The draw for the 2023 Sasol League National Championships has been conducted and the battle lines have been drawn.
Nine provincial winners will fight it out for the coveted title of being named the 2023 Sasol League National Champs, following in the footsteps of the likes of Copperbelt Ladies (2022), Vasco da Gama (2021) and JVW (2019).
The tournament takes place over a five-day period, starting with the group stages, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
Action takes place at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, Free State from 16 – 22 October 2023.
The nine teams taking part are Royal Wizards (Northern Cape), Sasol Juventus (Mpumalanga), Royal Queens (Northwest), University of Cape Town (Western Cape), Ixias FC (Free State), University of Fort Hare (Eastern Cape), Ramatlaohle Ladies (Limpopo), Lindelani Ladies (KwaZulu Natal) and a team from Gauteng which will be decided this coming weekend in the play-offs between Croesus Ladies and Springs Home Sweepers.
The winner of the Sasol League National Champs will pocket R200 000.00, with the runners-up walking away with half of that amount (R100 000.00).
In addition, the top two will earn promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League.
Here is what they said from the launch held in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 26 September 2023.
Lydia Monyepao: SAFA CEO
This event is very important for SAFA because we are getting an opportunity to showcase the talent that we have in the Sasol League throughout the country, so the national playoffs will be an opportunity for Coach Desiree (Ellis) and her technical team to be able to see the new talent that can come through and be in the Banyana Banyana squad for the future and also the U20s and U17s in their journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
We can see the importance of the Sasol League as the foundation for Women’s Football development. We have so many players in the Banyana Banyana squad that came through this league – it’s a platform for players to showcase their talent, to showcase their skills, and be seen by the coaches that are taking decisions in order to be drafted into the league. We were talking about Wendy Shongwe who came through the Sasol League, she was in a team, Tuks Ladies, that was participating in the Sasol League National playoffs last year and this year she was playing in the Women’s National League (Hollywoodbets Super League), and she was spotted playing there, she ended up in Banyana Banyana, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad and she ended up playing there. Recently she was playing in the US against the likes of Megan Rapinoe, but you can see that there is hope for these players that are in the Sasol League that their dream can basically come true.
We thank our long-time partners Sasol for continuing to support women’s football for so many years and always putting their money where their mouth is.
To the players I want to say this is your opportunity to shine, so I say dare to shine, to be seen, showcase what you have, you never know where you will end up, maybe your team might not end up in the finals but the coach of the U17 or U20 National Team or of Banyana Banyana can pick you from there. So be free, express yourselves, football is about expressing yourself, have fun and believe in your own abilities.
Nozipho Mbatha: Sasol Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships
Through the campaign BELIEVE IN HER DREAMS WITH SASOL LEAGUE, and initiatives we will be executing, we want young athletes to see the Sasol League tournament as that stepping stone that will open their worlds to opportunities in the football fraternity. The Sasol League stands tall as the premier semi-professional platform – the very birthplace of dreams and through this League, we are determined to stimulate a future where women shine in all spheres.
Sasol’s aim is not only to develop the teams in terms of the football they play, but we want to provide knowledge and a deep understanding of the sport because by supporting the Sasol League, we are not just backing women’s football, we are investing in the pursuit of dreams and inspiring greatness.
Seeing the teams representatives standing here today and telling us what it means for them to play in the Sasol League is just a confirmation of the space that exists for the Sasol League and that there is definitely still a space for it in the country especially because for us, it is about the development and growth of women’s and seeing the Sasol League grow from strength to strength every year, gives us that sense of encouragement that there’s something that we are definitely doing right as a brand, and as Sasol it’s always a demonstration of our commitment that is unwavering for South African Women’s Football.
When the Champions are announced and they’re all excited, as well as the runner up, for them to get that promotion it’s always so rewarding because sometimes when you’re sitting at your desk you are like I don’t know how they feel, but when you see it live at the national championship and you see what it means for the team it’s such a rewarding experience and seeing them get promotion, for them it means they are a step closer to realizing whatever dreams that they have for their team and them elevating themselves, it really shows their growth as teammates and as a team, for them that’s what it represents.
When the players make it into the national team we go back to the archives and look at all the photos from way back, when you talk about it kind of like makes sense, but when you actually get to see the video clips and journey of how far you have come, speaks to the importance of staying the course and believing in the success, the dreams that these players have and watching them realise them (dreams) it is one of the most beautiful things.
First my message is to the supporters – we’ve seen Banyana Banyana has paved the way for us and the success of Women’s Football, we have seen the potential that Women’s Football has in the country, and we are saying that it takes just one person – if every person can be that one that person who believes in the dreams of each and every single player is that for you as a member of the public to come out there and watch these players play in Bloemfontein. And I want to say to the teams that they have put in the hard work, now it’s about them going out there, have fun and, yes, winning is important but always remember that it’s not always about the win at the end of the day, but it’s for you to enjoy yourself, learn the self-discipline, learn what it’s like to work in a team for you to gain that confidence so that you can make a success of your career within football.
Gcobisa Noncolele: Sasol Juventus – Mpumalanga
We are looking forward to this tournament and really want to compete, and if possible win it and return home as National Champions.
It is very important because more often we see dreams or women’s sport in general is looked down on, for Sasol to attach some importance to it makes us very happy, and it makes us very determined. I don’t think there is any team that will stand in our way, in the group stages and the final stages, so we are more than ready.
Tshepang Khumalo: Royal Queens – Rustenburg
It’s very important for us to be in this competition, a lot of my girls are from humble backgrounds, and I love what was said on stage that it’s high time that people go to those deep rural areas because the talent is there. I know the Northwest hasn’t been classified as a football province but trust me the talent is there, and this opportunity is very important because these girls can actually become showcase what they are all about.
From day one we were talking about the Hollywoodbets Super League as the main goal – we go a day at a time, one step at a time but the main goal, the end goal has always been the Hollywoodbets Super League and we are closer than yesterday, we are closer than a minute ago. These young girls that I’m bringing, these hungry young girls, we are looking to get Northwest into the league.
I think we’re going to go all out, we’re going to win this tournament. Like I said, these girls want to go back and change their background, they want to change their lives. I see it in training, I see it in how they play, I see it in how they speak, the focus is amazing. I’ve been doing this for four years and what I see this year is completely different, and opportunity are there, universities are there, so they know there’s so much to look forward to, so we are all in, we are really all in.
Tshiila Mulaudzi: Ramatlaohle Ladies FC – Limpopo
Honestly speaking, it is very important for us to be in the Sasol League National Championships, it was the whole aim when we started the team. Ramatlaohle is a very young team, a brand-new team for that matter, a team that doesn’t even have any record but the whole aim when we started this was to make sure that we go forward, make sure that we get promotion into the Hollywoodbets Super League. So being in the play-offs is the first step and we are very excited to go through this.
Watching Banyana Banyana at the World Cup was a very motivating experience for us, and also, the way they went and represented us. Watching them was so heart-warming, and we gave them the support throughout, and we actually motivated by them. And also looking at the fact that we will be competing to go to the Hollywoodbets Super League, we also followed the league, and played friendly games with some of the teams and were inspired by them as we wished to join them.
I can say now we are actually 90% ready because remember initially the playoffs were initially supposed to be on the 25th and the dates shifted, so if I can say we’re not ready it means I was not going to be ready for the previous date, but right now as it stands, we are we are ready and we are continuing with the preparations as well.
By Matlhomola Morake
