Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C. Explained

See also: Mamelodi Sundowns F.C..

Nickname:The Brazilians
Banyana Ba Style
Masandawana
Downs
Ka bo Yellow
Ground:Lucas Moripe Stadium
Capacity:28 900
Clubname:Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C.
Fullname:Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Football Club
Short Name:Sundowns, MSFC, MSL
Owner:Patrice Motsepe
League:SAFA Women's League
Season:2023
Position:1st
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Website:www.sundownsfc.co.za
Current:2024 SAFA Women's League
Manager: Jerry Tshabalala
Chairman:Tlhopie Motsepe
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C. is a women's professional soccer club based in Pretoria, South Africa. The team competes in the SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in South Africa.[1] [2] [3] [4] They are the most successful women's team in South Africa with six titles. The team, together with the men's team are owned by Patrice Motsepe.

They won the inaugural CAF Women's Champions League in 2021.[5] In the qualifiers, the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers, they won without a single loss. This sent them to the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League which they also won without a defeat and also without conceding.

In March 2024, the club appointed its first Head of Women's Football, Christa Kgamphe.[6]

History

The club was founded on 4 September 2009 by owner Patrice Motsepe and they participated in the inaugural Sasol Women's League.

In 2013 they won their maiden national title at the 2013 Sasol League National Championship. They won 2–0 against Limpopo's Ma-Indies Ladies in the final held in Klerksdorp.[7]

In 2015, they set the Sasol League National Championship goal-scoring record when they defeated Galeshewe Ladies 25–0 at the 2015 Sasol League National Championship in Sasolburg.[8] They went on to win the national championship and lift their second title, defeating Cape Town Roses 5–0 in the final.[9]

Sundowns won the inaugural SAFA Women's League undefeated, 21 wins and 1 draw, and scored 83 goals while only conceding 13 goals.[10]

2021 season

Inaugural COSAFA Women's Champions League

CAF announced the launch of the CAF Women's Champions League with each of the six CAF regions to produce a finalist.[11] Sundowns, as the 2019-20 SAFA Women's League champions, were set to go against the other national champions in the COSAFA regional qualifiers.

On 26 August 2021, the 2021 COSAFA Women's Champions League first matches took place with Sundowns playing against Lesotho Defence Force Ladies from Lesotho. They won their first match 6–0. Their second match was against Double Action Ladies from Botswana with Sundowns again winning 6–0. Their final group stage match was against Manzini Wanderers from Eswatini which ended in a 6–1 win for Sundowns.[12] In the semi-finals, they won 1–0 against Green Buffaloes from Zambia and went on to win the tournament 3–0 against Black Rhino Queens from Zimbabwe.[13] This led to them qualifying for the first-ever CAF Women's Champions League held in Egypt.

Inaugural CAF Women's Champions League

The club kicked-off their Champions League matches with a 1–0 win against Vihiga Queens from Kenya. Their next match was again a 1–0 win against Rivers Angels from Nigeria and third match a goalless draw against AS FAR of Morocco.[14] The semi-final match against Malabo Kings from Equatorial Guinea ended goalless with Sundowns winning 5–4 on penalties. They went on to win the first CAF Women's Champions League 2–0 against Hasaacas Ladies from Ghana.[15]

2021 SAFA Women's League

They defended their title by winning the 2021 SAFA Women's League which qualified them for the 2022 COSAFA Women's Champions League.[16]

2022 season

COSAFA Women's Champions League 2022

In hopes to retain the COSAFA Women's Champions League, the club started as clear favourites by scoring 8 goals against Mozambican club CD Costa do Sol winning the match 8–1 at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban. The second match was against Botswana club Double Action Ladies, despite being favorites they were forced to share the spoils drawing 1-1. The club topped the group on a superior goal difference which led them to their second consecutive final. The Zambian side Green Buffaloes held out for most of the game till extra time as the score remained 0-0, Sundowns lost on penalties against Green Buffaloes, giving them their first loss in the competition. But since they won the previous 2021 CAF Women's Champions League they qualified automatically.

