Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies defender Bambanani Mbane’s year just keeps getting better.
She was named the 2021 Hollywoodbets Super League Player of the Year after some scintillating display in the Brazilians jersey – this was only her first season with the Chloorkop-based outfit, after returning from a short stint in Belarus.
Just recently she was chosen as the South African Football Journalist Association (SAFJA) Footballer of the Year https://centrecircle.online/bambanani-mane-wins-a-double-in-one-night/
– the first accolade of its kind in women’s football from the media structure.
The Eastern Cape-born player has been the rock that Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies has built their defence on, alongside the reliable captain, Zanele Nhlapo.
On the night Mbane was honoured at a glamorous event held at the Sandton Convention Centre, her teammate Andisiwe Mgcoyi was awarded a prize for being prolific in front of goals.
The striker shared the Top Goal scorer accoladed with JVW FC captain Nompulelelo Nyandeni – both hit the back of the net 27 times.
As expected Mamelodi Sundowns’ mentor Jerry Tshabalala scooped the Coach of the Year award after leading the Brazilians to a treble in 2021.
They won the league title, the COSAFA Club Women’s Championship as well as the inaugural CAF Club Women’s Championship.
Masandawana were also correctly named the Team of the Year after suffering just one loss in 26 matches, winning 24 and drawing one.
The Young Player and Goalkeeper of the Year Awards went to Nthabiseng Majiya of Richmond Ladies and Regirl Ngobeni of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Ladies respectively.
Ngobeni kept an impressive 14 clean sheets last season.
Hollywoodbets, the proud sponsor of South Africa’s elite women’s league, also announced on the night that each award winner will travel to Brentford FC in England on an all-expenses paid trip where they will be hosted by the Premier League side, which is sponsored by Hollywoodbets.
There is a lot in store for the winners, as they will train with the club, watch a league match and also tour the Brentford Community Stadium.
Meanwhile, Hollywoodbets has extended their partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) for a further three years, and this will no doubt come as good news to women’s football which has been struggling without funding.
The 16-team league kicks off next month with two newcomers – Vasco da Gama of Cape Town and Eastern Cape’s City Lads Ladies.
By Matlhomola Morake
