Thunderbirds Ladies F.C.

Thunderbirds Ladies F.C.

Full name	Thunderbirds Ladies Football Club
Nickname	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
2024	16th (relegated)

Thunderbirds Ladies F.C. is a women's soccer club based in Butterworth, Eastern Cape. ^[1] The team was relegated from the 2024 SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in South Africa. ^[2]

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. ^[3]

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. ^{[4] [5]}

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. ^{[6] [7]} 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. ^{[8] [9]} In September after a 6–0 loss to UWC Ladies, they were officially relegated after 5 seasons in the top flight. ^[10]

Technical team

As of July 2024

Position	Staff
Head Coach	Phumlani Matshobeni [11]
Team Manager	Gugulethu Diko [12]

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 8 December 2023.
2. Inqaku. "League - Hollywoodbets Super League Hollywoodbets Super League 2024 | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
3. "Celtic defend their Sasol League National Championship title - SAFA.net". 9 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
4. "TUT Ladies crowned Sasol National League champs | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
5. "Thunderbirds keep pressure on City Lads in EC Sasol League - SAFA.net". 27 August 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
6. Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies' struggles continue". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
7. Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies could still avoid being relegated". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
8. Raziya, Anele. "Thunderbirds Ladies prepare for new season". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
9. Kganyago, Lethabo (2 May 2024). "Sundowns Thrash City Lads In Eight-Goal Humdinger". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
10. "Thunderbirds Ladies relegated from Hollywoodbets Super League | soccer". SABC. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
11. "Thunderbirds Ladies coach confident of Hollywoodbets Super League survival | soccer". SABC. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
12. "A cry for help from Thunderbirds Ladies | soccer". SABC. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.