CAF Women's Champions League 2022

They finished top of Group B with nine points. They opened the tournament with a 2–1 win of Nigeria's Bayelsa Queens, proceeded to a 5–0 win over Wadi Degla of Egypt, and ended the group stages with a 4–0 over Congolese club TP Mazembe. The semifinals were contested with Simba Queens from Tanzania, with Sundowns winning 1–0.[17] In the final with AS FAR, Sundowns lost 4-0 ending the match with nine players on the field.[18]

2022 SAFA Women's League

They set the goal scoring record in the league when they scored 126 goals, averaging 4,2 goals per match, in the 2022 SAFA Women's League. They are the first team to score a 100 goals.[19] In November, they were crowned champions of the SAFA Women's League for a third year in a row and qualified for the 2023 COSAFA Women's Champions League.[20]

IFFHS ranking and CAF Women's Club of the Year award

They ended the 2022 season ranked the best women's club in Africa by IFFHS with 174 points and won the CAF Women's Club of the Year award.[21] [22]

2023 season

On 13 August 2023, they faced the University of Johannesburg in the inaugural Joburg Basadi Football Challenge final where they won 1–0.[23]

COSAFA Women's Champions League 2023

On 31 August 2023, they opened their 2023 COSAFA Women's Champions League with a 8–0 win over Comoros side Olympic de Moroni.[24] Their next match was against Young Buffaloes from Eswatini which they won 4–0, and they finished off their group stages with a 4–0 victory over Mozambican side CD Costa do Sol.[25] They met Zambian side Green Buffaloes in the semi-finals, coming from behind to win 3–1 at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.[26] In the final, against Double Actions Ladies from Botswana, they qualified for the Champions League with a 2–0 win.[27]

CAF Women's Champions League 2023

In the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League, Sundowns qualified for the knockout stages after finishing top of Group A with nine points. They won 2–0 against Tanzanian side JKT Queens,[28] 1–0 over Moroccan side Sporting Club Casablanca,[29] and 3–0 against Ivorian side Athletico D'Abidjan.[30] They met 2022 champions AS FAR in the semi-finals of the tournament, winning 1–0 to qualify for their third successive final. In the final with Sporting Club Casablanca, Sundowns won the match 3–0 to finish the tournament without conceding a goal.[31]

2023 SAFA Women's League

They won their fourth consecutive SAFA Women's League title on the 6th of December 2023.[32]

CAF Women's Club of the Year award

On 11 December 2023, they retained the CAF Women's Club of the Year award at the CAF Awards 2023 event held in Marrakech, Morocco.[33]

IFFHS ranking

The club was ranked the best women's club in Africa by IFFHS for the second year running with 238 points and tied for 19th in the Women's Club World ranking.[34]

2024 season

The Women's Cup

On 10 May 2024, it was announced the club had been invited to take part in the 2024 version of The Women's Cup scheduled for August.[35] On 15 August 2024, they played their first match with Kansas City Current from the USA and lost the match 3-0.[36]

Media

Mamelodi Sundowns magazine

In September 2021 the club launched the first edition of its quarterly magazine. The December 2021 edition, titled Banyana ba Style Queens of the Continent covered their maiden CAF Women's Champions League win.[37] The cover featured Sundowns Ladies captain Zanele Nhlapho and players Bambanani Mbane, Chuene Morifi, Thalea Smidt, and Andisiwe Mgcoyi.

Banyana Ba Style documentary

On 13 November 2022, Mamelodi Sundowns announced the launch of their documentary ahead of the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League final. The film titled Banyana Ba Style: The First Queens of African Football aired on SuperSport's channel 202.[38] In 2023, Netflix announced the documentary will be featured on its streaming site from 22 November.[39]

Sundowns Ladies TV

On 7 April 2024 the first episode of the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Show was broadcast on SABC 1. The show is hosted by sports presenter Bokamoso Jessica Nkomo, commonly known as Aunty Diski.

