Andile ‘Sticks’ Dlamini (born 2 September 1992) is a South African soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for SAFA Women's League club Mamelodi Sundowns and the South Africa women's national team.

Andile Dlamini
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-09-02) 2 September 1992 (age 31)
Place of birthTembisa, South Africa
Position(s)Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Mamelodi Sundowns
Number32
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Phomolong Ladies
2010–Mamelodi Sundowns
International career
2011–South Africa69(0)
Medal record
Representing  South Africa
Women's Africa Cup of Nations
Second place2012 Equatorial Guinea
Second place2018 Ghana
First place2022 Morocco
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 July 2023 (prior the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup)

Early life

Andile Dlamini was born on the 2nd of September 1992 in Thembisa, a township in Johannesburg, South Africa.[1]

Club career

Andile Dlamini took up professional football after playing against the South Africa women's national under-20 football team; she was subsequently selected for the team.[2] Nicknamed "Sticks", she previously played for Phomolong Ladies.[1]

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

Dlamini joined Sundowns Ladies in 2010.

In September 2021, she was part of the team that won the 2021 Cosafa Women's Champions League.[3] In November 2021, they won the inaugural CAF Women's Champions League.[4] Dlamini was award goal keeper of the tournament and made it to the team of the tournament.[5]

In August 2022, the team were runner's up for the 2022 Cosafa Women's Champions League.[6]In November 2022, they were runner's up for the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League.[7]

In September 2023, they won the 2023 Cosafa Women's Champions League with Dlamini winning goal keeper of the tournament.[8]In November 2023, they won the 2023 CAF Women's Champions league for the second time with Dlamini winning goal keeper of the tournament and making it into the team of the tournament.[9]

International career

She made her first appearance for the South Africa women's national football team against Botswana in 2011.[1] Dlamini has routinely been the reserve goalkeeper for the team, with Thokozile Mndaweni and Roxanne Barker taking the first time spots. This has meant that although Dlamini has been named to the squads of both the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she did not play any time at all during either tournaments.[10] She was disappointed when South Africa were eliminated from the 2015 All Africa Games in the first round through a drawing after each team in the group stage drew all their games.[11]

Following the arrival of coach Desiree Ellis, it was suggested that Dlamini could have a better chance of becoming the first choice goalkeeper, especially after Barker was released later than expected for friendlies and the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations tournament.[10]

Personal life

Dlamini is a Christian, and reads the bible to prepare for football matches.[2]

Honours

Club

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

South Africa

Individual

References