Former Banyana Banyana forward Rhoda Mulaudzi has retired from football but will not be lost to the game.
The Limpopo-born player has been appointed the second assistant coach at Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team in the Hollywoodbets Super League, under the leadership of interim head coach Godfrey Sapula and first assistant coach, Agnes Nkosi – herself a former Brazilians defender.
The news was confirmed by Mulaudzi on the club’s Pitchside Podcast where she was speaking to DJ Naves and Sundowns’ legend, Hlompho Kekana.
She spent 14 years at Sundowns Ladies.
“Allow me to thank the club, the chairman, the technical team from the ladies’ side and everyone who was part of my journey. I’m going to miss the game, I felt like I still have it, but my body said no. The good thing is that no one forced me to retire but my body was like now is the time,” said Mulaudzi.
“I would like to thank the club for the opportunity given, it’s not everyone that’s going to get this opportunity that I got. Thank you to my teammates and everyone, even those I didn’t mention. Thanks to my family and God himself, thank you.
She says for any athlete, hanging up their boots is never an easy decision.
“The heart and mind still want to play but the body is telling you something else and you can’t compete with that, you just have to obey and say, ‘you know what, it’s fine I hear what you’re saying.’ You have to make peace with it because if you don’t you’re not going to enjoy your next journey,” added Mulaudzi.
“So, with me it was a matter of, in fact I can I say I saw it coming, especially with my injuries, operation after operation. So, sometimes you ask yourself or it’s a matter of maybe God is trying to communicate with you, maybe it’s about time, so yeah, it’s never an easy thing to decide on.”
Due to her background of being from the Royal House, growing up as a princess in Venda, Mulaudzi surprised all when she chose football over royal duties.
“For me football was everything, I don’t want to go deeper on this. I’m from the royal family but I never cared about that. When I was young, they never allowed me to play football until my dad was like I’m here to support. I love the game, I started playing when I was five,” said an emotional Mulaudzi.
The choice she made back then to follow her dreams would see her transverse the world through football signing her first professional contract in Australia for Canberra United in 2018 alongside the current captain of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Refiloe Jane.
Mulaudzi also had stints at Appolon Ladies in Cyprus where she played UEFA Women’s Champions League for them, as well as at Dinamo Minsk in Belarus, where she was with Sundowns Ladies teammate, and now club captain, Lebohang Ramalepe.
The foundation, however, was laid at Colchester Ladies in Eldorado Park. After completing her matric in 2008, she went to the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), studying for a diploma in Sports Management and a B-Tech [Bachelor of Technology] in Business Administration.
This was also thanks to Sundowns FC who allowed her to pursue her studies.
“I joined the club in 2010 but at that time I decided to go pursue my studies at university and they allowed me to go. I was in varsity (VUT) for five years, so they were patient with me because I believe they also understand the importance of education. When I was done with my studies I communicated with them, and they welcomed me back. I can say I was now matured because I had gathered some experience playing varsity football,” said Mulaudzi.
While excited at the contribution she has made in the game, she has however two regrets.
“Before retirement, I wanted to play WAFCON with the national team but unfortunately couldn’t because of some reasons like injuries. But also, I wanted to break my own record of 36 goals scored in one season but unfortunately injuries happened,” added Mulaudzi.
The achievement of 36 goals scored in one season in 2020 earned her winning ticket and was named the inaugural winner of the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA).
At national team level, she made 30 appearances for her country with four goals to her name. Her debut was in 2015 in a 1-all draw against Cameroon in the African Games, while her last match the African Champions in 2023.
In 2019 she was part of the squad that represent South African at the maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Other than being the second assistant coach at Sundowns Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League, the 35-year-old is also second in command at the South African U17 Women’s National team and is a co-coach at the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Academy.
Among the individual accolades under her name as a player, she won the Belarus Women’s Cup in 2020 and was part of the squad that won a treble in 2021: Hollywoodbets Super League, CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers and the CAF Women’s League proper.
As a coach, Mulaudzi has already tasted victory – she led her juniors to victory in the Volkswagen Vaya Cup in 2022, as well as in the Gauteng Women’s Development U14 Women’s League.
RHODA MULAUDZI FACT FILE:
Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 2 December 1989 (age 35) | ||
| Place of birth | Venda, Malonga Village, Ha-Muligidi, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.50 m | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (assistant coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Goals) |
| Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | |||
| 2018–2019 | Canberra United | 12 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | Apollon Ladies | ||
| 2020 | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | 18 | (36) |
| 2020–2021 | Dinamo Minsk | 3 | (1) |
| 2021–2025 | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015–2023 | South Africa | 30 | (5) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022– | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Academy | ||
| 2024– | South Africa W u17 (assistant) | ||
| 2025- | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (assistant coach) |
By Matlhomola Morake
