Springbok captain Siya Kolisi with Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
WATCH: Kolisi, Springboks welcome Banyana back home
Siya Kolisi was among several Springbok players who welcomed Banyana Banyana back to South Africa after the World Cup.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi with Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis and members of her support staff returned home to a vociferous welcome at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday after a historic FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.
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The South African side wrote their name into the history books after becoming the first ever South African national team, men or women, to make it out of the group stages of a FIFA tournament. Their journey in the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand came to an end in the 0-2 defeat to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Waiting for them at the airport was none other than Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, and a few of his national teammates.
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WATCH THE BANYANA WELCOME BELOW:
The women’s team made South Africa proud
“You know, when we went to the World Cup in 2019, we knew what to expect, but we also didn’t know what to expect until we got there,” Ellis said. “We did not do as well as we thought we could do, because we scored one goal and no points. This time around (we did better).”
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Ellis said her charges played well to get out of a group that had Sweden, Argentina and Italy.
“We were in a tough group, but a reasonable group. I thought we played really well over the games and maybe we could have got a result against Sweden, (it ended with the Swedes winning 3-2), and also we could have got a result against Argentina (it ended 2-2). But the players stood up against Italy (Banyana Banyana won 3-2).
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