Players

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C. squad for 2024 season.[40]

https://NAphane.com

Technical team

PositionStaff
Head Coach Jerry Tshabalala
Assistant Coach Agnes Nkosi
Goalkeeper Coach Koketso Tshabalala
Head of Football Christa Kgamphe-Jane
Team Doctor Nokufa Makae
Kit Manager Nokubonga Bala
Administrator Dipuo Maboe

Kit suppliers and sponsors

Same sponsors as the men's team

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsorSleeve sponsor
2014–2016 Nike Ubuntu-Botho Investments
2016–present Puma[41] Hyundai[42]

Notable players

FIFA World Cup participants

List of players that were called up for a FIFA Women's World Cup while playing for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. In brackets, the tournament played:

Summer Olympics participants

List of players that were called up for the Summer Olympic Games while playing for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. In brackets, the tournament played:

Honours

TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasons
Domesticscope=colSAFA Women's League / Sasol League National Championship6Champions (6): 2013, 2015, 2019-20, 2021, 2022, 2023
Africanscope=colCAF Women's Champions League2Champions (2): 2021, 2023

Runners-up (1): 2022

scope=colCOSAFA Women's Champions League2Champions (2): 2021, 2023

Runners-up (1): 2022

Awards

Club records

TypeNatNameRecord
Most Trophies Won - CoachJerry Tshabalala11
League victoryvs Coal City Wizards11-0 (2023 SAFA Women's League)[43]
COSAFA victoryvs Olympic de Moroni8-0 (2023 COSAFA Women's Champions League)
Record victoryvs Galeshewe Ladies25–0 (2015 Sasol League National Championship)[44]
CAF victoryvs Wadi Degla5–0 (2022 CAF Women's Champions League)[45]
Record defeatvs

SAFA Women's League statistics

SAFA Women's League record

SeasonPosRecord
PWDLFAGDPst
2019-20Champions22211083137064
2021Champions26241187147373
2022Champions3027121261311382
2023Champions29253195158078
2024In progress1311115784934

