TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies welcome neighbours and rivals the University of Pretoria (Amatuks) in a Varsity Derby, also known as the Tshwane Derby in a Hollywoodbets Super League clash taking place on Saturday, 22 June at the TUT Pretoria Stadium.
Kickoff is at 15h00.
This is their second year in the elite women’s football division, but Amatuks have been punching above their weight. Although they recently went through a slump, they won their first match in seven outings, beating the struggling Thunderbirds Ladies 5-1 this past weekend. They have won eight matches, drawn two and lost five, leaving them on position five on the table – earlier in the season they occupied the top spot.
For the league’s founder members, TUT Ladies, it has been an uphill battle from the start of the season. In 14 games, they have only 16 points after five wins, a draw and eight defeats. They are 12th on the log standings.
The two teams will be meeting for the third time in the Hollywoodbets Super League, with Amatuks holding the upper hand following back-to-back wins last season (3-2 and 2-1).
Elsewhere at the same time (3pm), the KwaZulu Natal Derby will be on the go at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. This is when Royal AM hosts Durban Ladies, with both sides still smarting from heavy losses – the visitors were walloped 5-1 by Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies while the home team suffered a 6-2 defeat to the University of the Western Cape.
Royal AM are sitting on position eight on the table with six wins and the same number of draws but have lost three games. Durban Ladies are going through a bad patch and find themselves on the 13th spot after four victories, a draw and nine losses.
This will be their ninth meeting, including when Royal AM was known as Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies. Over the last four seasons, there have been four draws (three goalless), and three wins for Royal AM and one victory for Durban Ladies. Their last encounter in 2023 ended in a stalemate.
Five other games will take place on Saturday, with the reigning Hollywoodbets Super League champions facing newcomers University of Fort Hare at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville with an early kickoff of 13h00. This will be the first meeting between the two sides, and the visitors could be in for a tough day in the office against a free-scoring Sundowns Ladies with lethal forwards like Nthabiseng Majiya, Boitumelo Rabale, MIche Minnies and Refilwe Tholakele.
At the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban at 13h00, new kids on the block Lindelani Ladies face a tough test when they take on the visiting JVW. Another defeat for the home side will spell bigger problems as they are second from bottom with only one win, one draw and 13 losses in this campaign.
The second-placed and high-riding University of Johannesburg will be hoping for positive results to keep within touching distance with the log leaders, who are three points ahead. The students welcome City Lads Ladies who are having a torrid time this season – they are 13th on the table with three wins, same number of draws and eight defeats. The match kicks off at 15h00 at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto.
Richmond Ladies suffered a narrow 1-0 loss in their last outing in Polokwane (vs Copperbelt Ladies) and will be keen to make amends when they host Limpopo’s First Touch Ladies at Merino Park in De Aar at 15h00.
In eight home games, they have only lost twice.
Sparks are expected to fly in the only match on Sunday (23 June) when two title-chasing teams face off at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto at 13h00.
After their draw against UJ Ladies at the same venue, TS Galaxy Queens host the University of the Western Cape who come into this match after thrashing Royal AM 6-2 last weekend. In seven outings since the return of coach Sizwe Sibiya, TS Galaxy is yet to lose.
In only their second year in the Hollywoodbets Super League, the Mpumalanga outfit will be high on confidence ahead of this encounter as they managed back-to-back victories against the Capetonians last season – winning 2-1 and 2-0. UWC will be without their influential forward, Noxolo Cesane who was red-carded in their last match.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES: WEEK 17
SATURDAY, 22 June 2024
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies vs University of Fort Hare
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Atteridgeville
13h00
Lindelani Ladies vs JVW
Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
Durban
13h00
University of Johannesburg vs City Lads Ladies
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
15h00
TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies – University of Pretoria
TUT Pretoria Stadium
Pretoria
15h0
Thunderbirds Ladies vs Copperbelt Ladies
Sisa Dukashe Stadium
East London
15h00
Royal AM vs Durban Ladies
Harry Gwala Stadium
Pietermaritzburg
15h00
Richmond Ladies vs First Touch Ladies
Merino Park
De Aar
15h00
SUNDAY, 23 June 2024
TS Galaxy Queens vs University of the Western Cape
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
13h00
By Matlhomola Morake
