The South African Football Journalists Association have announced that Bambanani Mbane is their 2021 Women’s Footballer of the Year.
The Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ player follows in the footsteps of teammate Rhoda Mulaudzi, who won the award in 2020.
The 31-year-old defender had been nominated alongside Sundowns’ teammates Melinda Kgadiete and Chuene Morifi and JVW’s Mpumi Nyandeni and UWC’s Sibulele Holweni.
Mbane had an excellent year, helping Sundowns win the Hollywoodbets Super League and the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League, as well as the regional COSAFA championship. She also starred for Banyana Banyana.
“Having this event to honour and award the best player in the country is quite important to us,” Safja deputy chairperson Busisiwe Mokwena said in their statement.
“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 the winner. Bambanani Mbane remains one of the country’s key defenders over the last few years.
“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.
“We appreciate the relationship we have with all of them. Lastly, a huge thank you to our partners, Hollywoodbets and Tsogo Sun, for making all of this possible. May our relationship continue and be fruitful for all of us.”
It was a clean sweep of awards for Sundowns again, as last week SAFJA also announced that Peter Shalulile had won the men’s award, after Themba Zwane had previously won it.
