Never in the four-year existence of South Africa’s Premier Women’s league, the Hollywoodbets Super League, has there ever been so many players movements among the clubs than this year.
Some of the teams have a lost a lot of experience, but also gained new and fresh talent – perhaps an indication that we have an interesting 2023 season coming our way.
New kids on the block, TS Galaxy Queens, lead the way when it comes to acquiring new personnel.
The Rockets join Coal City Wizards as the two representatives from Mpumalanga in South Africa’s elite women’s League.
They also become the third PSL club to have a women’s team in the Hollywoodbets Super League, along with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Royal AM (formerly Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies).
After buying the status of Cape Town’s Vasco da Gama, TS Galaxy ventured into the transfer market and bought a whole new squad of players.
TS GALAXY:
The array of talent at the Mpumalanga outfit include the influential Nompulelelo Nyandeni, who was the captain of JVW for six years – during that period she was crowned the Top Goal Scorer for two seasons in a row (2021 & 2022).
Following her from the Blue Diamonds was another midfield stalwart, Mamello Makhabane, goalkeeper Yolula Tsawe, defender Erin Herz and forward Sisanda Madlala.
TS Galaxy further took two players from Vasco, captain Jamie-Lee Witbooi and Pertule Petersen.
They were not done, however, and scooped the signature of Nomvula Kgoale, one of the players that was part of the Banyana Banyana squad that won the maiden CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July last year – she has been club-less for the last six months.
Also unveiled by the Rockets are Dineo Magagula – UJ, Nicole Michael – Royal AM, Madembe Tshikumbu- Ma- Indies, Pride Nthite – Ma-Indies as well as Anecia Mathebula, Phindile Rakgalakane, Nthabiseng Mlotshwa, Boiteko Sejoe, Promise Selana, Lesego Nkoane and Manana Myeki.
The technical team is also new, with the former head coach of Stellenbosch University, Jabulile Baloyi, calling the shots, alongside former Banyana Banyana players Fikile Sithole (assistant coach) and Thoko Mndaweni (goalkeeper coach).
Baloyi has a lot of experience – with the assistance of the South African U17 Women’s National Team coach Simphiwe Dludlu, they guided the South African U20 Women’s National Team to the third round of the 2022 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. She has also been the head coach of the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies).
“It is with absolute pleasure to be part of this exciting journey in women’s football and to officially welcome our ladies that will be representing TS Galaxy family in the Hollywoodbets Super League
this season. TS Galaxy has applied its footprint in the growth of women in football amongst other initiatives that help grow and support women and we are very delighted to be embarking on yet
another venture in this upliftment. I hold the duty to ensure that our role as a club to the community is effective and that our players will be a great extension of the core of what we stand for. I am looking forward to the season and I would like to wish our TS Galaxy Oueens ladies all the best for this season,” said Dudu Sukazi, TS Galaxy Oueens President in a statement from the club.
JVW:
JVW lost the services of 11 personnel from their team for different reasons and brought on board seven players.
Top of the list of seven newcomers are former Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies midfielder Bongiwe Thusi, who spent last season in Equatorial Guinea. She is joined by three players who were on the books of UJ, Amanda Mthandi, Keolebogile Putu, Boitumelo Rasehlo, as well as Nelisiwe Mchunu (Coal City Wizards), Mary Ntsweng (TUT) and Annelise Hindelang (Wits).
Among those who shipped out of the Blue Diamond nest are Sandisiwe Nohayi, who has found a new home at TUT.
Isabella Ludwig and Khodani Mavhungu moved to Tuks Ladies for study purposes, while the long-serving Nicole Irwin hung up her boots with Jade Leask taking a study break.
UWC:
After finishing in second place last season, UWC will be hoping for more success in 2023.
Midway through the 2022 campaign, they lost forward Noxolo Cesane to French side, Stade Reims (she recently moved to Tigres Femenil in Mexico).
They haven’t tempered much with the current squad, signing one player – Kholosa Biyana, who was club less after parting ways with Sporting Gijon in Spain in June last year. They have also promoted Thimna Mphele (19), Ember Edwards (21) and Nabeelah Galant (19), all from their Sasol League team, RV United.
Richmond United:
The De Aar, Northern Cape-based Richmond United has acquired the services of goalkeeper Nthabiseng Mazoue and Mpho Bloem from the relegated Tsunami Queens and Golden Ladies respectively. Also joining from the Free State is Dimakatso Seitlheko from Ixias FC (Sasol League) and Mandisa Madlala from Leeds (LFA – in the Eastern Cape).
Coach Edwin Lisene is confident that they will better their seventh position finish of last season.
