Celebrating the rise of women in Sport who have flown and continue to fly the South African flag high both on domestic and international stages! featured here is Amanda Dlamini.
Amanda Sinegugu Dlamini is a retired South African football player – born to two educators in Harding – 84km north-west of Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal on the 22nd of July, 1988.
The super talented Amanda fell in love with sports and fitness at a very early age along with netball, athletics and volleyball, but it was the beautiful game of football that would stick with her forever.
Nicknamed ‘Toki’, Amanda first encountered football at the age of 11 as a spectator of informal games played in her hometown before she was later promoted from spectator to being the only girl on the (boys’) team and she never looked back.
This was during the late 90’s of course, where like many informal settlements, football in Harding was only perceived as a sport for boys. But that only spurred Amanda forward, and being the only girl in a boys’ team did not bother her one bit as she instantly found her feet and her place in the Young Callies team.
Toki’s unmatched pace meant that she was better utilised as a winger on the right side of the attack, with her teammates trusting and relying on her excellent footwork to break down opponents.
There was no looking back after a while of playing soccer for Amanda. In any case, her athletics recollections were somewhat haunting. Running barefoot in the scorching heat of KZN left her and others with blisters under their feet.
#LTP We salute our women: Amanda Dlamini
— METROFM SABC (@METROFMSA) May 23, 2018
Amanda “Toki” Dlamini is well known as the Banyana Banyana captain and after retiring at the beginning of the year from playing for the South African Senior Women's National Team, she can be proud of her 11 years experience and 105 caps. pic.twitter.com/FfLN6GRDLs
Her professional club career would officially kick off when she joined the University of Johannesburg team after playing for the Durban Ladies, where she met Mpumi Nyandeni – another talented Banyana Banyana star.
Amanda’s ferocious pace, technical ability and leadership skills earned her a call-up to the national team in 2007, where she later became the captain and represented SA in countless global stages in addition to scoring numerous goals in national team colours.
Her tenure as skipper, which included leading the first ever Banyana team to qualify for an Olympic Games to London in 2012, is regarded as one of the most rewarding periods in Banyana history. So much so that former Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza describes Dlamini, who became the fifth female star to win 100 caps for South Africa, as the glue that kept Banyana together.
In 2018, Amanda announced her retirement from the game – understandably one of her toughest decisions ever after having been part of the system for 11 years. She wept.
After 105 appearances for Banyana Banyana, Amanda Dlamini has hung up her boots from international football. Forever elegant and a national treasure, Soccer Laduma would like to thank you for your contribution to women's football! Farewell Toki! pic.twitter.com/G60tKL6CE6
— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) January 10, 2018
As she still turns out for JVW (South African women’s football club based in Bedfordview, Gauteng), Amanda also works as a football pundit for Africa’s premier football channel, SuperSport, and most recently was appointed Corporate Marketing Manager for SAFA.
She is passionate about empowering the youth and helping them realise their potential and looks to do this through the Amanda Dlamini Girls Foundation where she gives motivational talks to the youth.
🚨JUST IN🚨
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) July 12, 2021
South African Football Association (Safa) have appointed former Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini as Corporate Manager.@Amanda_Dlamini9 pic.twitter.com/x1svTNiliM
Some of Amanda Dlamini’s accomplishments in football:
- She was the top goal scorer of the 2008 Sasol Women’s League.
- She was part of the squads that won bronze and silver medals at the 2010 African Women’s Championship and 2012 African Women’s Championship.
- At the 2010 championships, she was named Most Valuable Player.
- In July 2021, she was appointed as the Senior Commercial and Marketing Manager of The South African Football Association (SAFA)
- She 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 Janine van Wyk, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Portia Modise and Noko Matlou.
In the past 7 days the Amanda Dlamini Girls Foundation hosted coaching clinics at Nomakhanzana C.P School, Bangibizo Primary School and Gobhela Primary School. Thank you @Jockey_SA , coaches and volunteers who work tirelessly to give children in rural areas an opportunity #ADGF🙏 pic.twitter.com/ip5dtKq7pS
— Amanda toki Dlamini (@Amanda_Dlamini9) February 21, 2018
