Bongeka S'mangele Gamede (born 22 May 1999) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for Elitedivisionen club FC Nordsjælland and the South Africa women's national team.

Bongeka Gamede
Personal information
Full name Bongeka S'mangele Gamede
Date of birth (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 25)[1]
Place of birth Ixopo, South Africa
Height 1.59 m (5 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
FC Nordsjælland
Number 4
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017-2024 University of the Western Cape
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024- FC Nordsjælland
International career
South Africa U17
South Africa U20
2019– South Africa 30 (0)
Medal record
Representing  South Africa
Women's Africa Cup of Nations
First place 2022 Morocco
COSAFA Women's Champions League
Gold medal – first place 2024 Malawi
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 July 2023 (prior the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup)

She was part of the national team when they won their maiden continental title at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.[3]

Gamede was part of the University of the Western Cape team when they became the first university to win the COSAFA Women's Champions League and qualify for the CAF Women's Champions League. She was tied for top goal scorer at the tournament and made it to the Group Stage Best XI as well as the overall Best XI.[4][5]

Personal life

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Gamede's home town is Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal.[6] In 2024 she graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism.[7]

College career

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University of Western Cape

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Gamede played for the university while undergoing her studies in Tourism.

In 2023 she was named 2023 Sportswoman of the Year Winner at the university.[8]

She scored 3 goals in the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League to help the side win their maiden title and qualify for the CAF Women's Champions League.[9] She named in the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League Best XI.[10]

Club career

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FC Nordsjælland

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She signed for Elitedivisionen club FC Nordsjælland in 2024.[11]

International career

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A former South African under-17 and under-20 international, she was included in the South African squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup despite having never previously represented the national team at senior level. A tourism student at the University of the Western Cape, she had to postpone her first year exams to appear at the tournament.[12] She made her international debut in a pre-World Cup friendly against Norway on 2 June 2019, coming on as a substitute in South Africa's 7–2 defeat.[13]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ Bongeka Gamede at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 June 2019.  
  2. ^ "Bongeka Gamede Profile". Footballcritic. 11 May 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Magaia brace hands South Africa first TotalEnergies WAFCON trophy". CAF. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. ^ Kganyago, Lethabo (21 August 2024). "UWC Dominate CAF WCL COSAFA Qualifiers Team". iDiski Times. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  5. ^ "University of Western Cape wins COSAFA CAF Women's Champions League 2024 Zonal Qualifier". University of Western Cape wins COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League 2024 Zonal Qualifier. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. ^ Ndebele, Sihle (31 May 2019). "I'm ready for World Cup action - rookie Bongeka Gamede". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  7. ^ webportal@uwc.ac.za. "Leading UWC's Women's Football Team to Success, On and Off the Field". www.uwc.ac.za. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  8. ^ "LOOK: Banyana Banyana aces win big at UWC awards". www.dailyvoice.co.za. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  9. ^ Pillay, Alicia (25 August 2024). "History Made as UWC Join Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Women's Champions League". gsport4girls. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Bongeka Gamede lauds UWC players recognition from COSAFA | soccer". SABC. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Bongeka Gamede over the moon about Denmark move | soccer". SABC. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ^ Ahmadu, Samuel (30 May 2019). "South Africa's Bongeka Gamede has no regrets about putting exams on hold for Women's World Cup". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Norway crash Banyana in final World Cup warm-up". SuperSport. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.