Thunderbirds Ladies

Thunderbirds Ladies F.C.

Full name	Thunderbirds Ladies Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Birds
Founded	2004; 21 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

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

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

Current squad

Technical team

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

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

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.