Desiree Ellis praises Banyana Banyana veteran Lebogang Ramalepe ahead of Wafcon quater-finals

WHEN Banyana Banyana scored four unanswered goals against Mali in their final Group C match of the Caf Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Monday, the world of football surely felt that the team that they have come to know had finally arrived in Morocco but coach Desiree Ellis was more impressed by veteran defender Lebogang Ramalepe.

The 33-year-old went away with a Player of the match award after two assists and a goal in Oudja to send the defending champions to the quarter-finals against Senegal on Saturday.

That match will also be played at 9pm after the match between Algeria and Ghana at 6pm.

Ramalepe, one of the legends of Banyana and South African women’s football with over 100 caps for the national team, has played all three group matches at wingback - a more forward role than her usual right back.

Ellis had nothing but praise for the player known affectionately as Rama in football circles.

“We’ve seen Rama at Mamelodi Sundowns play at wingback as well,” said Ellis.

“We’re fortunate that she can play in that forward role because it is similar to when she is playing at fullback, (but this position) I think it just gives her more freedom to play further up the field and to create space and assist without shedding her defensive duties.

“It is the same with Karabo (Dhlamini) as well on that left side. You can see the combinations with Gabriel (Salgaldo) when she came on. It was good to see her (Ramalepe) get more minutes and to score.”

Ramalepe’s game trademark has always been her endurance, tactical intelligence and attacking instincts, which has over the years benefitted the likes of Ma-Indies, Sundowns and Banyana.

After the game she was quoted by cafonline.com saying:

“The win for the team is something we worked so hard for. We knew it was not going to be an easy game. The three points really made things easy for us,” she said, before she reflected on he Player of the match award. 

“It really showed that I did my best. It was also a collective effort. I would like to thank my teammates.”

As they had to the knockout stages, Banyana will again be put under scrutiny as it happened with their last group outing, in which they needed a positive result after drawing 1-1 with Tanzania in their second match in Oudja.

“It’s not going to be an easy game. It’s a knockout stage and a matter of trying to stay composed,” reflected Ramalepe.

“(We will have to) play our normal game and make sure we convert our chances — then we will be heading to the semifinals.”