The Banyana Banyana duo of Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe are in the Liga MX Femenil play-offs (Liguilla) to determine the champions for the second half (Clausura) of the league season in Mexico.
Kgatlana’s U.A.N.L Tigres finished top of the table of the regular season on 44 points, two ahead of second placed Pachuca Femenil, while Seoposenwe’s FC Monterrey ended third, six points behind the log leaders.
Only the top eight teams compete in the play-offs, with number one facing the bottom-placed side, second vs seventh, and so on.
The two South Africans will be in action on Saturday morning (11 May 2024) for the first leg.
Tigres lock horns with FC Juarez at 05h00 SA time, while FC Monterrey tackle U.N.A.M Pumas two hours earlier (03h00 SA Time).
The reverse fixtures will be played on Tuesday morning (14 May 2024).
The reigning champions claimed victory after the first half of the season (Apertura) following a comfortable 3-nil win over Club America in the final of the play-offs.
In the previous campaign, Seoposenwe featured for FC Juarez in the same tournament but were knocked out in the quarterfinal.
Kgatlana will be making her debut as she is in her first season in Mexico.
Also in their maiden appearance in the Liga MX Femenil is the Mazatlán FC duo of Hilda Magaia and Sinoxolo Cesane – but their season is over after finishing 14th in a very difficult second half of the 2023/2024 campaign.
In 17 matches, they managed four victories, one draw and 12 losses to end on 13 points.
On the positive side the South African quartet has been in fine form in front of goal for their respective teams, with Seoposenwe the leader of the pack on eight strikes, followed by Kgatlana with six, while Cesane and Magaia netted five and four respectively.
LIGUILLA QUARTER-FINALS DRAW
| HOME | AWAY | 1ST LEG | 2ND LEG | |
| Guadalajara Chivas W (5) | vs | Club America W (4) | 10 May 2024 (05h06) | 12 May 2024 (20h00) |
| Club Leon W (7) | vs | Pachuca W (2) | 10 May 2024 (03h00) | 13 May 2024 (03h06) |
| U.N.A.M. Pumas W (6) | vs | Monterrey W (3) | 11 May 2024 (03h00) | 14 May 2024 (05h00) |
| FC Juarez W (8) | vs | U.A.N.L. Tigres W (1) | 11 May 2024 (05h06) | 14 May 2024 (03h00) |
Semi-finals:
1st Leg – 16 May 2024
2nd Leg – 19 May 2024
Final
1st Leg – 24 May 2024
2nd Leg – 27 May 2024
By Matlhomola Morake
