Zanele Nhlapho

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

KF Apolonia

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

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

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][6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8] They also won the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League title.^[9]

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

• SAFA Women's League: 2013,2015, 2021,2022, 2023
• CAF Women's Champions League: 2021, 2023 runner-up: 2022

KF Apolonia Fier

• Albanian Women's National Championship: runners-up: 2019/20

Individual

• CAF Women's Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2021, 2023^[8]

References

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. Sibembe, Yanga (5 September 2021). "We die for one another on that field, says Sundowns Ladies captain Zanele Nhlapo after Champions League qualification". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
7. Ntsoelengoe, Tshepo (6 July 2022). "Sundowns, Banyana players dominate Caf awards". The Citizen. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
8. "CAF Women's Champions League, Cote d'Ivoire Best Xl confirmed". CAF. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
9. Pillay, Alicia (7 December 2023). "Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Defend Hollywoodbets Super League Title". gsport4girls. Retrieved 22 December 2023.