Copperbelt Ladies shot to the top of the Hollywoodbets Super League after their 2-0 win over TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies on Saturday (22 March 2025) – their second victory in as many matches. Hlulani Manganyi and Dineo Mfati with the crucial strikes.
The Limpopo side got off to a flyer in the first week of the 2025 season, defeating Durban Ladies 3-0. Their latest triumph sees them on six points, level with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies as well as the University of Johannesburg.
The Brazilians were made to sweat by a stubborn University of the Western Cape (UWC) in a 1-0 victory this past weekend, Boitumelo Rabale the goal scorer.
Banyana ba Style have played two games already and are second due to an inferior goal difference. They have now claimed eight victories out of the 11 meetings, with just two wins for the Capetonians, and only one match drawn.
Sundowns Ladies’ interim coach, Godfrey Sapula, has now made it two wins in as many matches.
Third on the table are the UJ Ladies who have three games under their belt with two wins and a defeat.
The students lost 1-0 midweek to the University of Fort Hare (UFH) in a Varsity Derby but bounced back as Ayesha Moosa and Unathi Mjijwa’s goals led them to a 2-0 success over City Lads Ladies in Gqeberha.
In a drama filled match to round off the weekend, the visiting UFH squandered a 2-0 lead to end up sharing the spoils with JVW at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto.
With no goals in the first half, former Richmond United forward Michell Samson grabbed a brace in the second stanza, but Nompumelelo Nyandeni and Boitumelo Rasehlo had the last say as they restored parity late in the match – Nyandeni celebrating her Banyana Banyana call-up with a crucial goal for the Blue Diamonds.
JVW is sixth on the table
“A very exciting match right from the start, played beautiful football and thought we would have at least got one or two goals early on. I think the girls did really well as we created some opportunities in the second half, but it was quite an even game compared to the first half that we feel we dominated. We conceded two goals due to a lapse of concentration, but I just have to talk about the character that the girls showed they didn’t give up, they didn’t drop their heads, they fought right until the last minute and managed to get two beautiful goals. I just have to commend the girls for their hard work and we’re happy with the point,” said a relieved JVW coach, Janine van Wyk.
For Fort Hare, who are fifth on the log standings following the draw, it was a case of so near yet so far as they gave away their lead at the most crucial of times.
“Indeed, we gave it away, indeed. But I think it’s because football is a game of two halves. We dominated the second-half and where we thought we had killed the game we just gave it away and through lots of concentration but I believe that my players keep their and i can’t even play i can’t even blame them for i believe what we have at the moment is just to go back to the drawing board and ensure that we prepare better for UWC,” said a disappointed Simphiwe Mafene, head coach of UFH.
Three more teams are yet to kick the ball this season – Royal AM, Richmond United and the University of Pretoria.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS:
Saturday, 22 MARCH 2025
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES 1 – 0 UWC
Lucas Moripe Stadium
CITY LADS 0 – 2 UNIVERSITY OF JHB
Isaac Wolfson Stadium, PE
TUT MATSATSANTSA LADIES 0 – 2 COPPERBELT LADIES
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Sunday, 23 MARCH 2025
JVW FC 2 – 2 UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE
UJ – Soweto Campus
By Matlhomola Morake
