Matshidiso Masebe was crowned the best shot stopper in the South African women’s football league for the 2024 season during the Hollywoodbets Super League Awards ceremony in Midrand on Sunday, 26 January 2025. She was one of three nominees from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Senior Women’s Football Team, including head coach Nthabeleng Modiko and player Yolanda Nduli.
The Hollywoodbets Super League honoured football stars and officials who excelled in the 2024 campaign. Modiko was nominated in the Coach of the Season category while Nduli contested the Player of the Season Award.
Masebe’s impressive performance throughout the 2024 season included 24 appearances and 14 clean sheets. She faced tough competition from established goalkeepers like Kaylin Swart (JVW FC and Banyana Banyana) and Siphesihle Dlamini of the University of the Western Cape FC.
In her acceptance speech, Masebe expressed gratitude to her UJ goalkeeper coach, Lucky Shiburi, for his guidance and support across various competitions, including the Super League, Varsity Football, and Engen Knockout Challenge.
“I thank God, my family and my coach Mr Lucky Shiburi. I hope you’re watching and feel proud of your work. I’d also like to thank all the people who supported me during my journey.”
Coach Modiko praised Masebe’s achievement, highlighting her consistent improvement and recognizing Coach Shiburi’s role in her development. Modiko also commended Nduli for her Player of the Season nomination, acknowledging the strength of the competition and expressing confidence in Nduli’s future success.
“Firstly, I am proud of the entire team in terms of what we have achieved on the field in the 2024 season. The acknowledgment by Hollywoofbets Super League at the awards was a cherry on top of the work and achievements of the players and the team.
“For Matshidiso, I think this is her breakthrough. She won Goalkeeper of the Tournament in the Varsity Football in 2023 and now she is the Goalkeeper of the Season for the league in 2024 – that’s amazing and a good reflection of the UJ Football Club. We give credit to coach Shiburi for grooming her from where she was to the star she is today.”
Coach Modiko said that although it was a combination of individual brilliance and a collective effort, the team has done really well. “Yolanda was nominated with people who have been in the league for far longer than her. Her time to win will come and I believe that she will shine too.”
Nduli was nominated against Amogelng Motau, former UWC player who now plays her football in Mexico, and Lebogang Ramalepe of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC.
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