Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis, her Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies counterpart Jerry Tshabalala and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini have been shortlisted for world’s top awards.
International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has nominated Ellis, Tshabalala and Dlamini for the world’s best national team, club coach and goalkeeper awards.
ELITE COACHES
Ellis has earned the recognition after guiding Banyana Banyana to their first ever WAFCON championship.
South Africa edged hosts Morocco 2-1 in the final to list the WAFCON championship in July this year.
The continental titled paved the way for a place at the forthcoming World Cup.
Ellis will now compete with elite coaches such as Sarina Wiegman of England and Raynald Pedros of Morocco.
Tshabalala is the only Africans who has earned the 20-member shortlist after she leg the Tshwane side to the last CAF Champions League title.
He will compete with Sonia Bompastor of Olympique Lyon, Barcelona’s Jonathan Giraldez, Tommy Stroot for VFL Wolfsburg, Sven Scheuer for Bayern Munich, Alberto Torril (Real Madrid) and Emma Hayes (Chelsea).
WORLD’S FINEST
Dlamini is also the only African on the 20-member shortlist and will battle it out against some of the world’s finest including Mary Earps for England.
The world’s best playmaker shortlist has attracted two Africans—Zambian Grace Chanda and Evelyn Badu for Ghana.
Ethiopian Lidya Tafesse Abebe and Rwandan Salima Mukansanga are the only African women referees on the 20-member shortlist.
The list of the world’s best young player has a surprise inclusion of Ugandan Juliet Nalukenge, the only African on the shortlist.
Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak is also the only African set to compete for the world’s best senior woman footballer.
Chebbak has on the shortlist company of superstars such as Alexia Putellas of Spain, Beth Mead for England and Norwegian Ada Hegeberg.
IFFHS is considered among the world’s authority on football history and statistics and its partners include FIFA.
