The 2024 season of the Hollywoodbets Super League gets underway this weekend (2/3 March 2024) after a break of more than two months.
The last match on the calendar was on Wednesday, 6 December 2023 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, when the already-crowned champions, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, defeated TS Galaxy Queens 1-0 in a revised fixture.
As the 16 teams go into battle for the 2024 season, it will be interesting to see if any of them can unseat the Brazilians at the top – as they have become the team to beat after winning all past four editions of the women’s football league since inception.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) came close on two occasions (2022 & 2023) where they finished in second place.
Prior to that, it was TUT Matsatsantsa FC (former known as the Tshwane University of Technology), who gave Banyana Ba Style some worries, taking the second spot in the 2019/20 and 2021 seasons.
Two teams will make their debut in the league, replacing the relegated Ma-Indies Ladies from Limpopo as well as Coal City Wizards from Mpumalanga.
Coming in from the Sasol League is the University of Fort Hare from Alice in the Eastern Cape as well as Lindelani Ladies from KwaZulu Natal.
The latter hails from Durban and has Royal AM and Durban Ladies as neighbours.
Fort Hare’s presence in the Hollywoodbets Super League has increased the Eastern Cape’s representation to three as they join City Lads Ladies from Gqeberha and Thunderbirds Ladies from East London. The newbies also become the fifth side from an institution of higher learning to compete in the South African elite women’s football league:
- Fort Hare University (Alice, Eastern Cape)
- TUT Matsatsantsa (Pretoria, Gauteng)
- University of Johannesburg (Gauteng)
- University of Pretoria (Gauteng)
- University of the Western Cape (Western Cape)
The fixtures have already been released and after weeks on end at pre-season training, all 16 teams, most of whom have signed new players, are eager to get the show on the road.
LINDELANI LADIES vs THUNDERBIRDS LADIES:
Lindelani Ladies begin life in the big leagues with perhaps a “slightly easier” assignment when they welcome Thunderbirds Ladies who went through a struggle last season, finishing just one spot (14th) above the relegation zone. The Coastal Derby will be played at the King Zwelithini Stadium at 15h00 on Saturday, 2 March, giving the newcomers a home advantage in their first match.
DURBAN LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA:
In the earlier match of the double-header at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban Ladies will play host to the University of Pretoria. The latter had a superb season in their first appearance in the league, finishing in sixth place. In their good run in 2023, the Tshwane side won away to Durban Ladies but lost at home. Kickoff is at 13h00.
UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE vs TUT MATSATSANTSA LADIES:
The area of Alice will host the first Hollywoodbets Super League fixture – and it is also the first Varsity Derby of the season in the South African elite women’s football league.
This is when newcomers University of Fort Hare entertain TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies at the Davidson Stadium 15h00. The visitors have had a change of name due to their partnership with DSTV Premiership side, SuperSport United who are also known as Matsatsantsa.
JVW vs TS GALAXY QUEENS:
Fireworks are expected to fly at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto when JVW faces TS Galaxy Queens in an early kickoff of 13h00.
The two sides finished third and fourth respectively last season. TS Galaxy will be playing in their second season in the elite league – and will also be parading new coach Ashraf Calvert, who joined during pre-season after the club parted ways with Sizwe Sibiya. This will be the third meeting between the two sides with the spoils shared in their previous outings during the 2023 campaign.
COPPERBELT LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE:
The University of the Western Cape (UWC), who took second place behind Sundowns Ladies last season, will be hoping for another stellar campaign. Their first hurdle of the season is Limpopo’s Copperbelt Ladies who are in their second spell in the South African elite women’s football league. The pair meet at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane at 15h00.
RICHMOND UNITED vs CITY LADS LADIES:
City Lads Ladies travel to Merino Park in De Aar, Northern Cape for a date with Richmond United who have lost their star striker Nthabiseng Majiya to Sundowns Ladies.
The Eastern Cape side will be eager to change their fortunes after suffering four losses in as many games against the hosts.
FIRST TOUCH LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG:
There are two matches on Sunday, 3 March
The University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) will make the long trek to Polokwane to take on First Touch Ladies at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in a 15h00 kickoff.
The Limpopo team has a score to settle with the Gauteng side after the latter won 3-0 in the first-round last season, while the return fixture ended in a 1-all draw.
SUNDOWNS LADIES vs ROYAL AM:
Banyana Ba Style will start the defence of their title when they welcome Royal AM to Atteridgeville in a 15h00 kickoff.
The two sides have met eight times before – including during the days when the KwaZulu Natal outfit was known as Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies.
Royal AM is the only team to inflict defeat on the Brazilians last season, which makes this tie a very interesting one.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE – WEEK 1 FIXTURES:
SATURDAY, 2 MARCH 2024
LINDELANI LADIES vs THUNDERBIRDS LADIES
King Zwelithini Stadium
Durban
15h00
DURBAN LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
King Zwelithini Stadium
Durban
13h00
UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE vs TUT MATSATSANTSA LADIES
Davidson Stadium
Alice
15h00
JVW vs TS GALAXY QUEENS
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
13h00
COPPERBELT LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE
Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Polokwane
15h00
RICHMOND UNITED vs CITY LADS LADIES
Merino Park
De Aar
15h00
SUNDAY, 3 MARCH 2024
SUNDOWNS LADIES vs ROYAL AM
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Atteridgeville
15h00
FIRST TOUCH LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Polokwane
15h00
By Matlhomola Morake
