Thunderbirds Ladies F.C.
| Full name | Thunderbirds Ladies Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Birds |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Ground | Sisa Dukashe Stadium |
| Capacity | 17 000 |
| Coordinates | 32.9469° S, 27.7601° E |
| Head coach | Phumlani Matshobeni |
| League | SAFA Women's League |
| 2024 | 16th (relegated) |
Thunderbirds Ladies F.C. is a women's soccer club based in Butterworth, Eastern Cape.[1] The team was relegated from the 2024 SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in South Africa.[2]
History
In 2017, they won their first Eastern Cape Sasol League which qualified them to the 2017 Sasol League National Championship where they placed third overall.[3]
The club defended their Eastern Cape Sasol League title in 2018 and competed in the 2018 Sasol League National Championship were they placed sixth overall.[4][5]
In the 2023 season, the team avoided relegation by finishing 14th in the log with only 3 points separating them and 15th placed Coal City Wizards.[6][7] The team managed 5 wins, 5 draws, and 20 losses.
The club recorded the worst start to the SAFA Women's League in the 2024 season with 10 defeats in a row conceding 39 goals and only scoring 4 in 10 matches.[8][9] In September after a 6–0 loss to UWC Ladies, they were officially relegated after 5 seasons in the top flight.[10]
Technical team
As of July 2024
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Phumlani Matshobeni[11] |
| Team Manager | Gugulethu Diko[12] |
Team statistics
SAFA Women's League record
| Season | Pos | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pst | |||
| 2019-20 | 10th place | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 29 | 63 | (34) | 16 | |
| 2021 | 7th place | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 29 | 40 | (11) | 35 | |
| 2022 | 11th place | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 40 | 50 | (10) | 35 | |
| 2023 | 14th place | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 59 | (37) | 20 | |
| 2024 | 16th place | 25 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 12 | 100 | (88) | 3 | |
- Gold = Champions
- Red = Relegated
Honours
- Eastern Cape Sasol League: 2017, 2018
- Sasol League National Championship: Third: 2017
References
- ^ Razya, Anele. "Soccer teams prepare for new season". News24. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Inqaku. "League - Hollywoodbets Super League Hollywoodbets Super League 2024 | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Celtic defend their Sasol League National Championship title - SAFA.net". 9 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "TUT Ladies crowned Sasol National League champs | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Thunderbirds keep pressure on City Lads in EC Sasol League - SAFA.net". 27 August 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies' struggles continue". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies could still avoid being relegated". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies prepare for new season". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Kganyago, Lethabo (2 May 2024). "Sundowns Thrash City Lads In Eight-Goal Humdinger". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Thunderbirds Ladies relegated from Hollywoodbets Super League | soccer". SABC. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Thunderbirds Ladies coach confident of Hollywoodbets Super League survival | soccer". SABC. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "A cry for help from Thunderbirds Ladies | soccer". SABC. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.