Three-times Hollywoodbets Super League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, have vowed to continue dominating the elite women’s league.
The inaugural CAF Champions League winners, just like many of their counterparts in the Hollywoodbets Super League, have started with their pre-season training.
Ahead of the 2023 league campaign, which is expected to kick-off early next month, Banyana Ba Style held medical tests for their players before they got down to business.
“Most of the players came back to camp in top shape as they adhered to the training program they received during the break. Their sharpness and fitness in the first week of training excite me ahead of the new campaign. It shows their professionalism and willingness to align with the team’s ethos of commencing every new season with renewed hunger and optimism,” Sundowns Ladies head coach Jerry Tshabalala told the club’s Media Department.
Despite winning the league in 2022, the Brazilians struggled to defend COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League title as well as the CAF Women’s Champions League, surrendering the trophies to Green Buffaloes of Zambia and ASFAR of Morocco respectively.
By their standards, last year was a disappointment despite reaching the two finals in top women’s tournaments – but they say they have learned their lessons.
“Last season, we learned lots of lessons across the three competitions and there are certain aspects of our game we need to improve upon. Complacency is something we are working hard to eliminate because we need to approach each game with renewed zeal to do better than the last game. Although we dominated the Hollywoodbets Super League, we suffered unexpected defeats to UWC and TUT. Kudos to them, but those were avoidable defeats and we need to treat each game like a cup final and not save our best performances against certain teams,” said the reigning Coach of the Season,” added Tshabalala.
“We have also gained valuable experiences at the two editions of the CAF Women’s Champions League. Last year, we saw how physical teams are becoming, thus, we are working hard on our fitness levels and physical conditions. That is why I am very excited about the sharpness and fitness of the team during our first training sessions. We are truly motivated ahead of the new season and conquering the continent remains our top objective.”
Sundowns were unstoppable on the domestic front, suffering two defeats, a draw and managing 27 wins.
They were lethal upfront, banging in an impressive 126 goals, while their defence was solid with 13 conceded.
Leading the charge for the goals were Boitumelo Rabale, Miche Minnies, Rhoda Mulaudzi, Melinda Kgadiete, Lelona Daweti and Andisiwe Mgcoyi.
Rabale, the Lesotho Senior Women’s National Team captain, hit the back of the net 27 times – three shy of the league’s top goal scorer, Nompumelelo Nyandeni of JVW.
Queen, as Rabale is referred to by her peers, was named the 2022 Hollywoodbets Super League Player of the Season – which did not come as a surprise after she scored three hattricks (twice against Mpumalanga’s Coal City Wizards and once again Durban Ladies) as well as three braces.
“Putting the ball in the back of the net is always a good feeling because goals help us to win games. However, my aim for the team is to reclaim the top prize in continental women’s football, which is the CAF Women’s Champions League. Although we reached the final last year, coming close is not good enough at a club like Mamelodi Sundowns,” said Rabale on the club’s website.
Also chipping in with goals in crucial games was former Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies forward, Kgadiete.
The Banyana Banyana striker played a pivotal role for the Chloorkop outfit, assisting Rabale to mesmerise defences in all the competitions they played in – which helped Sundowns Ladies to 147 goals in three campaigns: the league COSAFA Champions League qualifier and CAF Women’s Champions League.
Rabale and Kgadiete scored a combined 42 goals across all competitions, and the latter will be hoping to continue where they left off.
“It feels so good to be back in camp and thanks to the efforts of the technical team, we arrived at training in the best possible way. Pre-season preparations are usually intensive as they condition us ahead of the long season ahead. As players, we are committed to the task at hand and I am prepared to give my best as we map out our plans for the upcoming campaign,” Kgadiete told the Sundowns Media Department.
“My ambitions for the next campaign firmly align with that of the team, which is to secure the CAF competitions. Nothing makes me happier than seeing us claim the COSAFA Qualifiers and the CAF Women’s Champions League as we did two years ago. It’s going to be a huge season and we are confidently looking forward to the three competitions we will participate in.”
Here is what the other players had to say about returning to training for the new season.
Oratile Mokwena – Midfielder:
“I missed playing football and it feels good to be back with the team as we prepare for the new season. I am very excited to train again with my teammates because spending time in the gym cannot be compared to working out with the group. Preseason preparations are usually hectic but highly effective and needed as they condition our bodies and psyches ahead of the hectic season ahead. I would love to keep my performances at an optimum and consistent level. I am also looking forward to creating more chances from midfield and scoring more goals to help my team to dominate games. It’s going to be a huge season for us because every team in the Hollywoodbets Super League will be aiming to dethrone us. Therefore, I am ready to excel whenever I am called upon because the standards are very high at Mamelodi Sundowns. Retaining our league title and conquering the African continent is at the top of our priorities.”
Chuene Morifi – Winger:
“We are pleased to resume training and I must commend the technical team for outlining a training schedule to keep us fit. The program has helped us to transition smoothly into the rigours of field sessions. So far, everything is going on well as planned and we are looking forward to the more intensive sessions as we prepare for the new season. We are fully aware that opponents are always looking to prove themselves against Sundowns Ladies and this coming season will not be an exception. The objectives for us are quite clear and getting back the continental trophies is a big part of our plans for the upcoming season. On a personal note, I hope to score more goals because they win you games. Last season I scored 6 times and I hope to double that number this time around.”
By Matlhomola Morake
