THE BLUE DIAMONDS GEAR UP FOR THE START OF THE HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE

After finishing in fourth place for the last two seasons, JVW Football Club is eager to improve on that position, after having acquired the services of players they believe will deliver on the mandate.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, the exciting Bongiwe Thusi, who spent last season in Equatorial Guinea, is now a Blue Diamond.

Experienced midfielder Marry Ntsweng, who was part of the Banyana Banyana squad at the 2012 Olympics and was on the books of the TUT FC in 2022 is another acquisition for JVW.

Joining from UJ FC are Amanda Mthandi, Boitumelo Rasehlo, and Keolebogile Putu. 

Mthandi represented South Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while playing for Spanish outfit CD Badajoz. Similarly to Mthandi – Putu and Rasehlo are all products of the JVW Schools League. Both Putu and Rasehlo, won the 2018 and 2019 USSA Championships, where Rasehlo went on to represent South Africa at the World Student Games. 

Nelisiwe Mchunu re-joins the Blue Diamonds from Mpumalanga side, Coal City Wizards. Mchunu was named the 2012 Player of the Year in the JVW Girls School League, which resulted in a Senior Women’s National Team call-up. 

Completing the list of new signees is up-and-coming goalkeeper Annelise Hindelang, (former Wits FC) who moved to South Africa from Germany. 

The Bedfordview-based side have lost the services of several long-serving players.

Captain for six years and Hollywoodbets Super League top goal scorer, Nompumelelo Nyandeni heads the list of the players who have gone out of the Blue Diamond nest. Joining her are Mamello Makhabane, Yolula Tsawe, Erin Herz, Sisanda Madlala as well as goalkeeper coach Thokozile Mndaweni – all have been snapped up by TS Galaxy Queens from Mpumalanga, who acquired the status of Vasco da Gama.

JVW also bid farewell to midfielder Isabella Ludwig and defender Khodani Manyanya who moved to newcomers Tuks Ladies, albeit for study purposes, as well as Sandisiwe Nohayi who has moved to TUT.

Experienced defender, Nicole Irwin has decided to hang up her boots, after a long spell in the Easterns LFA, Regional League, Sasol League and Hollywoodbets Super League throughout her playing career. Jade Leask, who has had a successful junior career at JVW; coming through the development pathway, participating in the Internal Tournament The Dana Cup and also representing South Africa in the youth National teams, both for U17 and U20 has also gone on a break to focus on her studies for 2023.

JVW Football Club is confident these movements will not hamper the progress of the club and are adamant they will be more than ready when they face Thunderbirds in their first match of the season on Sunday, 5 February at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, the fixture will also be broadcasted live on SABC SPORT at 11:30, Openview channel 124. 

JVW remains unbeaten against Thunderbirds in the last two seasons – beating them 1-0 and 6-0 in 2021, with the dominance continuing in 2022 with back to back 4-1 and 2-1 wins.

JVW PLAYER MOVEMENTS:

IN: 

Bongiwe Thusi – Equatorial Guinea (Midfielder)

Marry Ntsweng – TUT (Midfielder)

Keolebogile Putu – UJ (Forward)

Amanda Mthandi – UJ (Forward)

Nelisiwe Mchunu – Coal City (Defender)

Boitumelo Rasehlo – UJ (Defender)

Annelise Hindelang – Wits (Goalkeeper)

OUT:

Nompumelelo Nyandeni to TS Galaxy

Mamello Makhabane to TS Galaxy

Yolula Tsawe to TS Galaxy

Erin Herz to TS Galaxy

Sisanda Madlala to TS Galaxy

Isabella Ludwick to Tuks Ladies

Khodani Mavhungu to Tuks Ladies

Sandisiwe Nohayi to TUT FC

Thokozile Mndaweni to TS Galaxy

Nicole Irwin (Retired)

Jade Leask