Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are the toast of the town as the African champions received the Recognition of Sport Excellence in Sport Award from the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa on Tuesday night at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton.
Along with receiving a certificate, the Caf Women’s Champions title holders were given R1 million cash incentive by the minister for their historic triumph in Egypt in December. Banyana Ba Style beat Ghanaian outfit Hasaacas Ladies FC 2-0 in the final last November.
Jerry Tshabalala’s troops enjoyed unprecedented success in the 2021/22 campaign – rewriting the record books by winning the treble, including Hollywoodbets Super league, Caf Champions League Cosafa qualifiers and the inaugural Champions League.
During their treble-conquering season, Sundowns played 36 matches, scored 113 goals, kept 21 clean sheets, and conceded 15 times.
“Congratulations to the Chairman of Sundowns Mamelodi Sundowns, Mr Thapi Motsepe, for ensuring that the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team remains as competitive as their male counterpart and continue to fly the South African flag high,” said sports minister Mthethwa.
“Sundowns is the first SA football team to participate in both the male and female versions of the CAF Club Champions League, launched on 12 September 2020. We applaud the ladies for defeating Hasaacas Ladies F.C. in the finals hosted in Egypt.”
The Tshwane giants tactician, Tshabalala, believes Sundowns Ladies are reaping the fruits of their labour after years of hard work.
“It is something that never happened overnight, I have been with this team for the last 10 years, so we worked hard for all these achievements,” said Tshabalala.
“It was a work in progress whereby it took us more than 10 years to be where we are today.”
