After opening the Women's A League with a win, Gintra face another important match this weekend and have added a newcomer ahead of round two.
South Africa international forward Thubelihle Shamase, 22, joins the Lithuanian champions and will wear number 6.
T. Shamase yra perėjusi visų amžiaus grupių etapus Pietų Afrikos rinktinėse, o šiuo metu jau gina nacionalinės komandos garbę. 2023 metais ji buvo nominuota į geriausių visų Afrikos nacijų jaunųjų žaidėjų dešimtuką.
Gintra are her first European club. She spent recent seasons with the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.
In 2022, Shamase helped South Africa, known as Banyana Banyana, make history by winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Last year, she scored five goals at the southern African COSAFA championship to earn its Silver Boot.
Director Mantas Radavičius stressed that despite her youth, Shamase has experience of high-level, high-pressure matches and the individual ability to make a difference.
"We had attacking gaps and worked hard to fill them early in the season. South Africa are very strong, and reaching their national team is difficult. We're happy Shamase is now a full member of the team and eagerly await her debut," he said.
She could debut this weekend when Gintra host runners-up MFA Žalgiris-MRU in round two. The match is at Gytariai Stadium on Sunday, 24 March, at 16:00. Come and support the yellow-and-blacks!