Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies has wasted no time in scooping Banyana Banyana forward Ronnel Donnelly, who has now relocated from the Western Cape to Gauteng.
The Wentworth, Durban-born player becomes the second signing to move directly from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in the Hollywoodbets Super League to Sundowns Ladies – following in the footsteps of midfielder Kholosa Biyana.
Noxolo Cesane, who is on the books of Banyana ba Style, also played for UWC but headed to Chloorkop via Saudi Arabia.
Donnelly’s star has been on rise for some time now, and she is expected to feature prominently for Sundowns Ladies following the departure of their recognised number 9, Andisiwe Mgcxoyi, who was released by the club.
The Durbanite showed a lot of promise at the 2021 Engen Champ of Champs in her hometown in KwaZulu Natal, running out for Shooting Stars, a team owned and coached by her father, Lewis.
She finished as the Top Goal Scorer that year, which caught the attention of UWC, who secured her signature.
The forward repaid the coaches’ faith when she claimed the same award at the Varsity Cup last year as well as the Football Player of the Tournament accolade. UWC won the competition claiming back-to-back titles.
She didn’t stop there and played a role in helping the Cape Town side in winning the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier and went on to feature at the continental finals in Morocco where they bombed out in the group stages.
But they will go down in history as the first University to play in the tournament.
At the end of 2024, she was part of the student squad that lifted the USSA Women’s Championship with UWC, pipping the Universities of Johannesburg and North West (Mafikeng) to the top spot second and third place respectively.
She scored in the 2-1 win over TUT in the final and left the competition as the Top Goal Scorer as UWC successfully defended their title.
Just last month, her star shone even brighter when she made her debut for Banyana Banyana in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The youngest player in the squad at just 21, she tasted international football in the opening match against Ghana in the 86th minute, coming on for Cesane, who on the day celebrated her 50th appearance for country.
Donnelly’s name would be on the headlines in the third game of the tournament when she scored her first ever goal for South Africa in the 78th minute. This was against Mali in a 4-nil win, helping Banyana Banyana cement their top spot in Group C.
She was one of four UWC players selected for the national team – the others being Lonathemba Mhlongo, Fikile Magama and Sibulele Holweni as well as the Blues Head Coach, Thinasonke Mbuli who is also the assistant coach in the South African Senior Women’s squad.
Donnelly played her last match for UWC back in June before the WAFCON and travelled from Morocco directly to Johannesburg to conclude her deal with Sundowns Ladies.
The Brazilians face Durban Ladies on Sunday (10 August) but Donnelly could be unveiled next weekend at home when Banyana ba Style tackle the University of Cape Town at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
By Matlhomola Morake
