South Africa’s football scene is gaining recognition with seven individuals and three teams nominated across various categories at the 2023 CAF Awards. Thembi Kgatlana, a respected figure in women’s football, has secured a place in the CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year category, and the women’s team, Banyana Banyana, won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and progressed to the knockout stages at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. South African teams, including Mamelodi Sundowns and Sundowns Ladies, were also nominated for their hard work. The nominations are a testament to South Africa’s thriving football legacy.
Andile Dlamini, a successful women’s football goalkeeper for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, has overcome personal battles and mental health issues to achieve her glory. Despite being sidelined during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup due to allegations of unfitness and underlying mental health concerns, she won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament Award during the CAF Women’s Champions League. Dlamini’s story highlights the critical necessity to address mental health issues within the rigorous world of professional sports and the influential role of support systems within sport. Her unwavering dedication to her team and her relentless determination to emerge victorious is a testament to her character.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have won the CAF Women’s Champions League twice in three years, with goalkeeper Andile Dlamini playing a vital role in their recent 30 victory. The team sees their participation in tournaments as crucial for development and preparing younger players for national representation. Their victory is a testament to their resilience, determination, and teamwork, with captain Zanele Nhlapho’s previous red card serving as motivation to come back stronger.
The ups and downs of South Africa’s women’s national football team, Banyana Banyana, at the FIFA World Cup have been captivating. The team’s match against Argentina was a thrilling, yet ultimately disappointing experience for fans. ### The Match Against Argentina
Banyana’s Andile Dlamini Battling a Heart Illness Amid Calls for Inclusion in the Team
Andile Dlamini, the talented goalkeeper of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Banyana Banyana, has been facing a lifethreatening 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.
South African football fans are expressing their dissatisfaction with the national women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, following their 22 draw against Argentina in Dunedin, New Zealand on Friday. The team initially appeared to be headed for a win when Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana each scored goals, but Argentina managed to tie the game by scoring two goals in just six minutes.
Former Arsenal forward and passionate supporter of Banyana Banyana and the English national team, Ian Wright, expressed his disappointment with the South African women’s national team’s performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Banyana Banyana drew 22 against Argentina, with Wright highlighting their lack of “streetwise” tactics and poor possession skills.