The 14th edition of the Sasol League National Championship is almost upon us!
The Free State Province at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Botshabelo, Bloemfontein is the place to be from 17 – 22 October 2023 where the tournament will be held.
The draw will be held on Tuesday, 26 September 2023.
It will feature nine provincial winners who will battle it out for the right to be Sasol League National Champions – with not just a hefty cheque on offer for the overall winners, but also guaranteed promotion into the South African elite Women’s Football league, the Hollywoodbets Super League, for the top two finishers.
Seven teams have already booked their spots at the 2023 competition, with only Gauteng (Croesus Ladies vs Springs Home Sweepers) and KwaZulu Natal (Lindelani Ladies vs Newcastle Ladies) still to reveal the identity of the remaining two participants.
CONFIRMED 2023 TEAMS:
| TEAM | PROVINCE |
| Royal Wizards | Northern Cape |
| Sasol Juventus Ladies | Mpumalanga |
| Royal Queens | North West |
| University of Cape Town | Western Cape |
| Ixias FC | Free State |
| University of Fort Hare | Eastern Cape |
| Ramatlaohle Ladies | Limpopo |
| TBC: Lindelani Ladies vs Newcastle Ladies | KwaZulu Natal |
| TBC: Croesus Ladies vs Springs Home Sweepers | Gauteng |
Sasol Juventus Ladies, UCT, Ramatlaohle Ladies, University of Fort Hare and Royal Queens are making their debut in the tournament, while Royal Wizards and Ixias have reached these heights before only to fall short where it mattered most.
2022 SASOL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPANTS:
Last year the competition took place in Polokwane, featuring nine provincial winners:
| TEAM | PROVINCE |
| Tuks Ladies | Gauteng |
| Central University of Technology | Free State |
| TS Galaxy Ladies | Mpumalanga |
| Copperbelt Ladies | Limpopo |
| Royal Wizards | Northern Cape |
| NWU Tawana | North West |
| Sophakama FC | Eastern Cape |
| Lindelani Ladies | KwaZulu Natal |
| Dangerous Heroes Ladies | Western Cape |
Copperbelt Ladies defeated Tuks Ladies in the final but both had already secured promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League.
After failing in the National Play-offs for the second year running, TS Galaxy Ladies bought the status of 2021 winners, Vasco da Gama of the Western Cape, who played only one season in top flight women’s football.
ABOUT THE SASOL LEAGUE:
- Established in 2009
- 16 teams in each province – two streams
- Aim is to grow and develop women’s football in South Africa’s nine provinces
- The Sasol League gives over 3600 female football players the opportunity to participate in regular competitive football throughout the year
- Used to broaden talent pool for the women’s national teams – U17, U20 and Banyana Banyana
- Before there was promotion and relegation, Palace Super Falcons were the most successful team in the league, having it won it three times in a row – 2010, 2011, 2012
- The now-defunct Mpumalanga’s Detroit Ladies were the inaugural winners in 2009, captained by Nompumelelo Nyandeni who went to become a household name
- The Sasol League is now a feeder league to the Hollywoodbets Super League
- Through this league Banyana Banyana qualified for major tournaments like the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup – their maiden appearance
- The Sasol League produced 100 percent of the Banyana Banyana squad that participated in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
| YEAR | TEAM | PROVINCE |
| 2022 | Copperbelt Ladies | Limpopo |
| 2021 | Vasco da Gama | Western Cape |
| 2019 | JVW FC | Gauteng |
| 2018 | TUT Ladies | Gauteng |
| 2017 | Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies | Free State |
| 2016 | Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies | Free State |
| 2015 | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Gauteng |
| 2014 | Cape Town Roses Ladies | Western Cape |
| 2013 | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Gauteng |
| 2012 | Palace Super Falcons | Gauteng |
| 2011 | Palace Super Falcons | Gauteng |
| 2010 | Palace Super Falcons | Gauteng |
| 2009 | Detroit Ladies | Mpumalanga |
By Matlhomola Morake
