Player profile: Q&A with Unathi Ndlovu (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Unathi Ndlovu is a rock at the back for Mamelodi Sundowns in the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL). The young goalkeeper has been beaten a miniscule three times in 18 matches this season. But that’s only one aspect of her diverse sporting talent.
She stars on the opposite end of the field for Lynwood Ridge Primary School. Playing as either a striker or a midfielder, she has scored over 40 goals for her side.
That shows why she is confident with the ball at her feet, and it’s that kind of skill that has become a prerequisite for ‘keepers in the modern game.
She’s coached by Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who calls Unathi a fast learner: “She is a passionate young lady who loves being in goal. She is brave, and self-aware. She knows her strengths and weaknesses.
“She is a team player. She has played a huge role in making Mamelodi Sundowns’ u14 and u16 what they are today. She doesn’t work alone, of course, but she sure gives a positive vibe to the team.”
Unathi is multi-skilled, excelling in a wide variety of sports. Her list of achievements is eye-opening.
Her club football career began in 2022, when she played for Tuks. Representing her school that year, she helped them capture the u11 Football Association of Pretoria Primary (FAPP) Schools’ title.
Last year, she turned out for Mamelodi Sundowns and played a key role in the club lifting the u15 Gauteng Women’s Development League title, conceding only five goals in the 16 games in which she played.
Earlier this year, she and Sundowns won the GWDL Top 8 pre-season festival.
Unathi also played for Lynwood Ridge Primary in 2022 as the goalkeeper for the boys’ u10 team. She was part of the side that won the Crawford Malas Tournament, and she received the Most Improved Player as the school’s Sports Awards.
Playing as a midfielder for the girls’ u11 team, she scored a stunning 17 times in eight games, which earned her the Player of the Year Award at the Sports Awards ceremony.
Last season, representing the u11 girls’ team, Unathi netted 18 times in 12 games. That played a big role in Lynwood Ridge achieving a runner-up finish in the FAPP. Once more, she was awarded the Player of the Year at the school’s Sports Awards. In addition, she earned a further accolade, being named the Most Promising Player in the boys’ u11 side.
This season, she has served as the vice-captain of the boys’ u12 and u13 teams, both of which have advanced to the semi-finals of the FAPP Challenge Cup.
One of the main reasons for Unathi’s success on the football field is her prowess as an athlete. She has been a top performer in Inter-Primary competition. Her achievements include winning the 80m sprint and 600m race in 2022, which demonstrated her speed and endurance.
The following year, she added an Inter-Primary victory in the long jump and won silver in the high jump, plus another 80 metres title. Not surprisingly, she was the Junior Victrix Ludorum at Lynwood Ridge’s Inter-house meet.
This year, she upgraded that award to the Senior Victrix Ludorum, and added further wins in the long jump, high jump and 80 metres to her record. Unathi also expanded her repertoire, picking up a bronze in the shot put.
Further evidence of her versatility has come on the cricket field. She was named the Bowler of the Year in successive years, 2022 and 2023, for the u10 boys’ and u11 boys’ cricket teams, and was invited to Northerns’ trials in 2023.
Of course, it’s on the football pitch where she has truly grabbed the spotlight. She received her Northerns‘ colours in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with her selection this year including being named the vice-captain of the provincial side.
In 2022, she helped Northerns win the Bill Steward Inter-Provincial Tournament. The following year, in the Fran Hilton Smith Inter-Provincial, Northerns placed third and she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. This year, Unathi and Northerns placed fourth at the Fran Hilton-Smith Inter-Provincial.
Siya Pongco of SuperSport Schools Plus had a chat with Unathi Ndlovu to find out more about this multi-talented all-round sportswoman.
Q: Unathi Ndlovu, what is your age?
A: I am 12 years’ old this year.
Q: Which school do you attend, and do you participate in football at the school level?
A: I am doing my sixth grade at Lynnwood Ridge Primary School in Pretoria
Q: When did you begin your football journey, and when did you make your debut?
A: I started my football journey at school and was then recruited by Tuks when I was nine years old in 2022. I then joined Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the beginning of 2023. My debut was a friendly for the u16 Mamelodi Sundowns’ boys, which we won by 4-0.
Q: How many caps have you earned as a school-level footballer?
A: So, I play for the boys’ team as a striker, and the girls’ team as a goalkeeper. I would say more than 50 caps to date.
Q: What motivated you to pursue goalkeeping?
A: I just loved the challenge of strikers trying to score past me, and me denying them the chance (Laughs).
Q: Is it a family tradition? Is there someone who also plays the same position, and how do you manage the responsibility of goalkeeping, being the last line of defence?
A: It’s not a family tradition. I am a pioneer. I enjoy facing penalties and saving them.
Q: Can you share any memorable moments in goal where you saved your team at a critical time?
A: Yoh! There are so many, but a few stand out. Our season opener this year, I saved three penalties to take the team to the final, which we won against JVW. The other match was at the 2022 Provincial tournament where I played against the Southerns’ squad, and we were crowned champions.
Q: What would you consider your career highlights?
A: League champions at Tuks, the 2022 provincial champions with the Northerns Squad, league champions at Sundowns in 2023, and the GWDL Cup champions in 2024.
Q: What has been the pinnacle of your career thus far?
A: I can say it’s me joining Mamelodi Sundowns.
Q: You recently participated in the Inter-Provincial Tournament at Camp Discovery; how was that experience?
A: I was there for the third time this year, and it was a fabulous experience once again, facing those brilliant players from across the country. It will always be an honour to be selected to play there.
Q: Who are some of the individuals who have supported you throughout your journey?
A: My family, my Sundowns’ coaches, provincial coaches, my teammates, and I thank God always for them.
Q: Playing for a successful club like Mamelodi Sundowns, how does it feel?
A: It’s super fun. I am very happy to be with such a big club. It is a dream come true.
Q: Do you have any future aspirations as a goalkeeper?
A: I want to play for the Sundowns’ first team, and Banyana Banyana, and overseas.
Q: Who are some players you admire?
A: FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer; my coach Andile Dlamini, the Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper; Ronwen Williams, Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana captain; and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Q: How have the coaches, such as Andile Dlamini, contributed to your development as a goalkeeper?
A: All my coaches have taught me about good communication, good positioning, great distribution, and ball handling. I have also learned to trust myself and my teammates.
Q: How have your teammates supported you in performing at your best?
A: My teammates are a unique bunch. They make jokes, they motivate me, we play for each other, and we just love it so much. Their support brings out the best in me. I love them.
Q: Do you have any interests outside of football?
A: I am the Senior Victrix Ludorum. I am a sprint champion at my school. I also enjoy solving the Rubic’s Cube and camping with my Pathfinder Youth Club at church.
Q: Your favourite dish of food?
A: Dried mangoes, any time.
Unathi’s parents are her biggest supporters. They commented: “Unathi has a deep love of sports. She loves her soccer so much and all we can do is support her and wish her the best. We have watched her journey to this point, and we thank the coaches for the great work they do.
“At school, she plays soccer, cricket, and is the best sprinter this year and last year for girls. It is truly amazing because all this does not affect her grade A status in class.
“She is an amazing young lady. We are so proud of her. We always tell her that every result as she develops is a learning opportunity for her win or lose. It’s good for her mental strength.”
