African Champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are back in the Hollywoodbets Super League like they never left.
Having annexed the COSAFA/CAF Women’s Champions League and the CAF Women’s Champions League, they are gunning for a treble.
Prior to their departure for Cote d’Ivoire where they lifted the latest trophy, the Brazilians sailed through the month of October in fine style, with five wins – 6-0 vs City Lads Ladies, 6-0 vs Durban Ladies, 6-1 vs JVW, 11-0 vs Coal City Wizards and 1-0 vs UWC.
Just two days (Thursday, 23 November 2023) after returning from continental competition, they were in action in the league against neighbours, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and continued where they left off with a 1-0 victory – goal courtesy of Khunjulwa Mali.
With three games in hand, the result keeps them in second place on 69 points, three behind log leaders and title challengers UWC, who fell to TS Galaxy Queens 2-0 in midweek action (Wednesday, 22 November 2023).
The Capetonians are left with one match, while Banyana Ba Style still have four fixtures remaining – giving the latter the advantage of reclaiming the title they have won in the last three seasons.
In the four matches they played recently, UWC lost two (0-1 vs Richmond; 0-2 vs TS Galaxy) and won the other two (3-0 vs University of Pretoria; 1-0 vs JVW).
Thinasonke Mbuli’s charges face Durban Ladies on Sunday (26 November) in their final run for the season, while Banyana Ba Style still have Thunderbirds Ladies, Tuks Ladies, TS Galaxy Queens and the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) on their menu.
Also in action on Thursday night was JVW, who are in a tight contest for third spot against TS Galaxy Queens.
The Blue Diamonds defeated Royal AM 3-1 in an exciting encounter at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto, to put pressure on the Rockets.
Both JVW and TS Galaxy are level on 60 points each but the Mpumalanga side has a better goal difference which sees them third on the table. The Blue Diamonds have, however, one game remaining while the Rockets are two matches away from concluding the league season.
Fourteen teams are in action on Sunday (26 November) in what is the final hurrah for most sides for this season.
- The only match that will be played on Saturday (25 November) sees the University of Pretoria entertaining First Touch Academy at the University of Pretoria Stadium at 15h00.
- Relegated Coal City Wizards and Ma-Indies Ladies will bid farewell to the Hollywoodbets Super League on Sunday.
- Coal City welcomes City Lads Ladies at the Puma Stadium in Witbank while Ma-Indies are away to TUT
- Newcomers will lock horns when Limpopo’s Copperbelt Ladies travel to the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Mpumalanga in what is a crucial match for hosts TS Galaxy Queens. A defeat for the latter will open the door for JVW to third spot, while victory could end the contest for position three.
- The Blue Diamonds will be watching proceedings in Mpumalanga with keen interest while they travel to the UJ Stadium to face UJ Ladies.
- In a midtable clash, Royal AM hosts Northern Cape’s Richmond United at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
- At the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Sundowns Ladies will be eager to edge closer to the league title when they face Thunderbirds Ladies.
- UWC on the other hand, will be playing at home, hoping for a slip-up by the Brazilians to keep alive their chances of winning the league – the Capetonians host Durban Ladies at the UWC Stadium.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES
| UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA | vs | FIRST TOUCH ACADEMY | University of Pretoria Stadium | |
| Saturday, 25 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| COAL CITY WIZARDS | vs | CITY LADS | Puma Stadium, Witbank | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| TS GALAXY QUEENS | vs | COPPER BELTS FC | Solomon Mahlangu Stadium | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| UWC | vs | DURBAN LADIES FC | UWC Stadium, Cape Town | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| UNIVERSITY OF JHB FC | vs | JVW FC | UJ Stadium, Soweto | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| TUT FOOTBALL CLUB | vs | MA-INDIES LADIES | TUT Pretoria Stadium | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES FC | vs | THUNDERBIRDS LADIES | Lucas Moripe Stadium (Live on SABC 1 ) | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 | ||||
| ROYAL AM | vs | RICHMOND UNITED | Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg | |
| Sunday, 26 Nov|15:00 |
By Matlhomola Morake
