Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies head coach Jerry Tshabalala has been nominated for Coach of the Year in the latest list of nominations for the Caf Awards.
Tshabalala led the Brazilians to a treble last term by winning the Hollywoodbets Super League, Cosafa Caf Women’s Champions League qualifiers and the inaugural edition of the Caf Women’s Champions League title.
Sundowns duo Andile Dlamini and Bambanani Mbane are also up for accolades including the Player of the Year award as well as the InterClub Player of the Year award alongside Andisiwe Mgcoyi, who joins them in that category.
Meanwhile, the Sundowns Ladies team are also up for an award after they made it on the list of nominees for the Club of the Year award, with the 2022 Caf Awards being held on 23 July in Rabat, Morocco, during the final match of the Women’s Afcon.
Coach Tshabalala has since expressed his delight at the news of his nomination for the top Caf award.
“This is an awesome recognition and it means so much to me as a coach. It shows that my efforts over the last few years have not gone unnoticed. I always tell my players that there is a reward for hard work and determination,” Tshabalala told his club’s official website.
“I began my coaching career in 2010 with Detroit Ladies and this award goes to show how far I have come. To be recognised by Caf means a lot to me and I am very excited about this nomination.
“I have spent a decade at Sundowns and I have been very blessed to be part of the Yellow Nation family. I am happy to have witnessed the growth of women’s soccer in South Africa and the role Sundowns have played in that regard. We are on the right track with our developmental projects and I am hoping to write more history with this incredible club.
“Credit must go to everyone associated with the Yellow Nation family. My gratitude goes to the management, the technical team, the supporters and most especially my players. Everyone associated with the club has believed in my philosophy of the game and that means a lot to me. I would not have achieved this nomination without the support of the players I work with daily.”