Battle of the strugglers & 1st ever Mpumalanga Derby take centre stage in Week 8 of the Hollywoodbets Super League

MA-INDIES vs THUNDERBIRDS LADIES:

Week 8 of the Hollywoodbets Super League action will see bottom-of-the-table Ma-Indies Ladies will battle it out with fellow strugglers and second-from-bottom Thunderbirds Ladies, as both try to revive their poor start to the season.

MA-INDIES LADIES

The two teams are yet to win a match after seven rounds of matches.

Eastern Cape’s Thunderbirds Ladies has managed only two draws, while their counterparts from Limpopo have lost all their games.

The clash takes place on Saturday, 1 April in Polokwane at 15h00.

Five other fixtures have been scheduled for the same day.

COAL CITY WIZARDS vs TS GALAXY QUEENS:

The Puma Stadium in Witbank will host the first ever Mpumalanga Derby in the history of South Africa’s elite women’s league, when Coal City Wizards welcome newcomers and neighbours TS Galaxy Queens at 15h00.

This could be another tough day at the office for the struggling hosts who are 14th on the table, as they take on a side with players eager to impress a new coach.

Coal City lost at home to other newcomers (Copperbelt Ladies) last weekend.

RICHMOND UNITED vs CITY LADS LADIES:

The visiting City Lads Ladies will have to be at their best to overcome hosts Richmond United at Merino Park in De Aar, Northern Cape (15h00). The latter has not lost any of the three home games they have played, scoring 13 goals in the process.

The coastal side come into this match after a defeat last weekend, while Richmond United are in high spirits following an away victory.

UJ LADIES vs FIRST TOUCH FC:

First Touch travel to Soweto to face the University of Johannesburg, a team that has made the UJ Stadium their fortress. Just this past weekend they were the highest scorers, winning 5-1, while the visitors suffered defeat elsewhere.

UJ Ladies have scored 20 goals in four home games, and making matters worse is that the First Touch are not good travellers – in four outings, they have not won on the road, losing three and drawing the other.

COPPERBELT LADIES vs UWC:

In the early kickoff (11h30), the University of the Western Cape (UWC), who have won all their matches this season, are away to newcomers Copperbelt Ladies, also in Polokwane.

This will be their first ever meeting.

The Capetonians lie second on the table, on 18 points – just one behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.

Copperbelt Ladies have started well and were the only Limpopo side to win last weekend. They are in seventh place with nine points.

DURBAN LADIES vs UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA:

At the Sugar Xulu Stadium, Durban Ladies will welcome new kids on the block, the University of Pretoria at 13h00.

Both teams are still smarting from losses suffered last weekend and will want to make amends.

TUT vs JVW:

The Tuks Stadium in Pretoria will host a double header on Sunday (2 April 2023).

First up at 11h30 will be JVW going toe to toe against local side, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

The head to head results are evenly poised after four meetings – both have won a game each, with two others drawn.

Sep 2021

0-0

May 2021

2-0, JVW

May 2022

2-2

Sep 2022

4-1, TUT

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES vs ROYAL AM:

In the second match, KwaZulu Natal-based Royal AM, previously known as Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies, will be hoping for a change of fortunes when they face their nemesis, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.

The Brazilians have won all six previous fixture since the inception of South Africa’s Premier Women’s League in the 2019/20 season – scoring 13 goals in the process, and not conceding any.

Oct 2019 

1-0, Sundowns Ladies

Feb 2020

3-0, Sundowns Ladies

Oct 2021

2-0, Sundowns Ladies

May 2021

2-0, Sundowns Ladies

June 2022

2-0, Sundowns Ladies

Oct 2022

3-0, Sundowns Ladies

WEEK 8 FIXTURES OF THE HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE:

Saturday, 1 April 2023

Copperbelt Ladies vs UWC

Noordelikes Rugby Club

Polokwane

11h30

Durban Ladies vs University of Pretoria

Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium

Durban

13h00

Richmond United vs City Lads Ladies

Merino Park, De Aar

Northern Cape

15h00

Ma-Indies Ladies vs Thunderbirds Ladies 

Noordelikes Rugby Club

Polokwane

15h00

UJ Ladies vs First Touch 

UJ Stadium, Soweto

Gauteng

15h00

Coal City Wizards vs TS Galaxy Queens

Puma Stadium, Witbank 

Mpumalanga

15h00

Sunday, 2 April 2023

JVW vs TUT (Live on SABC Channel)

Tuks Stadium, Pretoria

Gauteng

11h30

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies vs Royal AM (Live on SABC 1)

Tuks Stadium, Pretoria

Gauteng

15h00

By Matlhomola Morake