Zanele Portia Nhlapho (born 24 June 1991) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for SAFA Women's League club Mamelodi Sundowns, where she is the current captain, and the South Africa women's national team.[1][2][3]

Zanele Nhlapho
Personal information
Full name Zanele Portia Nhlapho
Date of birth 24 June 1991
Position(s) defender
Team information
Current team
Mamelodi Sundowns
Number 5
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007-2019 Mamelodi Sundowns
2019-2020 KF Apolonia Fier
2020 KFF Mitrovica
2020- Mamelodi Sundowns
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

KF Apolonia edit

In 2019, she played for Albanian Women's National Championship side KF Apolonia Fier during the 2019/20 season when the side finished second in their league.

KFF Mitrovica edit

In 2020, she signed for Kosovo Women's Football League side KFF Mitrovica but the deal fall through due to COVID-19.[4]

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies edit

She then joined SAFA Women's League side Mamelodi Sundowns and captained the side that won the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League and were runner's up for the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League.[5]

In 2021, she was nominated for the CAF Women Interclub Player of the Year award and made it to the 2021 CAF Women’s Champions League's team of the tournament.[6]

She captained the club to their second continental titles, the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League and 2023 Cosafa Women's Champions League, and was added to the team of the tournament for 2023.[7]They also won the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League title. [8]

Honours edit

Club edit

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

KF Apolonia Fier

Individual edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Zanele Nhlapo :: Sundowns :: Player Profile :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  2. ^ Writer, FARPost (9 January 2022). "Zanele Nhlapo: The rock-solid leader". FARPost. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  3. ^ Mpembe, Thando (11 August 2021). "Women in sports: Mamelodi Sundowns' Zanele Nhlapo speaks on hopes for the season". Briefly. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Banyana's Andisiwe Mgcoyi and Zanale Nhlapo sign for Mitrovica | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Royal reception for triumphant Sundowns Ladies". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  6. ^ Ntsoelengoe, Tshepo (6 July 2022). "Sundowns, Banyana players dominate Caf awards". The Citizen. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b "CAF Women's Champions League, Cote d'Ivoire Best Xl confirmed". CAF. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ Pillay, Alicia (7 December 2023). "Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Defend Hollywoodbets Super League Title". gsport4girls. Retrieved 22 December 2023.