Michelle Sampson is currently a regular at the Northern Cape province’s only all female professional side Richmond United Ladies FC who campaign in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
Richmond United Ladies has once again struck gold in 18-year-old winger Michelle ‘Biskit’’ Sampson who this week was called up to join the senior national women’s football team B squad in Gqeberha for a two week long preparatory Cosafa camp.
Sampson is currently a regular at the Northern Cape province’s only all female professional side Richmond United Ladies FC who campaign in the Hollywoodbets Super League. She normally dons jersey No.19 at the club.
Sampson will train under the guidance of interim Banyana Banyana coach Simphiwe Dludlu who has been tasked to guide the national women’s team during coach Desiree Ellis’ absence. Ellis is on study leave somewhere in Europe.
On Tuesday this week Safa announced that Dludlu will be appointed to Ellis’ post. The national football organ specified that Dludlu will be in charge of the team for the duration of the Cosafa tournament running from August 29 to September 11.
Sampson follows in the footsteps of yet another rising star plucked from the Northern Cape side, namely Nthabiseng Majiya (18), who was last month part of the continental women’s football champions Banyana Banyana. The national women’s side won all their games at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Yesterday congratulations poured in for the pint sized Sampson. Among her well wishers was Brenda Mafunisa, football scout and entrepreneur who penned this on her facebook timeline:
“As the founder of the Northern Cape Women’s Cup program I would like to wish Michelle ‘Biskit’ Sampson a big congratulations for the recent call-up to the Banyana Banyana B squad that will be competing in the COSAFA Championships 2022 title. This is a long awaited call for the 18 year old winger from Hopetown in the Northern Cape province”.
The Northern Cape affiliate of the Masters and Legends Football Association spokesperson Lebogang Marekoa said on their timeline: “(We) would like to congratulate Michelle Sampson of Richmond United Ladies FC on her first national duty … We wish coach Dludlu all the best with her team and hope that our province’s female player’s hard work will be afforded such”.
Banyana Banyana’s media liaison Sne Mbatha confirmed the Northern Cape youngster’s call up to the B squad saying she has indeed made it onto coach Dludlu’s team.
Sampson joins the SA Cosafa squad which is focussed on salvaging their dented pride from their last thumping in the semi-finals by Malawi. South Africa are seven-time winners of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship.
Edwin Lisene Richmond United coach remarked that Sampson was his fourth player to make it into any of the South African national football squads. “Apart from (Nthabiseng) Majiya and Sampson the other players are Kananelo Taiwe and Ponatshego Motlhabi.”
The latter two have done camps with the national Under-17 team, he said.
“I am happy that our team at the moment seems to be enjoying the attention of the national team selectors,” Lisene added.
The SA COSAFA team
Goalkeepers: Kebotseng Moletsane, Dineo Magagula, Tshidi Muruoa.
Defenders: Fikile Magama, Cimone Sauls, Koketso Tlailane, Nothando Vilakazi, Tiisetso Makhubela, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Thato Letsoso, Sharol Ramaoka.
Midfielders: Jamie-Leigh Witbooi, Mmabatho Mogale, Sphumelele Shamase, Oratile Mokwena, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Sinazo Ntshota, Busisiwe Ndimeni.
Strikers: Lelona Daweti, Zethembiso Vilakazi, Michelle Sampson, Amanda Mkhize, Lithemba Sam.
