Refilwe Tholakele

Refilwe Tholakele

Tholekele in July 2022
Personal information
Full name	Refilwe Tebogo Tholekele
Date of birth	(1996-01-26) 26 January 1996 (age 29) [1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2022	Township Rollers
2022	Malabo Kings
2023–	Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
International career
2016–	Botswana	19	(15)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Refilwe Tebogo Tholekele (born 26 January 1996), nicknamed Seven, ^[2] is a Motswana footballer who plays as a forward for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C. and the Botswana women's national team. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Early life

Tholakele started playing competitive football in 2007. At the age of 13, she was called up to a Botswana women's national under-17 team training camp where head coach Jacqueline Gaobinelwe nicknamed her "Seven" due to Tholakele's preference for the shirt number and being a Standard Seven student. ^[2]

Club career

Township Rollers

In 2014, Tholakele signed with the women's team of Township Rollers F.C. ^[2]

Malabo Kings F.C.

In August 2022, Tholakele signed with Equatoguinean team Malabo Kings F.C. on a one-year deal. She made a premature exit from the club, citing issues with late payments and poor accommodation. ^{[6] [7]}

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies

In May 2023, Tholakele signed with SAFA Women's League team Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C. ^[8] She scored on her debut in a 3–0 win over University of Johannesburg FC. ^[9] They won the 2023 CAF Women's Champions league with Tholakele making it into the team of the tournament. ^[10]

International career

Tholakele is a former captain of the Botswana women's national under-20 football team. ^[2]

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	19 April 2016	Curepipe, Mauritius	Mauritius	2–0	4–0	2016 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.				4–0
3.	17 September 2017	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	South Africa	1–0	1–1	2017 COSAFA Women's Championship
4.	9 November 2020	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Zimbabwe	1–0	1–0	2020 COSAFA Women's Championship
5.	12 November 2020	iBhayi, South Africa	Zambia	2–0	2–1
6.	29 September 2021	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	South Sudan	1–0	7–0	2021 COSAFA Women's Championship
7.				4–0
8.				6–0
9.	20 October 2021	Luanda, Angola	Angola	1–0	5–1	2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10.				4–1
11.	18 February 2022	Harare, Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	1–0	3–1
12.	4 July 2022	Rabat, Morocco	Burundi	3–1	4–2	2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations
13.				4–1
14.	2 July 2023	Brakpan, South Africa	South Africa	4–0	5–0	Friendly
15.				5–0

Honours

Club

• CAF Women's Champions League: 2023

Individual

• CAF Women's Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2023

References

1. "Refilwe Tholekele Stats". FBRef. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
2. "Dazzling Tholakele makes firm statement". Mmegi. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
3. "Botswana touring Slovakia ahead of Banyana clash". Samuel Ahmadu. Goal. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
4. "COSAFA Women's Championship: Botswana name provisional squad". Kick442. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
5. "Female Zebras In Historic COSAFA Final". Portia Mlilo. TheVoicebw. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
6. Makhaiza, Larona (24 February 2023). "'Freedom' looms for Seven, Odinga". Mmegi. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
7. Khutsafalo, Boitumelo (7 October 2022). "BFA awaits official report on Tholakele, Mochawe". Mmegi. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
8. Mollo, Tlotlisang (19 May 2023). "Jerry Tshabalala on Sundowns Ladies' new signing". FARPost. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
9. Mfundisi, Mimi (16 May 2023). "Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies regain top spot". SApeople.com. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
10. "CAF Women's Champions League, Cote d'Ivoire Best Xl confirmed". CAF. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.

External links

• Refilwe Tholakele at Soccerway