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 4 February 2021 . Sundowns Ladies coach excited by return women's football . Daily Citizen . 29 July 2021.
  2. News: 2 July 2021 . Mamelodi Sundowns ladies to compete in women's caf champions . Kickoff . 29 July 2021.
  3. News: 23 February 2020 . Sundowns Ladies claim SNWL Title . Gsport.co.za . 29 July 2021.
  4. News: 13 August 2021 . Sundowns in top form ahead of regional Champions League . Cosofa.com . 16 August 2021.
  5. Web site: Diamond . Drew . 2023-11-16 . South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to release Netflix documentary . 2023-11-16 . Her Football Hub . en-GB.
  6. Web site: Diamond . Drew . 2024-03-20 . Mamelodi Sundowns appoint first ever Head of Women's Football . 2024-03-20 . Her Football Hub . en-GB.
  7. Web site: SAFA . 2013-12-01 . Sundowns Deserved SASOL League Champions . 2024-05-07 . gsport4girls . en-ZA.
  8. Web site: Sundowns blast record-breaking 25 goals past Galeshewe Ladies . 2024-03-26 . George Herald.
  9. Web site: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies win Sasol League . 2024-03-26 . Daily Sun . en-US.
  10. Web site: Laduma . Soccer . Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Crowned Champions Of SAFA's National Women's League . 2024-05-07 . Soccer Laduma . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2020-09-10 . Caf releases maiden African Women's Champions League format Goal.com . 2023-11-16 . www.goal.com . en.
  12. Web site: Manaleng . Palesa . Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies advance to semi-finals of CAF qualifiers . 2023-11-16 . ewn.co.za . en.
  13. Web site: 2021-09-04 . ENG, FRE, POR: Sundowns crowned winners of TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers . 2023-11-16 . en-GB.
  14. Web site: 2021-11-09 . Rivers Angels 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies - South Africans on song in Women's Champions League Goal.com South Africa . 2023-11-16 . www.goal.com . en-ZA.
  15. Web site: Sundowns win first ever CAF Women's Champions League final . 2021-11-19 . www.iol.co.za . en.
  16. Web site: Voice . Diski . 2021-12-05 . Sundowns Crowned Champions OF Hollywoodbets Super League Diski Voice . 2023-11-16 . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2022-11-09 . Rabale fires Mamelodi Sundowns into the 2022 Caf Women's Champions League final Goal.com South Africa . 2023-11-16 . www.goal.com . en-ZA.
  18. Web site: 2022-11-13 . AS FAR stun nine-woman Mamelodi Sundowns to clinch 2022 Caf Women's Champions League title Goal.com South Africa . 2023-11-16 . www.goal.com . en-ZA.
  19. Web site: Writer . FARPost . 2022-10-20 . HISTORIC: Sundowns Ladies hit 100-goal mark . 2024-05-07 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  20. Web site: 2022-11-28 . Final Hollywoodbets Super League Wrap . 2023-11-16 . iDiski Times . en-US.
  21. Web site: 2022-07-21 . All CAF Awards Winners Revealed . 2023-11-14 . iDiski Times . en-US.
  22. Web site: IFFHS . 2023-11-16 . www.iffhs.com.
  23. Web site: Sikazwe . Millicent Nondyebo Sikazwe . 13 August 2023 . 13 August 2023 . MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB SCOOP R150 000 PRIZE . 9 November 2023 . Joburg.org.za.
  24. Web site: Ntsoelengoe . Tshepo . 2023-08-31 . Sundowns rout Olympic de Moroni in Champions League qualifier . 2023-11-16 . The Citizen . en.
  25. Web site: Kganyago . Lethabo . 2023-09-04 . Downs Ladies End COSAFA Group Stages With Perfect Record . 2023-11-16 . iDiski Times . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2023-04-09 . CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers semi-finalists confirmed . 2023-11-16 . CAF . en-GB.
  27. Web site: Raophala . Mauwane . 2023-09-08 . Sundowns beat Double Action to qualify for CAF Champions League . 2023-11-16 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  28. Web site: Tshabalala pleased with Sundowns opening win in Ivory Coast . 2023-11-16 . SuperSport . en.
  29. Web site: Contributor . gsport . 2023-11-09 . Mamelodi Sundowns Show CAF Champions League Pedigree in Win over Sporting Club Casablanca . 2023-11-16 . gsport4girls . en-ZA.
  30. Web site: 2023-11-12 . Sundowns storm semi-finals after downing Atletico d' Abidjan - Africa Top Sports . 2023-11-16 . en-US.
  31. Web site: 2023-11-19 . Mamelodi Sundowns reclaim continental glory in style . 2023-11-19 . CAF . en-GB.
  32. Web site: Pillay . Alicia . 2023-12-07 . Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Defend Hollywoodbets Super League Title . 2023-12-07 . gsport4girls . en-ZA.
  33. Web site: 2023-11-12 . Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies retain Club of the Year award . 2023-12-12 . CAF . en-GB.
  34. Web site: IFFHS . 2024-03-03 . iffhs.com.
  35. Web site: Ndubane . Khaya . 2024-05-11 . Sundowns Ladies to take part in Women's Cup in USA . 2024-05-11 . The Citizen . en.
  36. Web site: 2024-08-15 . Mamelodi Sundowns humbled by ruthless Kansas City Current in their US tour Goal.com South Africa . 2024-08-17 . www.goal.com . en-ZA.
  37. Web site: Magazine . Mamelodi Sundowns . 2021-12-23 . Magazine - Edition 2 . 2024-06-19 . Mamelodi Sundowns Magazine . en.
  38. Web site: Mamelodi Sundowns launch ladies team film . 2023-11-16 . SuperSport . en.
  39. Web site: https://www.timeslive.co.za/authors/strydom-marc . Netflix to feature doccie on Sundowns Ladies, 'Banyana ba Style' . 2023-11-16 . TimesLIVE . en-ZA.
  40. News: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC squad. Mamelodi Sundowns FC. 29 July 2021.
  41. Web site: Mamelodi Sundowns sign lucrative long-term deal with Puma . 2024-05-13 . TimesLIVE . en-ZA.
  42. Web site: Holmes . Elena . 2017-10-17 . Mamelodi Sundowns net Hyundai deal . 2024-05-13 . SportsPro . en-GB.
  43. Web site: CentreCircle . 2023-10-19 . HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE: Ruthless Sundowns Ladies show no mercy, win also for log leaders UWC . 2024-03-03 . Centre Circle . en-US.
  44. Web site: 2023-08-31 . EN, FR, PR: Record-breakers Mamelodi Sundowns get big win in Durban . 2024-03-03 . en-GB.
  45. Web site: 2022-11-03 . Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies thump Wadi Degla to reach Caf Women's Champions League semi-finals Goal.com South Africa . 2024-03-03 . www.goal.com . en-ZA.