Downs Ladies lining up next generation
Even as they switch focus to defending their CAF Champions League title this month, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC are already looking ahead and making plans for a new generation of players.
The continental tournament presents the club with an opportunity to showcase their best talent to the rest of the world, and coach Jerry Tshabalala says he™s not worried about starting afresh if key players depart.
He adds that the club has already launched youth structures to address the possible mass exodus, should more senior players attract interest from abroad.
"We saw that one coming a long time ago. If you've been following us, you would know Sundowns is one of the team that normally exports their players to a lot of European teams," said Tshabalala.
"There was not one season where we haven't sent a player abroad. So, in terms of that, we saw that with this Champions League and the World Cup coming, the chances are that we might end up losing the entire squad.
"So, we sat down with management and said, 'Look, we need to have our own development side.' As we speak right now, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies has under-13, which is coached by Rhoda Mulaudzi, under-15 coached by Andisiwe Mgcoyi, and Coach Agnes [Nkosi] is also serving as head coach of our under-20s.
"We needed to have that succession plan in terms of the quality that we have in our teams, should we lose any [to Europe], and the younger ones can then come in and fill that space."
The reigning champions retained their title last week with four matches to spare, which allows them to be fully focussed on their Champions League group fixtures against Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria), Wadi Degla (Egypt) and TP Mazembe (DR Congo).
By Mazola Molefe