Episode 7 - Desiree Ellis Part 1: The Playing Years - Conquering Barriers

Call Up - Where Faith meets Sport & Life

In this episode, recorded on the eve of the Women's Soccer World Cup, we host Desiree Ellis, coach of our women’s national team, Banyana Banyana.

A former captain of Banyana, as a coach she led them to their first ever Women’s World Cup appearance in 2019 and their maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022 and won the COSAFA cup 3 times. She was Africa’s Women’s Coach of the Year in 2018 and awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga by the South African Government.

In what is part one of a 2 part series with Des, Bruce explores how a working class girl of color in Apartheid South Africa broke through innumerable barriers to become a pioneer of women's football on the African continent. It's an expiring story that highlights how God given passion and gifting can overcome the seemingly insurmountable.

It really is a tale of lots of guts before glory and she pulls no punches with the details.

Listen to Part 1 and watch out for Part 2 to be released in mid-June!

Why not read more about Des' inspiring story in the book 'Magic - From Salt River to The World Cup 2023'.

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CREDITS

Executive producers - Autram Jacobs & Bruce Nadin

Audio Engineer - Sean Collard ([e-mail])

Presenter - Bruce Nadin ([e-mail])

Social Media - Tamsyn Lang

Call Up Voiceover - Siyoli Waters