By Mark Etheridge
Former national women’s captain Amanda Dlamini has been hailed by both the Banyana Banyana captain and interim head coach after her retirement from international football this week.
Dlamini put her international boots to one side after a career which saw her winning 105 caps for the national side.
It was a career that saw the KwaZulu-Natal-born player active for 11 years after making her debut against Nigeria in 2007.
Now captaining the national side and back after a stint with the Houston Dash in the United States, Janine van Wyk took time out from preparing for next week’s friendly against Sweden in Cape Town to pay tribute to her former teammate.
‘It’s been a great honour and privilege to play alongside Amanda for so many years,’ Van Wyk who also boasts in excess of 100 caps and is SA football’s most capped player, told Team SA. ‘She has, and will always, be a true leader and ambassador for all female footballers in our country.’
The owner of JVW Football Club continued: ‘JVW football club is so lucky to still have her playing and sharing her football knowledge and experiences with the players. She’ll be missed dearly on International level.’
Leadership is the word that springs instantly to mind for Van Wyk as she remembers Dlamini in action and off the pitch.
‘Her quality on the field was being able to create something out of nothing at times. Her presence alone on the field was something that inspired us to win games.
‘And her leadership off the field was one of her best qualities. She played a huge part in helping me keep the team together when the chips were down.’
From a personal point of view Van Wyk had this to say about her colleague: ‘My favourite memory of Amanda is when she and I went for trials at Bristol City in England. We spent an amazing two weeks together, exploring England.
‘From eating our favourite food daily – toasted bagels with butter – to posing next to the wax figurines at the wax museum and then of course experiencing English football together at one club.’
Meanwhile, another seasoned international, and now interim head coach, Desiree Ellis, says its a sad day for women’s football.
‘Amanda has been an integral part of the game for so long. Her name was synonymous with Banyana Banyana,’ said Ellis. ‘And even though she had long relinquished the captain’s armband, many still refer to her to this day as the captain of Banyana Banyana because of her contribution to the growth of the national team,’ said Ellis.
‘It’s also sad to see her depart the scene because I have known her since she was young and have seen her grow. She’s been an icon and a role model to many players, especially the young ones. We will surely miss her presence as she had a lot of influence both on and off the pitch. She has left big shoes to fill but we are hopeful that with the talent that we have, we will find someone to run with the baton.’
Ellis added that the most difficult period for any player, is when to call it quits. ‘It’s not an easy decision to make, and as a former player I know, because I’ve been there. As a player there comes a time when you feel the passion is still there but the drive is no longer the same, and you spend weeks and even months thinking about whether to retire or to continue. It is a brave decision she has made and I must commend her for making a decision,’ added Ellis.
Dlamini was called up for the international friendly match against Sweden in Cape Town on 21 January and was part of a squad of 26 players.
‘In her place we we’ll call up Xolisile Mnikathi of Sunflowers in KwaZulu-Natal. She was one of the shining stars at the 2017 Sasol League National Championship in Nelspruit,’ says Ellis.
DLAMINI FACT FILE
Full name: Amanda Sinegugu Dlamini
Born: 22 July 1988 (age 29)
Place of birth: Harding, KwaZulu-Natal
Height: 1.62m
Weight: 61kg
Education: University of Johannesburg
Position: Midfielder
Current team: JVW FC
MORE ON AMANDA
– Started playing soccer in 1999 for a boys’ team, Young Callies
– At club level, she hasplayed for Durban Ladies and the University of Johannesburg
– Debuted for the senior national team in 2007 – a 5-0 loss to Nigeria in an Olympic qualifier
– Scored her first international goal against the Netherlands
– Was top goalscorer of the 2008 Sasol Women’s League
– Part of the squads that won bronze and silver medals at the 2010 African Women’s Championship and 2012 African
Women’s Championships – and named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2010 tournament
– Captained the national team between 2011 and 2013
– Became the fifth female football player to win 100 caps for South Africa following a friendly match against the
United States in July 2016, following in the footsteps of Van Wyk Nyandeni, Modise and Matlou
– Founded the Amanda Dlamini Girls Foundation in 2012 aiming to provide basic help to girls in rural areas.