Andile Dlamini, the talented goalkeeper of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Banyana Banyana, has been facing a life-threatening heart illness, as reported by The South African. Fans and the football community have been questioning her exclusion from the team, but it seems there is a valid reason behind it.
Exclusion from the World Cup
According to a source close to the Banyana camp at the FIFA World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Dlamini’s exclusion comes as she is still recovering from her heart condition. As a result, she has not been able to participate in the World Cup matches.
Initial reports suggested that Dlamini was left out of the starting eleven because she had initiated a strike concerning bonuses before the tournament. This claim, however, seems to be unfounded in light of the new information about her health.
Coach Ellis’ Decision
In Banyana Banyana’s opening match against Sweden, coach Desiree Ellis chose Kaylin Swart from JVW Ladies as the starting goalkeeper, resulting in a 2-1 loss. In the subsequent must-win match against Argentina, Swart started once again, but Banyana could not maintain their 2-0 lead and ended up with a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Coach Ellis previously explained her decision to start Swart over Dlamini, stating that she thought Swart would be the better choice against Sweden in Group G. Following the loss, social media was abuzz with criticism, and many questioned the wisdom of her decision to field Swart ahead of Dlamini and Kebotseng Moletsane.
In response to the backlash, Ellis defended her choice, saying, “We knew that if we were in trouble, Kaylin would kick us out of trouble. She did this on many occasions and that is why we made those changes.”
Dlamini’s Condition
The source further mentioned that Dlamini should not have been selected for the tournament or included in the final 23-member squad. They added that the goalkeeper has not played for Sundowns since March, which could be due to the seriousness of her medical condition. Nonetheless, fans continue to show their support and belief in her abilities.
It is worth noting that Dlamini is facing a challenging time, both personally and professionally. As she recovers from her heart illness, fans and the football community can only hope for her speedy return to the field, where she can continue to display her exceptional skills and contribute to the success of her team.