Thunderbirds Ladies:
After suffering the heart-break of relegation, Moleboheng Mofokeng and Nontsikelelo Zweni, both from Tsunami Queens, along with Veronica Mogale, Mamoseki Tsetse and Shantell Timane – all from Golden Ladies, have been given a new lease of life in the elite women’s league. They have joined the Eastern Cape’s Thunderbirds Ladies, getting a chance to showcase their talents in the Hollywoodbets Super League for another season.
University of Pretoria (Tuks Ladies):
With a relatively young squad, newcomers Tuks Ladies have also gone into the market to beef up their squad, bringing in six players – Kgothatso Manamela from First Touch FC, Isabella Ludwig and Khodani Manyanya (both JVW), the Durban University of Technology (DUT) duo of Nombulo Khumalo and Zama Ngcobo, as well as Zikhona Mgotywa from Kempton Park Ladies (Sasol League).
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies:
Despite having a squad that is the envy of many clubs, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have also not been left behind when it comes to beefing up their team. Karabo Dhlamini makes a return to the Brazilians after playing college football in the USA at Oakland University. Banyana Ba Style also captured the signature of defender Thato Letsoso from neighbours TUT. Letsoso captained the Banyana Banyana squad to silver in last year’s COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha under the tutelage of Simphiwe Dludlu.
With the new season having kicked off, there is still a possibility that other teams will officially announce their new players, if any.
All of Royal AM, UJ, City Lads Ladies, Copperbelt Ladies, First Touch, TUT, Durban Ladies, Ma-Indies and Coal City Wizards have not yet stated whether or not they have ventured into the transfer market.
2023 HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE CONFIRMED PLAYER REGISTRATIONS:
TS Galaxy Queens:
5. Precious Seshweni – TUT
8. Jamie-lee Witbooi – Vasco da Gama
40. Pertule Petersen – Vasco da Gama
14. Nomvula Kgoale – CD Parquesol (Spain)
18. Nompumelelo Nyandeni – JVW
15. Mamello Makhabane – JVW
10. Busisiwe Ndimeni – TUT
4. Erin Herz – JVW
16. Yolula Tsawe – JVW
12. Nothando Vilakazi – TUT
1. Dineo Magagula – UJ
11. Nicole Michael – Royal AM
13. Sisanda Madlala – JVW
29. Madembe Tshikumbu – Ma-Indies
24. Pride Nthite – Ma-Indies
22. Anecia Mathebula
30. Phindile Rakgalakane
9. Nthabiseng Mlotshwa
7. Boiteko Sejoe
20. Promise Selana
6. Lesego Nkoane
32. Manana Myeki
JVW:
IN:
Bongiwe Thusi – Equatorial Guinea (Midfielder)
Mary Ntsweng – TUT (Midfielder)
Keolebogile Putu – UJ (Forward)
Amanda Mthandi – UJ (Forward)
Nelisiwe Mchunu – Coal City (Defender)
Boitumelo Rasehlo – UJ (Defender)
Annelise Hindelang – Wits (Goalkeeper
OUT:
Nompumelelo Nyandeni to TS Galaxy
Mamello Makhabane to TS Galaxy
Yolula Tsawe to TS Galaxy
Erin Herz to TS Galaxy
Sisanda Madlala to TS Galaxy
Thoko Mndaweni to TS Galaxy – Goalkeeper coach
Sandisiwe Nohayi to TUT FC
Isabella Ludwig to Tuks Ladies
Khodani Mavhungu to Tuks Ladies
Nicole Irwin (Retired)
Jade Leask (Study break)
UWC:
Kholosa Biyana – Sporting Gijon (Spain)
Thimna Mphele (19) – RV United
Ember Edwards (21) – RV United
Nabeelah Galant (19) – RV United
Richmond United:
Nthabiseng Mazoue – Tsunami Queens
Mpho Bloem – Golden Ladies
Dimakatso Seitlheko – Ixias FC (Sasol League – Free State)
Mandisa Madlala – Leeds (LFA – in the Eastern Cape)
Thunderbirds Ladies:
Moleboheng Mofokeng – Tsunami Queens
Nontsikelelo Zweni – Tsunami Queens
Veronica Mogale – Golden Ladies
Mamoseki Tsetse – Golden Ladies
Shantell Timane – Golden Ladies
University of Pretoria (Tuks Ladies):
Kgothatso Manamela – First Touch FC
Isabella Ludwig – JVW
Khodani Manyanya – JVW)
Nombulo Khumalo – DUT
Zama Ngcobo – DUT
Zikhona Mgotywa – Kempton Park Ladies (Sasol League)
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies:
Karabo Dhlamini – Oakland University (USA)
Thato Letsoso – TUT
By Matlhomola Morake
