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Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Andile Dlamini was the biggest winner at the third annual Gauteng Women in Sports Awards at the Kyalami Country Club in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Dlamini bagged the Sportswoman of the Year award and was inconsolable as she walked onto the stage to collect her accolade.
Last month Dlamini was named the Gauteng Sports Personality of the Year at the Gauteng Sports Awards, but could not collect her award as she was in Turkey with Banyana for the Turkish Women’s Cup.
The 30-year-old short-stopper could not hold back the tears as she dedicated the award to her family and the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Club.
Dlamini won the Tshwane Sports Women of the Year award in January and the Gauteng award in February.
“When I won the award in Gauteng, I was not there, and Coach Jerry Tshabalala collected the award on my behalf. But this time, I am fetching my award, and it is for the first time that I walked on stage to receive an award,” said a sobbing Dlamini.
Dlamini told SABC Sport she almost died when she contracted Covid-19 in 2021. She won the Caf Champions League title with the Sundowns that year.
“I promised myself not to cry, but I cannot help it. I'd like to thank God and my family. I have been through a lot in my life, and I am proud of myself. With God, everything is possible, and I realized that when I contracted Covid-19 and thought my life was over. When we got home after winning the Champions League, I got infected with a virus, and I don’t know where and how I got it, but I started to get sick. There was one big moment I thought I was losing my life, and I would like to thank all the doctors from Sundowns and Banyana for saving my life, and I appreciate them. They came into my room while Covid-19 was still dangerous with no mask and gave me oxygen, and I am happy to be alive. Today, I am healthy and alive and winning awards. It was a moment where I needed to reflect and understand myself and how God operates. I want to thank Banyana coach Desiree Ellis for believing in me when no one believed I could kick a ball. You told me where I needed to improve my game and rewarded me with game time,” said an emotional Dlamini.
Dlamini lifted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy with Banyana in 2022 in Morocco, where she won the goalkeeper of the tournament.
She also won the Caf goalkeeper of the tournament award with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Caf Champions League in Morocco in 2022.
She helped Sundowns clinch a third successive league title in the Hollywoodbets Super League in 2022.
She told the public broadcaster she is working hard to make the final squad to play in the Fifa Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand in July and August 2023.
Banyana are in Group G with Spain, Italy, and Argentina, and Dlamini hopes to feature in the opening game against Spain on 23 July in Willington, New Zealand.
“I want to make sure that I seal the World Cup spot, there are so many goalkeepers doing well in the country, and I want to perform to the best of my abilities and make the final team. My dream is to become the best goalkeeper in the world, and that is my biggest wish as a footballer,” added Dlamini.
Category winners
Andile Dlamini – Sportswoman of the Year
Jerry Tshabalala – Coach of the Year
Goals for Girls NPC – Project of the Year
Tebogo Daniel Sihlangu – Radio presenter of the Year
Fakazile Nkitseng – Administrator of the Year
Viwe Jingqi – School Sports Athlete of the Year
Atlas Foundation – Sponsor of the Year
Sharon Mdaka – Sports Journalist of the Year
Yane van der Merwe – Sportswoman of the Year with Disability
Maggie Dicks – Technical Official of the Year
Masedi Hermans – Volunteer of the Year
Valencia Seshoene – Vision View media official of the Year
Olebogeng Morolo – Vision View media official of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns - Team of the Year
Chairperson award – Siya Ntuli
Influencer award – Palesa Deejay Manaleng, PR & Sponsorship, Envision Brand
The special recognition – Martina Meisie Motaung, Mieke van der Merwe, Lauren Duncan
