The much-anticipated KwaZulu Natal Derby in the Hollywoodbets Super League between Royal AM and newcomers Lindelani Ladies ended in a brawl on Sunday (21 April 2024) at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
Five players were given their marching orders – two from Royal AM and three from Lindelani Ladies following a fistfight that ensued in the dying minutes of the game.
It is still not clear who or what started the fight, but terrible scenes were seen unfolding on national television, with several players elbowing, hitting, and kicking each other, leaving referee Hloniphile Msezane with no choice but to hand out the red cards when the situation calmed down.
This was the first ever meeting between the two teams – Lindelani Ladies were promoted to topflight of South African women’s football at the end of 2023.
The 2-1 win however was enough for Royal AM to move to the 11th spot on the table on seven points, while the struggle continues for the new kids on the block as they are second from bottom with one victory, a draw and five losses.
In the other Sunday clash played earlier, the University of Pretoria overcame a stubborn Copperbelt Ladies in a come from behind 3-2 victory at the University of Pretoria Stadium.
The match also saw the return of midfield stalwart, Thalea Smidt who has been clubless since the start of the season.
With the win, Amatuks retain their second spot on the table, level on 16 points with log leaders and defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
Six matches took place on Saturday, 20 April.
The biggest victors of the weekend were Sundowns Ladies alongside JVW – each firing five goals past their opponents without any reply.
In De Aar, Northern Cape, Richmond United were looking for their first win over Banyana Ba Style in nine matches but instead got a hiding as the dominance of the Chloorkop-based side continued.
Three quickfire goals in ten minutes in the first half – by Asanda Hadebe (32’), Kholosa Biyana (35’) and Lebohang Ramalepe (42’) – got the visitors on the path to victory, while Nthabiseng Majiya (52’) and Melinda Kgadiete (72’) put the finishing touches in the second half.
Hadebe registered her first goal for her new employers, while Majiya punished her former teammates.
Albeit by goal difference, the Brazilians are top of the table on 18 points – level with the University of Pretoria.
Both have a game in hand.
With this result, Richmond United has now lost all nine matches against Sundowns Ladies – starting back in the 2019/20 season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: RICHMOND UNITED vs SUNDOWNS LADIES
2019/20
- Sundowns Ladies 7 – 0 Richmond United
- Richmond United 0 – 1 Sundowns Ladies
2021:
- Sundowns Ladies 5 – 1 Richmond United
- Richmond United 2 – 5 Sundowns Ladies
2022:
- Sundowns Ladies 5 – 0 Richmond United
- Richmond United 2 – 4 Sundowns Ladies
2023:
- Sundowns Ladies 1 – 0 Richmond United
- Richmond United 1 – 3 Sundowns Ladies
2024:
- Richmond United 0 – 5 Sundowns Ladies
JVW had a field day away at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Bisho, pounding more misery to the ailing and bottom of the table Thunderbirds Ladies.
Tanna Hollis got a rare start and did not disappoint, grabbing her first hattrick in topflight football, with Gabriela Salgado and second half substitute Nokwazi Mnomiya chipping in with the other goals.
The Bedfordview-based side made a huge leap on the log standings, moving from ninth to fifth.
After eight games, Thunderbirds remain without a point, and, to add more salt to injury, the terrible run against JVW continues.
This was the sixth win for the Blue Diamonds in seven fixtures against the Eastern Cape side, with one match drawn.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: THUNDERBIRDS LADIES vs JVW
2021:
- Thunderbirds Ladies 0 – 1 JVW
- JVW 6 – 0 Thunderbirds Ladies
2022:
- JVW 2 – 1 Thunderbirds Ladies
- Thunderbirds Ladies 1 – 4 JVW
2023:
- JVW 1 – 1 Thunderbirds Ladies
- Thunderbirds Ladies 0 – 2 JVW
2024:
- Thunderbirds Ladies 0 – 5 JVW
Not to be outdone, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) had four different scorers as they defeated the struggling City Lads Ladies 4-0 at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town.
The hosts were three goals to the good at the break with Tiffany Kortjie, Philisa Mjambane and Lonathemba Mhlongo doing the damage, before Sibulele Holweni completed the rout in the second stanza.
The students jump four spots to position four.
As the cliché goes, it was a tale of two halves at the TUT Pretoria Stadium.
TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies had what looked like a comfortable 2-nil lead at half time, but they folded in the second half to lose 3-2 to First Touch Ladies.
TUT Matsatsantsa now drop two places down to seventh spot, while the Limpopo side remains 12th on the table
Despite missing a penalty – one of two in the second half, the University of Johannesburg proved too strong for Durban Ladies, beating them 2-0 at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto.
Thelma Mahlangu and Gugu Dlamini found the back of the net.
With the win, the students are on 16 points – just two adrift of the log leaders Sundowns Ladies and the second-placed Amatuks.
In perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend, newcomers University of Fort Hare defeated the star-studded TS Galaxy Queens 1-nil at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Mpumalanga.
The Eastern Cape side notched up their second win in the Hollywoodbets Super League after going through a dry patch.
TS Galaxy is just outside the top eight bracket, lying on the ninth spot, while Fort Hare is 12th.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS : WEEK 8
Saturday, 20 April 2024
TS Galaxy Queens 1 – 0 University of Fort Hare
Solomon Mahlangu Stadium
Mpumalanga
Thunderbirds Ladies 0 – 5 JVW
Sisa Dukashe Stadium
Bisho
University of Johannesburg 2 – 0 Durban Ladies
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
University of the Western Cape 4 – 0 City Lads Ladies
UWC Stadium
Cape Town
Richmond United 0 – 5 Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
Merino Park
De Aar, Northern Cape
TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies 2 – 3 First Touch Ladies
TUT Pretoria Stadium
Tshwane
Sunday, 21 April 2024
University of Pretoria vs Copperbelt Ladies
University of Pretoria Stadium
Tshwane
Royal AM vs Lindelani Ladies
Princess Magogo Stadium
Durban
By Matlhomola Morake
