MZANSI CELEBS

Hanover Park heroes: Benni McCarthy praises Desiree Ellis

Benni McCarthy has heaped praise on Banyana Banyana and coach Desiree Ellis for progressing to the Top 16 of the Fifa Womens World Cup.


This following their momentous victory against Italy on Thursday, 2 August.

Both Benni – a retired Bafana Bafana player – and Desiree, who also played for the women’s national team, hail from Hanover Park in the Western Cape.

Benni is now a first-team captain of the UK football league, Manchester United.
On his Instagram Stories, Benni McCarthy sang the praises of the women’s team.

“Congratulations Banyana Banyana. And congrats to my girl Desiree Ellis.

Like Desiree, Benni and his family lived in Hanover Park in the Cape Flats. The area is notorious for gangsterism, violence, and a high unemployment rate.

ALSO READ: Ouch! Benni McCarthy fat-shamed over latest appearanceAccording to Benni, he “grew up in front of” Desiree, and both had big dreams about playing football.

Benni McCarthy
Before being recognised as the first-team coach of Manchester United, South Africa’s Benni McCarthy was a soccer star in his own right. Images via AFP: ANDREW YATES, FRANCK FIFE/ Instagram: @bennimac17
He told iDiski Times: “She knows now she’s the real king of Hanover Park. Yeah, she’s number one. Hanover Park has a woman king n. She’s the Queen!

He added: “I think Desiree’s got the ability to go and be one of the first to go and coach in Europe because she’s that good!

“I pray that that is her ambition, that she wants to test herself at a much, much higher level, and that one day she goes on and coaches one of the top teams in Europe or the top countries in Europe because that’s where she’s destined for.”

‘FRICKEN AMAZING, ’ SAYS DESIREE ELLIS
In a post-match interview, Banyana coach Desiree Ellis shared her thoughts about progressing to the next round of the Women’s World Cup.

She said of Banyana’s performance: “They fought like warriors; they fought like the heroines that we know they are. They fought like, for, for, to be historically remembered, and they’ve made history not just getting our first win but going to the round of 16.