Week 9 of the 2024 Hollywoodbets Super League will serve up two double headers which include a Varsity Derby.
The four matches will be spread over two days on Saturday (27 April) and Sunday (28 April) in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal respectively.
The Varsity Derby, taking place in Soweto, will be contested by the University of Johannesburg and newcomers the University of Fort Hare – the first ever match between the two institutions of learning.
The third-placed UJ Ladies will be eager to stay within touching distance of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and the second-placed University of Pretoria. The latter two teams are on 18 points each – two ahead of the Soweto outfit.
Fort Hare comes into the contest in high spirits following their famous 1-0 victory over TS Galaxy Queens, which led to the dismissal of coach Ashraf Calvert.
This clash kicks off at 15h00 on Saturday.
Earlier in the day at the same venue, JVW will lock horns with TUT Matsatsantsa at 11h30.
Both sides are separated by just one point, with the fourth-placed Blue Diamonds on 13 points, while TUT is on 12 and in position seven.
The Tshwane side’s defence will have to be at its best as JVW fired five goals without reply against Thunderbirds last weekend, while TUT lost 2-3 in their fixture.
The weekend’s second double header will be played at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Sunday, with Lindelani Ladies and TS Galaxy Queens kickstart the day’s proceedings at 11h30.
The Rockets have recalled Sizwe Sibiya to the head coach position following the departure of Calvert. The new man in charge led TS Galaxy to fourth place last season before being relieved of his duties earlier this year. He will be hoping for a positive start to impress his employers.
Second-from-bottom Lindelani Ladies are struggling with only one win next to their name from seven matches. All eyes will be on them after their much publicised and heavily condemned brawl against Royal AM in their last fixture. TS Galaxy is seventh.
In the second match of the double header in the afternoon (15h00) Durban Ladies will be aiming for their third win of the season in eight games when they host the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
The Capetonians are in fourth place and will be keen to maintain or improve their spot and will not want the Durbanites to derail them.
UWC is on 14 points, four behind Sundowns Ladies and Amatuks.
Back to Saturday’s fixtures, at the Baroka Global Village in Polokwane, First Touch Ladies are up against the hard-running University of Pretoria who are second on the table. The students have suffered only one defeat in seven outings, while the Limpopo side has lost two of their three home fixtures. First Touch Ladies are 10th on the log standings after four wins and the same number of defeats.
The struggling City Lads Ladies welcome a stubborn Copperbelt Ladies to the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha at 15h00.
With only one win in eight matches, the hosts will be hoping for a change of fortunes – they haven’t had much success at home in three games, losing two and drawing the other.
City Lads Ladies lie on the 14th spot on the table and Copperbelt Ladies are sixth.
De Aar-based Richmond United lost 5-nil in their previous fixture and will be keen to rectify that when they entertain Royal AM in the Northern Cape.
The visitors won their first match of 2024 in the much talked about ‘boxing match’ against Lindelani Ladies last weekend.
It will be interesting to see if Royal AM will continue with the momentum or whether the home team will bounce back following the disappointment.
Kickoff is at 15h00 at Merino Park.
If history and form are anything to go by, then Sundowns Ladies are heading for another resounding victory against Thunderbirds Ladies who are at the basement of the table of the Hollywoodbets Super League table.
In six matches between the two teams, Banyana Ba Style have been victorious in five, with a 1-all draw the best result for the Eastern Cape at the beginning of last season.
In 2021, the Brazilians scored nine goals in 4-0 and a 5-0 wins. The dominance continued in the following year (2022) with almost similar results, 5-1 and 4-0 victories. Last season the only victory was a 7-nil thumping along with the 1-all draw.
While Thunderbirds are looking for their first win in 2024, the table-topping Sundowns Ladies will be looking to pull away from the chasing pack. With two convincing victory over the last two matches against Lindelani Ladies (7-0) and Richmond United (5-0), it is almost a forgone conclusion that the winning run will continue at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. Kick-off is at 15h00.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES: WEEK
Saturday, 27 April 2024
First Touch Ladies vs University of Pretoria
Baroka Global Village
Polokwane
11h00
JVW vs TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
11h30
University of Johannesburg vs University of Fort Hare
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
15h00
City Lads Ladies vs Copperbelt Ladies
Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Gqeberha
15h00
Sundowns Ladies vs Thunderbirds Ladies
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Atteridgeville
15h00
Richmond United vs Royal AM
Merino Park
De Aar
15h00
Sunday, 28 April 2024
Lindelani Ladies vs TS Galaxy Queens
King Zwelithini Stadium
Durban
11h30
Durban Ladies vs University of the Western Cape
King Zwelithini Stadium
Durban
15h00
By Matlhomola Morake
