Sphumelele Shamase finally completes move to join twin sister in Lithuania

As previously reported by SABC Sport, FC Gintra snapped up the Shamase twins following their impressive displays in the Hollywoodbets Super League and with Banyana Banyana.

Following a delay with her visa, which ultimately led to Thubelihle moving in March, Sphumelele has now touched down in Lithuania and is relishing the opportunity to make an impression.

"I have been following the team's performances since the beginning of the season and I am happy that we have a strong position in the Lithuanian championship so far,” Sphumelele said upon arriving in the Eastern European nation.

“I am ready to integrate into the team as soon as possible and help it achieve victories. 

“I am physically and psychologically ready, so all I have to do is join the training sessions, delve into the philosophy introduced by the coaches, and wait for the chance to make my debut. I'm really looking forward to that moment.”

Banyana stars, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Leandra Smeda and Nothando Vilakazi have all previously donned the colours of Gintra, prior to going on to greater heights in their career.

Sphumelele’s arrival has been greeted with glee by FC Gintra director Mantas Radavičius, who explained the decision to sign both sisters.

“We needed the addition of both in terms of quality and depth of the squad, as there are more and more games to come, and on top of that, as the summer approaches, we will also have to start preparing for the challenge of the UEFA Champions League,” said Radavičius. 

“We hope to see Sphumelele on the pitch in the near future and we wish her a productive debut.”

The Shamase twins, formerly of Sunflower WFC in the Sasol League, were most recently on the books of the University of Johannesburg in South Africa’s premier women’s division.

FC Gintra will be in action today on Wednesday evening in the Baltic Women’s Football League – an international tournament that pits the top teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania against one another.

Thubelihle is not available for the match after she was red carded in a 4-1 win over FK Saned in a league match on Sunday.

In Europe, the sisters become the latest South African women footballers to ply their trade abroad – among the likes of Mexican-based quartet Hilda Magaia, Sinoxolo Cesane, Seoposenwe, and Thembi Kgatlana, while Smeda and Noko Matlou (Spain), Refiloe Jane (Italy) and Linda Motlhalo (USA) are also foreign-based.

By Matlhomola Morake