Action returns this weekend in the 2024 season of the Hollywoodbets Super League after the international break, with table-topping University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) the main target as teams will be gunning for their position.
Nthabeleng Modiko’s charges have played one match extra and are on 13 points after six games – they lead the log standings by just one point ahead of the trio of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Copperbelt Ladies, and the University of Pretoria.
The enterprising UJ Ladies are in a tough battle against the hard-running University of the Western Cape (UWC) in one of the two matches to be played on Sunday, 14 April, with six other games scheduled for Saturday (13 April).
The Varsity Derby, which kicks off at 15h00, is part of a double header at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto.
UJ has had an impressive start to the season, with four wins, a draw and one loss.
The ninth-placed Capetonians have played five games, managing two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Interestingly, the Soweto-based side is yet to win against the Blues in the league – with their best result a 1-all draw in 2021.
In eight meetings UJ Ladies have conceded 18 goals and scored only three.
This season alone, the Orange Army has found the back of the net 15 times – only Sundowns Ladies and Copperbelt Ladies have a better strike rate of 16 goals.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
UJ VS UWC
| YEAR | RESULT | WINNER |
| 2023 | 2 – 0 | UWC |
| 1 – 0 | UWC | |
| 2022 | 2 – 1 | UWC |
| 3 – 0 | UWC | |
| 2021 | 1 – 0 | UWC |
| 1 – 1 | DRAW | |
| 2019/20 | 2 – 0 | UWC |
| 6 – 1 | UWC | |
The opening match of Sunday’s double header at 11h30 will see the first ever clash between reigning league champions Sundowns Ladies taking on newcomers Lindelani Ladies of KwaZulu Natal.
Both sides have played five games each – but the newly-promoted outfit from the Sasol League is 13th on the table with just one win, one drawn and three losses.
The second-placed Banyana Ba Style have been in fine form, winning four matches in five in the month of March, and will be eager to continue with this display.
Six fixtures have been scheduled for Saturday, 13 April.
At the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Mpumalanga, TS Galaxy Queens will host Durban Ladies at 11h00 with leading goal scorer, Busisiwe Ndimeni (5 goals) hoping to increase her tally.
Both teams have been blowing hot and cold and find themselves on positions eight and 10th on the table respectively, separated by only three points. The KwaZulu Natal side is still smarting from a 5-1 defeat by the defending champions in the previous round of fixtures, while the hosts were shocked 4-1 by UJ Ladies.
Bottom of the table Thunderbirds Ladies welcome First Touch Ladies to the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Bisho, East London at 13h00.
The hosts remain the only pointless side since the start of the season and will have to dig deeper if they are to avoid fighting for relegation later in the season. They conceded six goals in their last assignment, the highest a team has ever been scored this season when they went down 6-1 to Copperbelt Ladies.
First Touch is 11th.
JVW got off to a bad start with back-to-back losses but have since turned things around with three wins in a row. But they will be heavily tested when they make the long trek to De Aar in the Northern Cape for a date with Richmond Ladies at Merino Park at 13h00.
The home side lies fifth on the table after three wins, two draws and one defeat, while the visitors are seventh.
Fourth-placed University of Pretoria (Amatuks) entertain City Lads Ladies who have only one win in six matches. The students have a chance to go top of the table with a win, depending on the outcome of the other results. The clash takes place at the University of Pretoria Stadium in Tshwane. Kickoff is at 15h00.
TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies and Copperbelt Ladies scored a combined 10 goals between them in their previous respective matches. The two teams meet this weekend at the TUT Pretoria Stadium at 15h00. Placed third and sixth respectively, they are separated by only three points.
In only their second season in the league, Copperbelt Ladies is the only side yet to lose in this campaign with three wins and three draws – level on 12 points with Sundowns Ladies and Amatuks Ladies.
In the battle of the strugglers, Royal AM will be hoping for a turn-around of fortunes as they are yet to win a match in 2024 after five outings. They host new kids on the block University of Fort Hare at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg at 15h00.
The KwaZulu Natal outfit has managed only three draws, suffering two defeats. Their guests won their first match of the season but have since lost four in a row, leaving them also on three points and second from bottom.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES: WEEK
Saturday, 13 April 2024
TS Galaxy Queens vs Durban Ladies
Solomon Mahlangu Stadium
Mpumalanga
11h00
Thunderbirds Ladies vs First Touch Ladies
Sisa Dukashe Stadium
Bisho
13h00
Richmond United vs JVW
Merino Park
De Aar
13h00
University of Pretoria vs City Lads
University of Pretoria Stadium
Tshwane
15h00
TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies vs Copperbelt Ladies
TUT Pretoria Stadium
Tshwane
15h00
Royal AM vs University of Fort Hare
Harry Gwala Stadium
Pietermaritzburg
15h00
Sunday, 14 April 2024
Sundowns Ladies vs Lindelani Ladies
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
11h30
University of Johannesburg vs University of the Western Cape
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
15h00
By Matlhomola Morake
