Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala explained why experienced goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has had limited playing time this season at the club.
The Banyana Banyana international has been on the sidelines for the last eight games for Sundowns Ladies across all competitions.
Dlamini’s lack of game time at the club level has cost her regular playing time at the national team level, with Kaylin Swart preferred as the number one by Banyana coach Desiree Ellis.
Prior to Banyana Banyana’s European tour, during which they played against Denmark and England last month, coach Ellis cited that the decision to start with Swart in goals was because Dlamini did not have enough playing time at her club.
“When we called Andile for the World Cup, we made a decision to play Kaylin [Swart]. So, Andile didn’t get a lot of game time, but we needed the experience,” said Ellis during the squad announcement for the European tour last month.
“It’s a juggling act; when Andile didn’t play at the World Cup, there were lots of questions, and people forgot that she didn’t have enough time, and nobody brought up that she didn’t have much regular playing time at the time.”
Before Dlamini’s selection for the national team’s European tour, she was last called up for Banyana when they were set to face Nigeria in the final Olympic qualifier round in March 2024, but she had to be withdrawn from the squad due to medical reasons.
WHAT JERRY TSHABALALA SAID ABOUT ANDILE DLAMINI’S LACK OF GAME TIME
Sundowns Ladies coach Tshabalala made it clear that the competition has been too high within the club in their goalkeeping department as they have four top goalkeepers.
He went on to state that no one is guaranteed a position because anyone can start between the sticks for the team.
In the current season, Sedilame Bosija, who also forms part of the Botswana National Team, has been playing regularly ahead of Dlamini, Mbali Ntimane, and Asa Rabalao.
“Well, look, at Sundowns, we have about four top goalkeepers, so the competition is very high,” said Tshabalala in an interview with FARPost.
“Any goalkeeper can come in at any given time, so it doesn’t matter to us who is in goal. For us, anyone can just play for Mamelodi Sundowns.”
Sundowns Ladies are currently in Morocco for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, where they aim to defend their title.
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