Simphiwe Dludlu

Simphiwe Mendy Dludlu (born 21 September 1987) is a South African soccer player who played as a defender for Mamelodi Sundowns and formerly for the South Africa women's national team. She is also the coach of the Tshwane University of Technology women's High performance soccer team. Simphiwe has been the Head Coach of the South African U17 Women's National team since 2017. She has led the team to their second Youth FIFA World Cup in 2018 Uruguay.

Simphiwe Dludlu
Personal information
Full name Simphiwe Mendy Dludlu
Date of birth (1987-09-21) 21 September 1987
Place of birth Alexandra, South Africa
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 University of Pretoria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Phomolong Ladies
Rand Afrikaans University
Mamelodi Sundowns
University of Pretoria F.C.
International career‡
2006–2015 South Africa 63 (1)

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of U20 Women's national team 2006

Caps =4
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2016

Early life

Dludlu attended TuksSport High School. In 2007, she began studies at University of Pretoria and graduated with a sport science degree in 2012.[1]

Playing career

Club

At a club level, Dludlu currently plays as a defender for Mamelodi Sundowns.[2] In football circles, she is nicknamed "Shorty".[3]

International

Dludlu made her first appearance for the South Africa senior national team in 2006 during a match against Mozambique.[1] She was the team's captain from 2009 to 2010.[1] She was the captain of the national team between 2009 and 2010.[2]

In May 2014, Dludlu made her 50th cap for the South Africa senior team during a friendly match against Ghana.[1] In September 2014, she was named to the roster in preparation for the 2014 African Women's Championship in Namibia.[4] She announced her retirement from international football in March 2014, aspiring to pursue a career in coaching instead. She finished her playing career for the South African team on 63 caps.[3]

Coaching career

Upon graduating from the University of Pretoria in 2012, she became coach of the university women's football team, playing in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) leagues. In her first two years with the team, they reached the final of the USSA Football National Club Championships.[3] In May 2013, Dludlu earned a UEFA B Licence coaching certificate.[5]

Alongside other former South African women's internationals, she is a scout for the Vodafone NXT Level programme.[2]

Currently, Dludlu is coaching the South African U17 Women's team playing FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay.

References
  1. Mosoane, Pearl (27 May 2014). "50th Cap for Simphiwe". University of Pretoria. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. "Legendary women taking football to the NXT LVL". Goal.com. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. Mosoane, Pearl (3 March 2015). "Dludlu Calls it Quits". AmaTuks. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  4. "Pauw Names Banyana Squad For AWC". Soccer Laduma. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  5. "Simphiwe Dludlu receives her UEFA B coaching licence". South African Football Association. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
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