The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has opened a 12 point gap at the top of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League after defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies failed to get maximum points.
ROYAL AM 1 – 1 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES
With three games in hand, the Brazilians suffered a serious setback as they shared the spoils in a 1-all draw with Royal AM – the only side to beat them this season.
It could so easily have been a loss for Banyana Ba Style but a 90th minute equaliser by Morifi Chuene saved them some blushes at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
This was the reigning champions’ first league match since 26 August due to their participation in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers and some of their games being postponed.
Sundowns Ladies are now 12 points behind the Blues after 20 matches.
The Brazilians have a tricky midweek fixture (Wednesday, 4 October), facing one of the best performing teams in the 2023 campaign, newcomers University of Pretoria.
The reigning champions are in a serious predicament, however – they are playing catch-up in the HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE with some focus on the title that seems to be shifting away from them, while one eye is preparing for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League that will take place in Ivory Coast next month.
This is where they want to regain the trophy they won in the inaugural competition in 2021, and will need fresh players for that assault.
UWC 2 – 1 COPPERBELT LADIES
The Capetonians had to come from behind to defeat a determined Copperbelt Ladies at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town.
The students came into the match 10 points ahead of the second-placed Sundowns Ladies and dug deep to walk away with a win, taking them to 63 points after 23 games.
The Blues have a tough outing in their next match – they are up against the unpredictable but strong TS Galaxy Queens, which beat them 2-1 in the corresponding fixture.
TUT FOOTBALL CLUB 0 – 3 JVW FC
Third-placed JVW collected maximum points against the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in a 3-0 victory in Pretoria – their second clean sheet in a row with seven goals to boot.
The Blue Diamonds are now on 50 points, just one behind Sundowns Ladies – although JVW has played three games more.
TUT remain 11th.
TS GALAXY QUEENS 5 – 1 COAL CITY WIZARDS
TS Galaxy Queens bounced back in style after two draws and as many losses in their last four outings.
The Rockets also claimed the bragging rights to the Mpumalanga Derby when they walloped their struggling neighbours Coal City Wizards 5-1 at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium.
After 24 outings, Coal City are second from bottom, while TS Galaxy is fifth on 45 points after 23 matches.
THUNDERBIRDS LADIES 3 – 0 MA-INDIES LADIES
In their bid to escape relegation that has haunted them for the better of the season, Thunderbirds Ladies pushed bottom of the table Ma-Indies Ladies deeper into trouble with a merciless 3-0 win at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha.
The Limpopo side showed promise last weekend when they earned a point for the first time after 13 losses, but seems to have fallen back to their season-long struggle with the latest defeat – their 22nd in 25 outings.
Thunderbirds are now 14th with the same number of points, while Ma-Indies have collected only seven points, and with five games left, appear to be running out of time to rescue their season.
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA 2 – 3 DURBAN LADIES
Durban Ladies played their first match in about a month after their fixtures were postponed, but showed no signs of rustiness when they defeated the surprise package of the season, University of Pretoria (Tuks Ladies) in a five-goal thriller.
Durban Ladies travelled to the Groenkloof Stadium in Pretoria and returned home with all three points after a 3-2 victory.
Tuks Ladies are without Head Coach Maud Khumalo who is on country duty with the South African U20 Women’s National team where they will face Burundi in the second round of the Colombia 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The students were led by coach Sibusiso Themba and drop one notch down to sixth on the table with 44 points in 24 games.
Durban Ladies remain ninth after 22 outings.
CITY LADS 1 – 2 RICHMOND UNITED
Richmond United showed their win against the high-riding TS Galaxy Queens in their previous match was no fluke as they came from behind to beat City Lads Ladies 2-1 at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha.
Michelle Sampson celebrated her Banyana Banyana call-up for the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship with not just a win but also added a Player of the Match award in the mix.
The Northern Cape side remains eighth on 39 points, level with the University of Johannesburg, while City Lads are 13th with 18 points.
FIRST TOUCH ACADEMY 1 – 1 UNIVERSITY OF JHB
UJ Ladies were held to a 1-all draw by First Touch Ladies at the Noordelikes Stadium in Polokwane.
From a possible nine points, the Orange Army has managed only one point in their last three games, while the home side drew their second match in succession.
Both teams remain seventh and 10th respectively, and separated by 10 points – 39th and 29th.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS:
SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
ROYAL AM 1 – 1 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES
Harry Gwala Stadium
Pietermaritzburg
UWC 2 – 1 COPPERBELT LADIES
UWC Stadium
Cape Town
THUNDERBIRDS LADIES 3 – 0 MA-INDIES LADIES
Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Gqeberha
TUT FOOTBALL CLUB 0 – 3 JVW FC
TUT Pretoria Stadium
FIRST TOUCH ACADEMY 1 – 1 UNIVERSITY OF JHB
Noordelikes Stadium
Polokwane
SUNDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2023
TS GALAXY QUEENS 5 – 1 COAL CITY WIZARDS
Solomon Mahlangu Stadium
Mpumalanga
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA 2 – 3 DURBAN LADIES
Groenkloof Stadium
Pretoria
CITY LADS 1 – 2 RICHMOND UNITED
Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Gqeberha
By Matlhomola Morake
