Hollywoodbets Super League outfit, the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies), has announced the return of their star players, Thubelihle and Sphumelele Shamase.
The twin sisters spent the 2024 season in Lithuania running out for FC Gintra in the A Lyga – Lithuania’s top level women’s football league – and helped the team win their record 23rd league title.
The European side will be playing in the UEFA Champions League but the South Africans chose to return home – perhaps to be closer to the eye of national team coach, Desiree Ellis as she is finalising her CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) squad.
The tournament will be held in Morocco in July this year, and the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana are the defending champions.
The return of the pair will be good news for head coach Nthabeleng Modiko as this will surely strengthen her squad for the current campaign in the South African elite women’s football league. UJ Ladies finished fourth last season and will be hoping the acquisition of the much-admired duo will help the team to a more improved position at the end of the season.
“Thrilled to welcome back S’phumelele and Thubelihle Shamase after their time with FC Gintra ( Lithuania) for the 2024 season, Shamase Twins returns to the Orange Army Family. They return to the Orange Army with their wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. Welcome Back Shamase Twins,” said UJ Ladies in a social media post.
The pair could be unleashed in the much-anticipated Hollywoodbets Super League clash against third-placed JVW at the UJ Soccer Stadium on Sunday (04 May 2025) which kicks off at 1pm.
The Orange Army is second on the log standings, tied on 13 points each with their opponents – and both six behind leaders and reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, who face a tricky University of Fort Hare two hours earlier (11am).
At FC Gintra, Thubelihle and Sphumelele, were following in the footsteps fellow South Africans – Jermaine Seoposenwe, Leandra Smeda and Nothando Vilakazi – who all donned colours of the European side.
The Shamase twins are the latest South Africans to return home after a stint overseas.
Just recently, Smeda and Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane signed for TS Galaxy Queens following their exploits in Europe, while Noxolo Cesane has joined Sundowns Ladies after a season at Eastern Flames in Saudi Arabia.
By Matlhomola Morake
