Thunderbirds Ladies

South African women's football club

Football club

Thunderbirds Ladies F.C.Full name| Thunderbirds Ladies Football Club

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Nickname(s)| The Birds
Founded| 2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Ground| Sisa Dukashe Stadium
Capacity| 17 000
Coordinates| 32.9469° S, 27.7601° E
Head coach|  Phumlani Matshobeni
League| SAFA Women's League
2023| 14th
[[2024|Current season]]

Thunderbirds Ladies F.C. is a women's soccer club based in Butterworth, Eastern Cape. The team competes in the SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in South Africa.[1]

## History

[edit]

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.[2]

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.[3][4]

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.[5][6]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.[7][8] In September after a 6-0 loss to UWC Ladies, they were officially relegated after 5 season in the top flight.[9]

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

### Technical team

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Position  | Staff

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Head Coach  | Phumlani Matshobeni[10]
Team Manager  | Gugulethu Diko[11]

## Team Statistics

[edit]

### SAFA Women's League record

[edit]

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

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* Eastern Cape Sasol League: 2017, 2018
* Sasol League National Championship: Third: 2017

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Razya, Anele. "Soccer teams prepare for new season". News24. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
2. ^ "Celtic defend their Sasol League National Championship title - SAFA.net". 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
3. ^ "TUT Ladies crowned Sasol National League champs | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
4. ^ "Thunderbirds keep pressure on City Lads in EC Sasol League - SAFA.net". 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
5. ^ Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies' struggles continue". News24. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
6. ^ Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies could still avoid being relegated". News24. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
7. ^ Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies prepare for new season". News24. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
8. ^ Kganyago, Lethabo (2024-05-02). "Sundowns Thrash City Lads In Eight-Goal Humdinger". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
9. ^ "Thunderbirds Ladies relegated from Hollywoodbets Super League | soccer". SABC. 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
10. ^ "Thunderbirds Ladies coach confident of Hollywoodbets Super League survival | soccer". SABC. 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
11. ^ "A cry for help from Thunderbirds Ladies | soccer". SABC. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

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SAFA Women's League

SAFA W-League seasons|

* 2019–20
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

2024 SAFA Women's League teams|

* City Lads
* Copperbelt Ladies
* Durban Ladies
* First Touch
* JVW
* Lindelani Ladies
* Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
* Richmond United
* Royal AM Women
* Thunderbirds Ladies
* TS Galaxy Queens
* TUT Matsatsantsa
* University of Fort Hare
* University of Johannesburg
* University of Pretoria
* University of the Western Cape

Associated competitions|

* COSAFA Women's Champions League
* CAF Women's Champions League

* Categories: players clubs

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