Amateur club Sunflower FC proud to produce FIFA Women's World Cup talent

Sunflower is based in a Durban township called Hammersdale, and as an amateur club has produced players like Kholosa Biyana who has played in two FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Yenzokuhle Ngubane [Unattached], Sphumelele Shamase [FC Gintra], Thubelihle Shamase [FC Gintra] and Yolanda Nduli [The University of Johannesburg Ladies] also come through the Sunflower ranks and have gone on to represent South Africa in the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay. 

Asanda Hadebe also received a call up to the senior women's national team at just 16 years old while still with the Sasol League side. 

Speaking to SABC Sport, Malinga says it’s always inspiring and encouraging to see players he’s developed from a young age play on the international stage.

“As coaches, this is what we like to see in our players – them growing in their football and developing further, that’s what we love to see," said Malinga. 

"There’s no money in women’s football, so it’s always encouraging seeing players that you’ve developed growing and making the kind of money that you will never make as a coach, and playing at levels you’ve never played at.

“I’m very proud of all our girls who have gone on to represent the country in the World Cup. If you remember correctly, we sent four girls to the U-17 World Cup in 2018 – the Shamase twins, Ngubane and Yolanda who now plays for UJ.  

"As much as Kholosa didn’t stay with us for long – she was only with us for three seasons, so we regard her as one of us and her going to two World Cups makes us really proud of our achievement as a club."

Last month Hadebe joined Sundowns Ladies from Sunflower, after joining the Durban side at the tender age of only 10, and went on to make her senior international debut during the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers in October 2021 at the age of 16. 

Malinga, who is also a teacher, says he has no doubt the defender will do well at Chloorkop as well as in the national team. 

“I feel satisfied and proud of her and I’m not surprised because Asanda was with the team from the age of 10 years until she was 20, so she’s fully developed as a player," he added.

"She was able to go through what we call full player development, whereas with most of our players, we would work with them for four to five years then they’ll leave for another club. 

“Asanda is going to be successful, even at Sundowns she will play regularly; even in Banyana Banyana because Coach Des [Ellis] did a wonderful job introducing her to the national team while she was still young. 

"I applaud her for seeing a talent as young as Asanda was and using it. Asanda looks up to the senior players in the team.”

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