It was a low-scoring affair this weekend in South Africa’s elite women’s league, with a total of 18 goals in eight matches.
Only one team – the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) registered a big win.
Things are not looking good for Ma-Indies Ladies after they suffered their seventh defeat on Week 7 of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League season.
The Limpopo outfit were handed a 5-1 pasting by UJ, who haven’t lost at home this season.
Ma-Indies remain rooted to the bottom of the table – the only side still in search of their first points of the current campaign.
In 2021, their first season in top flight of women’s football, they lost their opening two matches, and last year it increased to three defeats – but they still managed to claw their way back to safety as they finished on 8th position in back to back seasons.
But 2023 is by far their worst run ever since being promoted in 2021.
UJ Ladies lie in third place on 15 points – four adrift of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who laboured to a 1-0 victory over the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in the Tshwane Derby.
Despite winning all but one of their seven games, the Brazilians appear to be stuck in the first gear as they have been shy in front of goals, scoring only one goal in each of their last three games.
“Although we faced a tough opponent who made it challenging for us, we’re satisfied with the result, especially since the Tshwane Derby is known for being a closely contested match. However, we understand the need to improve our finishing skills and will continue to work hard on that as we prepare for our next game,” said Dhlamini on the club’s website.
The University of the Western (UWC) continues to breath down Sundowns Ladies.
The Capetonians beat First Touch 3-1, taking their points tally to 18 with an unblemished record of six wins in as many match matches, and with a game in hand.
Forward Fiona Ndlovu’s appetite for goals keeps growing – she scored against First Touch, her 10th of the season, making her the top goal scorer. She has now netted in every match since the start of the 2023 campaign.
Newcomers Copperbelt Ladies were the only Limpopo side to get positive results this weekend after beating Coal City Wizards 2-0 – the latter have been a shadow of themselves since the passing of their chairman last year.
Copperbelt are in ninth place, while Coal City are 14th.
JVW took the short trip to Pretoria to take on the University of Pretoria and collected all three points in a narrow 1-0 victory. This will come as a relief to the Blue Diamonds after suffering their first loss last weekend.
Three matches took place on Sunday.
In the early fixture, Royal AM had the better of City Lads ladies.
This was the KwaZulu Natal side’s second win of the season – but their first in four matches after two draws and a loss.
Richmond United continued with their fine form when they defeated the struggling Thunderbirds Ladies away in East London.
The home side has not won a single match this season with five losses and two draws.
With a game in hand, the Northern Cape outfit notched their fourth win of the current campaign, with only two losses.
Incoming TS Galaxy Queens coach, Sizwe Sibiya, started his new reign with a win as they downed Durban Ladies 1-0 in his first match in charge following the departure of Jabulile Baloyi last week.
The Mpumalanga side also collected their first maximum points in four outings – after three draws in a row.
TS Galaxy are seventh on the table, while Durban Ladies are fifth – but both are level on 12 points each, with the KwaZulu Natal team on a superior goal difference.
By Matlhomola Morake
