Refilwe Tholakele
Motswana footballer
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Refilwe Tebogo Tholakele (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]
|
Tholakele in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Refilwe Tebogo Tholakele | ||
| Date of birth | 26 January 1996[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2022 | Township Rollers | ||
| 2022 | Malabo Kings | ||
| 2023– | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | 28 | (13) |
| International career | |||
| 2016– | Botswana | 23 | (16) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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.[9]She lifted her first trophy with the club with the 2023 COSAFA Women's Champions League and also won the 2023 CAF Women's Champions league with Tholakele making it into the team of the tournament and being the top goalscorer.[10]
In the 2026 COSAFA Women's Champions League she was top scorer and helped the team win their third regional title.[11]
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
Mamelodi Sundowns
- CAF Women's Champions League: 2023
- COSAFA Women's Champions League: 2026
- SAFA Women's League: 2023, 2024, 2025
Individual
- 2023 CAF Women's Champions League: Top Scorer
- 2023 CAF Women's Champions League :Team of the Tournament
- 2026 COSAFA Women's Champions League: Top Scorer
