Week 6 of the Hollywoodbets Super League will see battles for bragging rights across two different provinces when two derbies take place.
Thunderbirds Ladies vs City Lads Ladies:
On Saturday in East London at 15h00, Thunderbirds Ladies will welcome Gqeberha’s City Lads Ladies at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium to contest the Eastern Cape Derby.
Both teams lost their previous matches and will want to put that behind them and collect maximum points so as to improve their log standings – they are currently 15th and 12th respectively.
After five rounds of matches, Thunderbirds are yet to win a match, while the Gunners (City Lads) have been victorious only once.
This will be their third meeting, with the head to head count giving them a win each – the Gqeberha outfit started campaigning in the Hollywoodbets Super League only in 2022.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies vs University of Pretoria:
Just a little over 800km away in Gauteng, the Tshwane Derby will be on the go between defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and newcomers the University of Pretoria (Amatuks) – their first ever meeting.
This clash will take place at the Groenkloof Stadium in Pretoria.
The Brazilians dropped points for the first time in their last fixture, and will want to make amends against their young and energetic neighbours.
Banyana Ba Style will be without head coach Jerry Tshabalala who was shown the red card after remonstrating with the match officials, following the awarding of a penalty to TS Galaxy in KwaMhlanga last weekend.
Tuks Ladies suffered two defeats in their opening games, then stemmed the tide with a draw before registering back to back wins. They will be looking for their third win in a row against their more experienced opponents.
Ma-Indies Ladies vs UWC:
The high-riding University of the Western Cape (UWC) will take the long trip to the Malamulele Stadium in Giyani, Limpopo to face Ma-Indies Ladies.
The two sides come into this clash with contrasting results: the coastal outfit has won all their four matches, while Ma-Indies have lost all their fixtures and are bottom of the table.
The Capetonians are on 12 points, breathing down the neck of log leaders Sundowns Ladies who are a point ahead. UWC cannot afford a slip-up to stay in contention for the title race, while the Limpopo side will be eager to start collecting points to move from the drop zone.
The two teams have met four times – UWC winning twice, Ma-Indies once and the other match drawn.
JVW vs TS Galaxy Queens:
Another clash that has the potential to produce fireworks is the encounter between JVW FC and new kids on the block, TS Galaxy Queens at Wits Sturrock Park, also at 15h00.
The interesting twist in the match-up is down to personnel – the Mpumalanga side has assembled an array of talent, the likes of Nompumelelo Nyandeni, goalkeeper Yolula Tsawe, midfielder Mamello Makhabane, defender Erin Herz, forward Sisanda Madlala as well as goalkeeper coach Thoko Mndaweni – who were all at JVW, with Nyandeni their captain for six seasons.
This will be the first time the players come up against their former employer, and this is also the first ever meeting between the two sides.
First Touch vs Coal City Wizards:
Two struggling sides will battle it out at the Noordelikes Sports Field in Polokwane – this when First Touch welcomes Coal City Wizards.
The home team has managed only two draws and are yet to register a win – leaving them in 14th position after five games, while the visitors have one victory to their name but are lying 13th.
Richmond United vs UJ Ladies
The early match on Saturday (13h00) at Merino Park in De Aar, Northern Cape, will see Richmond United entertain the University of Johannesburg who are third on the log standings.
This is also one of the fixtures with the potential to ignite. The visitors have lost only one match and registered four wins.
Richmond will be eager to put their past result behind them after going down to UWC.
Durban Ladies vs Copperbelt Ladies:
The Hollywoodbets Super League festival will be in Durban and two matches are on offer on Sunday (18 March) at the Chatsworth Stadium.
In the first clash of the double header, Durban Ladies will go to toe with newcomers Copperbelt Ladies at 11h30 – their first ever meeting.
Both come in high spirits following successful outcomes last weekend – the Limpopo side shocked all and sundry when they beat JVW 2-1, while the Durbanites had the better of First Touch in a 4-1 victory.
Royal AM vs TUT:
The last match of the day, and of the weekend, will see Royal AM and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) battle it out at the same venue at 15h00.
The clashes between the two sides are always tricky affairs.
,In six meetings, TUT has won three times, while Royal AM, previously known as Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies, managed only one win, with two matches drawn.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE WEEK 6 FIXTURES:
| SATURDAY, 18 MARCH 2023 RICHMOND UNITED vs UNIVERSITY OF JHB FC Merino Park De Aar 13:00 THUNDERBIRDS LADIES vs CITY LADS LADIES Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London 15:00 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES FC vs UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA Groenkloof Stadium 15:00 MA-INDIES LADIES vs UWC Malamulele Stadium 15:00 JVW FC vs TS GALAXY QUEENS Wits Sturrock Park 15:00 FIRST TOUCH ACADEMY vs COAL CITY WIZARDS Noordelikes Sports Field, Polokwane 15:00 SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2023: DURBAN LADIES FC vs COPPERBELTS LADIES FC Chatsworth Stadium 11:30 Live @SABC Sport Channel ROYAL AM vs TUT FOOTBALL CLUB Chatsworth Stadium 15:00 Live @ SABC 1 |
By Matlhomola Morake
