Andile Dlamini

Andile ‘Sticks’ Dlamini (born 2 September 1992) is a South African soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for SAFA Women's League club Mamelodi Sundowns and the South Africa women's national team.

Early life
Andile Dlamini was born on the 2nd of September 1992 in Thembisa, a township in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Club career
Andile Dlamini took up professional football after playing against the South Africa women's national under-20 football team; she was subsequently selected for the team. Nicknamed "Sticks", she previously played for Phomolong Ladies.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
Dlamini joined Sundowns Ladies in 2010.

In September 2021, she was part of the team that won the 2021 Cosafa Women's Champions League. In November 2021, they won the inaugural CAF Women's Champions League. Dlamini was award goal keeper of the tournament and made it to the team of the tournament.

In August 2022, the team were runner's up for the 2022 Cosafa Women's Champions League. In November 2022, they were runner's up for the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League.

In September 2023, they won the 2023 Cosafa Women's Champions League with Dlamini winning goal keeper of the tournament. In November 2023, they won the 2023 CAF Women's Champions league for the second time with Dlamini winning goal keeper of the tournament and making it into the team of the tournament.

International career
She made her first appearance for the South Africa women's national football team against Botswana in 2011. Dlamini has routinely been the reserve goalkeeper for the team, with Thokozile Mndaweni and Roxanne Barker taking the first time spots. This has meant that although Dlamini has been named to the squads of both the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she did not play any time at all during either tournaments. She was disappointed when South Africa were eliminated from the 2015 All Africa Games in the first round through a drawing after each team in the group stage drew all their games.

Following the arrival of coach Desiree Ellis, it was suggested that Dlamini could have a better chance of becoming the first choice goalkeeper, especially after Barker was released later than expected for friendlies and the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations tournament.

Personal life
Dlamini is a Christian, and reads the bible to prepare for football matches.

Honours
Club

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies


 * SAFA Women's League: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
 * CAF Women's Champions League: 2021, 2023; runner-up: 2022

South Africa

Individual
 * Women's Africa Cup of Nations: 2022, runner-up: 2012, 2018


 * Women's Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2022
 * CAF Women's Champions League Best Goalkeeper: 2021, 2023
 * IFFHS CAF Women's Team of The Year: 2022
 * Gauteng Sports Personality of the Year: 2022
 * Gauteng Women in Sports Sportswoman of the Year: 2022
 * Tshwane Sports Women of the Year: 2022
 * Momentum Athlete of the Year: 2023
 * Feather Awards Sports Personality of the Year: 2023
 * CAF Women's Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2023
 * Women's Africa XI: 2023