Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies influential defender, Bambanani Mbane, has won a double in one night.
On the night she was helping her country qualify for the 2022 Morocco Africa Women’s Cup of Nation far away in Algeria, she was also named the 2021 Safja Footballer of the Year at a ceremony held back home in Johannesburg.
The Sterkspruit, Eastern-Cape born defender becomes the second player to scoop the award following on the footsteps of her Sundowns teammate Rhoda Mulaudzi who won it in 2020.
Mbane pocketed 15-thousand-rand (RI5 000) in prize money from Hollywoodbets and will also receive a two-night stay voucher at a Togo Sun hotel of her choice.
The 31-year-old beat off a strong challenge from Hollywoodbets Super League joint top goal scorer Nompumelelo Nyandeni of JVW FC, University of the Western Cape’s Sibulele Holweni and Sundowns Ladies teammates Melinda Kgadiete and Chuene Morifi.
In a statement, Safja deputy chairperson Busisiwe Mokwena said Mbane was deserving of the accolade.
“Having this event to honour and award the best player in the country is quite important to us. All the nominees were deserving of making the final list, they produced the best performances throughout the season consistently. We’re proud of their efforts. Congratulations to Mbane, who remains one of country’s key defenders over the years,” said Mokwena.
“We’d like to thank the coaches in the Hollywoodbets Super League and coach
Desiree Ellis for helping us put together the list of nominees. Lastly, a huge thank you to our partners, Hollywoodbets and Tsogo Sun, for making all of this possible.”
Mbane has made 65 appearances for Banyana Banyana.
She had a great 2021 where she won three trophies with the Brazilians – the domestic league, as well as inaugural completions, the CAF COSAFA Women’s Club Championship, and the CAF Women’s Champions League.
In her debut season the with the club, the former Bloemfontein Celtic player was pivotal Sundowns successfully defending their Hollywoodbets Super League title, where they had the best defensive record in 2021 – they won 24 matches, losing one and drawing the other.
The Chloorkop-based side conceded only 14 goals, led by the experience of the player known to her teammates as Juice, alongside her captain Zanele Nhlapo.
Mbane, who was once on the books of Belarusian Women’s Championship side, Dinamo Minsk, received the most votes from a special panel of Safja members who cover women’s football.
** Safja (South African Football Journalists Association) **
By Matlhomola Morake
