlighted that the senior players also made an effort to support the coach, offering their experience and encouragement to ensure she could perform effectively.

She added that this collaborative approach between the players and the coaching staff had helped the team navigate a difficult period, and she believed Mbuli’s contribution deserved recognition.

"I think we've got to give credit to Coach Thina for stepping into that position. It was never going to be easy, but she really tried, and I think us as seniors also tried to help her, back her as much as we could," she added.

"It was a great camp, and the fact that we qualified with her is also something she should take a positive from because she contributed a lot. As a leadership group, we've grown a lot.

“Now we just need to move forward, and hopefully, in the next couple of months, we don't have any hiccups and it's just a smooth ride to the next WAFCON."

Kaylin Swart has insisted that despite the uncertainty surrounding Desiree Ellis’ contract, the team had managed to stay focused, grow stronger as a leadership group, and successfully navigate the qualifying campaign under Mbuli’s guidance, leaving them optimistic for a smoother path ahead to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.