Zanele Nhlapho

Zanele Nhlapho
Personal information
Full name Zanele Portia Nhlapho
Date of birth (1991-06-24) 24 June 1991
Position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2019 Mamelodi Sundowns
2019–2020 KF Apolonia Fier
2020 KFF Mitrovica
2020–2025 Mamelodi Sundowns
Managerial career
2023–2024 Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Academy
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zanele Portia Nhlapho (born 24 June 1991) is a South African soccer player who played as a defender.

Nhlapho captained Mamelodi Sundowns to the inaugural CAF Women's Champion's League.[1]

Club career

KF Apolonia

In 2019, she played for Albanian Women's National Championship side KF Apolonia Fier during the 2019/20 season when the side finished second in their league.

KFF Mitrovica

In 2020, she signed for Kosovo Women's Football League side KFF Mitrovica but the deal fall through due to COVID-19.[2]

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

She then joined SAFA Women's League side Mamelodi Sundowns and captained the side that won the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League and were runner's up for the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League.[3][4]

In 2021, she was nominated for the CAF Women Interclub Player of the Year award and made it to the 2021 CAF Women’s Champions League's team of the tournament.[5]

She captained the club to their second continental titles, the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League and 2023 COSAFA Women's Champions League, and was added to the team of the tournament for 2023.[6] They also won the 2023 and 2024 Hollywoodbets Super League title.[7]

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

KF Apolonia Fier

Individual

References

  1. ^ "remember-the-name-mamelodi-sundowns-becomes-the-first-ever-wcl-champions". remember-the-name-mamelodi-sundowns-becomes-the-first-ever-wcl-champions. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Banyana's Andisiwe Mgcoyi and Zanale Nhlapo sign for Mitrovica | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Royal reception for triumphant Sundowns Ladies". SowetanLIVE. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  4. ^ Sibembe, Yanga (5 September 2021). "We die for one another on that field, says Sundowns Ladies captain Zanele Nhlapo after Champions League qualification". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  5. ^ Ntsoelengoe, Tshepo (6 July 2022). "Sundowns, Banyana players dominate Caf awards". The Citizen. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b "CAF Women's Champions League, Cote d'Ivoire Best Xl confirmed". CAF. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  7. ^ Pillay, Alicia (7 December 2023). "Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Defend Hollywoodbets Super League Title". gsport4girls. Retrieved 22 December 2023.