Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has condemned cyber bullying, an issue she has been vocal about since her club's CAF Women's Champions League triumph. Check it out!
What's the story?
Andile Dlamini has been outspoken about cyber bullying of late, mentioning how damaging it can be to a person's mental health.
She addressed the topic with CAF's media after Masandawana claimed their second CAF Women's Champions League (CAFCL) trophy on Sunday.
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Let's take a closer look at what she had to say...
Dlamini speaks out against Cyber Bullying
Following a stellar continental campaign that culminated in 3-0 win in the Ivory Coast against Sporting Casablanca to with the CAFCL title and a Goalkeeper of the Tournament award, Andile Dlamini had some words to share regarding online bullying.
The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, alongside Zanele Nhlapo have taken a stance against cyber bullying aimed at footballers, saying that it affects the game of athletes at any level.
"People are just waiting on you to make an error, so that they can be on top of you, I actually don't support that because it damages one's mental health," says Dlamini, adding:
"We lose a lot of soccer players because of mental health. Some players get illnesses out of overthinking things, because now your heart starts beating fast or now you have to go back to you shell.
"It's important that people are positive towards soccer players or towards an athlete. We go through so much pressure already by just representing a whole lot of people because you are not only representing yourself," continued Dlamini.
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Dlamini also responded to a fake quote shared on Twitter/X, which falsely stated that the Downs keeper was disappointed with not being selected by Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis during this year's FIFA Women's World Cup.
The goalkeeper debate was a hot topic during Banyana's historic World Cup campaign, with many fans on social media criticising the selection of Kaylin Swart over Dlamini, who was pivotal in South Africa's 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco.
"Cyber bullying is something I don't tolerate. Don't make up things about me!!! I don't condone cyber bullying," wrote Dlamini in a now deleted tweet.
She also reiterated her firm stance on cyber bullying in a Sundowns Ladies press conference after returning from a successful trip to Morocco:
