While South Africa is still gripped in the euphoria of the heroics of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana who were crowned the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the domestic league season returns to action this weekend after a break owing to the tournament in Morocco.
Five fixtures will take place on Saturday, 30 July and all will kick off at 15h00.
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies will be hosting Durban Ladies at their new venue, Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammersdale following their relocation to the KwaZulu Natal province.
After a fine start early in the season, the former Free-State side stumbled towards the break and now find themselves in position five – with five wins and six draws, the most in the league.
Strugglers Golden Ladies and City Lads Ladies will go toe to toe at the Montshioa Stadium in the North West province.
Golden Ladies are second from bottom with only three points – all from draws – while newcomers City Lads are just a notch up after collecting five points, thanks to one win and two draws.
Third-placed University of the Western Cape (UWC) will be hoping to continue where they left off before the international break.
The Capetonians travel to the Giyani Stadium to face Ma-Indies, who picked up valuable points when some of the teams were not in action, among them UWC who had five players in Morocco.
After 12 outings, two more than most teams, Ma-Indies are in fourth place on 23 points – level with UWC.
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), who are second on the table, will make the long trek to the Northern Cape to take on Richmond United at Merino Park in De Aar.
The visitors are on 25 points, just two behind log-leaders and neighbours Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
TUT has registered seven wins, four draws and just one loss – but have also played two more games.
East London-based Thunderbirds Ladies will be fancying their chances of victory when they welcome bottom of the table Tsunami Queens from the Free State.
After 12 matches, Thunderbirds lie on the eighth position with six wins and as many losses. Tsunami Queens have not won any game in 11 outings, and languish at the foot of the table on two points after two draws.
Sunday, 31 July will see three matches taking place – two of them as part of a double header at the Tuks Main Stadium in Pretoria.
JVW will looking to return to their earlier form in the season when they lock horns with newcomers Vasco da Gama at 11h30.
The Blue Diamonds were early pace-setters but seemed to lose their way before the break and have now dropped to sixth on the table, after two draws, two losses and six wins after 10 games.
They have also parted ways with their coach, and will be placing their hopes on the new technical team.
With 20 points in the bag, they have two games in hand, while the Cape Town side is 13th on the log standings. They won only two matches out of 11.
The second fixture of the double-header sees the defending champions Sundowns Ladies take on the University of Johannesburg (UJ) at 15h00.
UJ is seventh with 20 points after 12 encounters.
With the bulk of their players selected for Banyana Banyana in the recently-ended WAFCON, the Brazilians, along with JVW, last tasted league action on Wednesday, 8 June – and won their respective matches.
Sandwiched between the double-header is the final fixture of the day, which will see Coal City Wizards travel to Polokwane for a date with First Touch FC at the Noordelikes Sports Field at 13h00.
The Mpumalanga side lies is 11th on the table with 12 points – just two above their opponents who are one spot back.
By Matlhomola Morake
