Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have been crowned – for the fourth time in a row – the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League champions following a 1-0 win over a spirited TS Galaxy Queens.
The clash took place in the Brazilians’ backyard – the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday, 6 December, with Andisiwe Mgcoyi netting the winner.
But in all honesty, Banyana Ba Style had already won the league before kicking a ball following the non-arrival of the University of Johannesburg for their fixture a day before (5 December 2023) – the students are in Cape Town taking part in the USSA Championships.
Sundowns Ladies – who were in second place on 72 points with three games to go, needed just a win to retain their title, with the points awarded from UJ Ladies enough to secure the championship, before the last match of the season against TS Galaxy Queens.
The only challenger for the league trophy was the University of the Western Cape (UWC), who were on 75 points after 30 matches. Following the win against TS Galaxy, the Tshwane side finished on 78 points.
The other match, against the University of Pretoria, has been recorded as not played, with both the students and the Brazilians finishing on 29 matches.
TS Galaxy Queens take the fourth spot in only their first season in the Hollywoodbets Super League with a hastily-arranged squad.
Sundowns Ladies have now won the league title since the inception of the elite women’s football league in South Africa.
The latest achievement hands them the treble, following wins in the COSAFA CUP as well as the CAF Women’s Champions League – a repeat of their exploits in 2021.
The Brazilians were in a class of their own this season – scoring 95 goals, although far less than the 126 they netted in 2022.
Their only blemish to their record was the 1-0 loss to Royal AM, managing three draws and 25 wins – level with second-placed UWC.
While scoring goals was almost routine for them, keeping them out was also key – as they had the tightest defence in the league with only 15 conceded.
To add to their never-ending success, head coach Jerry Tshabalala has been nominated for the Coach of the Year – both at CAF level and in the Hollywoodbets Super League, while star striker, Boitumelo Rabale will contest the Player of the Season award in the league.
Look back at Sundowns Ladies League 2023 season:
The Brazilians made their intentions very clear from the onset, winning four consecutive matches, before dropping points against rookies TS Galaxy Queens in a 1-all draw.
After bouncing back with two victories, they were brought down to earth with a heart-wrenching defeat, going down 1-0 to Royal AM in April – and that was to be their only loss in 2023.
What followed there was an excellent run between 15 April and 30 September, where they managed six wins, a draw, four wins and another draw – and that is where the sharing of points ended.
Despite their players being involved in national team matches, the COSAFA Cup, the CAF Champions League as well as the Hollywoodbets Super League, Sundowns Ladies showed no signs of slowing down – with the final run-in a clear indication of them going for the jugular.
In October alone, they netted 29 goals in five matches, with high score lines of 6-0, 6-0, 6-1, 11-0 as well as a 1-0 win – and one could argue that this is when they had their one hand already on the league trophy.
At the trophy presentation, presided over by the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Dr Danny Jordaan, Vice President Linda Zwane, SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao, Indira Albuquerque from Hollywoodbets, as well as SAFA NEC member Job Mchunu, Sundowns Ladies were handed their gold medals and their new trophy as they have already kept the first one after winning it three times.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 2023 League Season:
Matches Played: 29
Wins: 25
Draws: 3 (TS Galaxy Queens, Thunderbirds Ladies, Royal AM)
Losses: 1 (Royal AM)
Goals For: 95
Goals Against: 15
Points: 78
Biggest score: 11-0 (vs Coal City Wizards)
Home wins: 14
Away wins: 11
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 2023 League results:
| vs | Richmond United | 1 – 0 | Home | W | 5 MAR 23 |
| vs | Ma-Indies Ladies | 3 – 1 | H | W | 8 FEB 23 |
| vs | First Touch | 1 – 2 | Away | W | 26 FEB 23 |
| vs | Copperbelt Ladies | 4 – 1 | H | W | 5 MAR 23 |
| vs | TS Galaxy Queens | 1 – 1 | A | D | 12 MAR 23 |
| vs | Univ. of Pretoria | 1 – 0 | H | W | 18 MAR 23 |
| vs | TUT FC | 0 – 1 | A | W | 25 MAR 23 |
| vs | Royal AM | 0 – 1 | A | L | 2 APRIL 23 |
| vs | City Lads | 1 – 3 | A | W | 15 APRIL 23 |
| vs | JVW | 2 – 3 | A | W | 22 APRIL 23 |
| vs | Durban Ladies | 6 – 1 | H | W | 30 APRIL 23 |
| vs | Coal City Wizards | 0 – 9 | A | W | 7 MAY 23 |
| vs | UWC | 3 – 0 | H | W | 14 MAY 23 |
| vs | Univ. of Johannesburg | 1 – 2 | A | W | 21 MAY 23 |
| vs | Thunderbirds Ladies | 1 – 1 | A | D | 27 MAY 23 |
| vs | Richmond United | 1 – 3 | A | W | 3 JUNE 23 |
| vs | First Touch | 8 – 1 | H | W | 7 JUNE 23 |
| vs | Ma-Indies Ladies | 0 – 1 | A | W | 10 JUNE 23 |
| vs | Copperbelt Ladies | 0 – 1 | A | W | 26 AUG 23 |
| vs | Royal AM | 1 – 1 | A | D | 30 SEP 23 |
| vs | City Lads Ladies | 6 – 0 | H | W | 7 OCT 23 |
| vs | Durban Ladies | 0 – 6 | A | W | 11 OCT 23 |
| vs | JVW | 6 – 1 | H | W | 14 OCT 23 |
| vs | Coal City Wizards | 11 – 0 | H | W | 18 OCT 23 |
| vs | UWC | 0 – 1 | A | W | 22 OCT 23 |
| vs | TUT FC | 1 – 0 | H | W | 23 NOV 23 |
| vs | Thunderbirds Ladies | 7 – 0 | H | W | 26 NOV 23 |
| vs | Univ. of Johannesburg | 2 – 0 | H | W (W/O) | 5 DEC 23 |
| vs | TS Galaxy Queens | 1 – 0 | H | W | 6 DEC 23 |
With the season done and dusted on the field, the action moves to the stage for the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League Awards which will be held on Saturday, 9 December in Johannesburg.
Five categories are up for grabs:
Player of the Season:
- Wendy Shongwe (Tuks Ladies)
- Bongeka Gamede (UWC)
- Boitumelo Rabale (Sundowns Ladies)
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Young Player of the Season:
- Adrielle Mibe (UJ Ladies)
- Mmabatho Mogale (Tuks Ladies)
- Sikelelwa Mhlanga (City Lads Ladies)
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Goalkeeper of the Season :
- Kaylin Swart (JVW)
- Katlego Moletsane (Royal AM)
- Regirl Ngobeni (UWC)
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Coach of the Season :
- Thinasonke Mbuli (UWC)
- Jerry Tshabalala (Sundowns Ladies)
- Maud Khumalo (Tuks Ladies)
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Fan Player of the Season :
- Fikile Magama (UWC)
- Chuene Morifi (Sundowns Ladies)
- Robyn Moodaly (JVW)
- Nicole Michael (TS Galaxy Queens)
- Jeanette Mokota (Royal AM)
- Asa Rabalao (Tuks Ladies)
- Michelle Sampson (Richmond United)
- Qiniso Shabangu (Durban Ladies)
By Matlhomola Morake
