The nominees for the category of the Women’s Coach of the Year at the inaugural 2023 COSAFA Awards have been unveiled.

The winner will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in Durban on April 19, with a panel of judges from across the region having assessed their achievements for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2023.

The three nominees are South Africa women's national squad coach Desiree Ellis, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies' head coach Jerry Tshabalala, and Zambia's women's national squad head coach Bruce Mwape.


Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Desiree led South Africa to a historic round of 16's place at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and qualified them for the defense of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title that they won in 2022. She also advanced the side to the final round of qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Paris later this year. 
 

Bruce Mwape (Zambia)

Mwape guided Zambia at their first ever Women’s World Cup and although they lost their first two games 5-0, they bounced back with a historic 3-1 win over Costa Rica in their final match.

He has also led them to qualification for the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the final round of qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Paris later this year.


Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)

Tshabalala led Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to the finals of the CAF Women’s Champions League and clinched the showpiece's 2023 title by winning all matches in Ivory Coast without conceding a single goal.

Tshabalala led Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to the treble with victory in the COSAFA Women’s Champions League and their domestic Super League.

The judging panel from across the 14 member nations that make up COSAFA consists of stakeholders who are renowned for their knowledge of Southern African football.

They are Houssamidine Ben Ahmed (Comoros), Ivan Capuepue (Angola), Rob Delport (South Africa), Gerard Govinden (Seychelles), Peter Kanjere (Malawi), Jesse Kauraisa (Namibia), and Kagiso Kgaogano (Botswana).

Sibusiso Masilela (Eswatini), Sandra Mwila (Zambia), Boitelo Radebe (Lesotho), Heriniaina Samson (Madagascar), Benoit Thomas (Mauritius), Steve Vickers (Zimbabwe) and Raimundo Zandamela (Mozambique) wind up the panel.