There were contrasting fortunes for the bottom four teams in the Hollywoodbets Super League in the final fixtures before pausing for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will participate.
Four league matches took place on Saturday, 1 July 2023.
Ma-Indies Ladies 1 – 3 Coal City Wizards:
Ably assisted by former University of Johannesburg (UJ) coach Anna Monate, Coal City Wizards beat Limpopo’s Ma-Indies Ladies 3-1 at the Rugby Fields near the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
This was the home side’s 17th loss in 19 matches this season.
With 11 left games remaining, bottom of the table Ma-Indies continue to present themselves as likely candidates for relegation, that is if their situation does not improve after the World Cup break. Their last win was more than two months ago (22 April) when they beat City Lads Ladies 3-0.
Despite gaining three points, Coal City Wizards remain 14th on the table with 13 points after 20 matches. The Mpumalanga side won the corresponding fixture 3-2 in the first round.
Thunderbirds Ladies 1 – 2 UJ Ladies:
Second from bottom Thunderbirds Ladies welcomed the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London, but could not make home advantage count.
The hosts lost 1-2 as the students won a double following their 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture in May.
Thunderbirds has not won in nine outings – losing eight and drawing one.
This was UJ’s fourth victory in succession, which helps them jump one spot up to seventh – after 19 matches, they have 32 points, level with the sixth-placed University of Pretoria (Tuks Ladies) who have two games in hand.
TUT 0 – 2 City Lads Ladies:
The Eastern Cape’s City Lads Ladies bounced back with a 2-0 victory away to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria.
Coming from a 5-0 victory in their last match, many would have expected the students to overcome the struggling City Lads, who had lost three games in a row prior to this fixture.
After registering their fourth win of the current campaign in 19 games, the coastal side remains 13th while TUT are in 10th place.
The students won the first round clash 3-2.
First Touch 1 – 0 Durban Ladies:
Durban Ladies defeated First Touch 4-1 early this season, but could not replicate that form on Saturday as they fell 1-0 to the Limpopo side at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The result was crucial for the hosts after suffering back to back losses, and needed to turn their fortunes around. Despite collecting three points, they haven’t moved from their 11th spot, with 21 points, same as TUT who are one notch above.
Durban Ladies have played 20 games, winning nine, losing 10 and drawing one – leaving them ninth on the log standings with 28 points.
South Africa’s elite women’s football league, the Hollywoodbets Super League, is on a break as Banyana Banyana are in Australia and New Zealand for the month-long World Cup, starting from 20 July to 20 August.
One league match has, however, been scheduled during the tournament – Tuks Ladies will go toe to toe with City Lads Ladies on Saturday, 5 August 2023.
The 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League action resumes on 23 August 2023 – three days after the final of the Women’s World Cup.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS:
Saturday, 1 July 2023
TUT 0 – 2 City Lads Ladies
TUT Pretoria Stadium
Tshwane
Thunderbirds Ladies 1 – 2 UJ Ladies
Sisa Dukashe Stadium
East London
Ma-Indies Ladies 1 – 3 Coal City Wizards
Rugby Fields next to Peter Mokaba stadium
Polokwane
First Touch 1 – 0 Durban Ladies
Old Peter Mokaba stadium
Polokwane
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURE:
Tuks Ladies vs City Lads Ladies
University of Pretoria Stadium
Tshwane
15h00
By Matlhomola Morake
