The experienced centre-back walked away with the honour ahead of Precious Seshweni of TS Galaxy and Boitumelo Rasehlo of JVW, marking her first time receiving the individual accolade after six seasons at the club.
Dhlamini says the recognition belongs as much to her teammates as it does to her, insisting that individual awards are built on collective effort.
“This award means a lot to me because it’s something I’ve worked towards for a long time,” she said. “Football is about teamwork, and I wouldn’t have achieved this without the support of those around me. I’ve learned that patience is important, and when the time is right, things fall into place.”
Despite Sundowns’ domestic success, the 2025 campaign was not without its difficulties. The team’s failure to feature in the CAF Champions League was a disappointment, but Dhlamini believes their ability to stay focused was key.
“There were challenges along the way, especially early in the season, but we made a decision to concentrate on what we could control,” she said. “In the end, we were rewarded with another league title.”
With an eye on the future, Dhlamini is already setting ambitious targets for the 2026 season. At the top of her list is retaining the league crown and ensuring Sundowns’ return to continental competition.
“The aim is to keep winning at home and make sure we get back to CAF,” she said. “We want to qualify through COSAFA and then challenge ourselves to go all the way in Africa.”