While most South Africans will be commemorating Workers’ Day around the country on Wednesday, 1 May 2024, sparks are expected to fly at the UWC Stadium when two of the most on-form teams go head-to-head in a Varsity Derby.
At 15h00, second-placed University of Pretoria (Amatuks) visit the University of the Western Cape (UWC), who are fourth on the table, in one of eight fixtures that will take place on the day.
The travellers are level on 21 points with the log-leading Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, while the home side is four points adrift – meaning there will be no margin for error.
This will be the third meeting between the two teams – with the Capetonians enjoying dominance following convincing 3-0 victories last season. Amatuks are only in their second campaign of the South African elite women’s football but have proven their worth.
HEAD-TO-HEAD – UWC vs AMATUKS:
Saturday, 22 April 2023
- UWC 3 – 0 Amatuks
Wednesday, 15 November 2023
- Amatuks 0 – 3 UWC
But if current form is anything to go by, then fans are in for an exciting clash between two astute coaches Maud Khumalo (Amatuks and U20 Women’s National Team coach) and Thinasonke Mbuli (UWC and Banyana Banyana assistant coach).
Amatuks are on a seven-match winning streak, while UWC have three victories in succession, preceded by a draw and a defeat.
Both have played eight games each, losing only once – but that’s where the similarities end.
The Tshwane side has won seven and is yet to draw, while their coastal counterparts have managed two wins less and shared the spoils on two occasions.
It is in front of goal where the Capetonians are lethal – with 22 goals compared to Amatuks’ 17, only Sundowns Ladies are better with 10 strikes more (33). In their previous match last weekend, UWC was in free-scoring mode, firing five goals past Durban Ladies with no reply. The Pretoria outfit only managed a 1-nil win over First Touch Ladies.
Elsewhere, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies take on City Lads Ladies at 11h30, but they will be watching proceedings in Cape Town with keen interest.
Banyana Ba Style welcome City Lads Ladies who have a spring in their step after their first win following five defeats in a row – the victory was the second of the season.
The Brazilians will be without their Head Coach Jerry Tshabalala who is currently attending the CAF B Diploma Licence Coaching course in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
Sundowns Ladies and the Gunners will be meeting for the fifth time since 2022 – but history is not on the coastal team’s side as they have been firing blanks against the reigning champions.
In their previous four fixtures, City Lads scored only one goal while the reigning champions hit the back of the net 20 times – 8-0, 3-0, 3-1 and 6-0.
HEAD-TO-HEAD – SUNDOWNS LADIES vs CITY LADS LADIES
May 2022
8-0 Sundowns
August 2022
3-0 Sundowns
April 2023
3-1 Sundowns
October 2023
6-0
The Eastern Cape Derby will be a battle between strugglers University of Fort Hare and Thunderbirds Ladies at the Davidson Stadium in Alice at 15h00.
Newcomers Fort Hare are 13th on the table with just two wins, a draw and five defeats in eight outings, while the visitors are yet to collect points this season, leaving them bottom of the table.
After tasting defeat in their opening two matches, fourth-placed JVW have now forgotten how a loss feels like as they are unbeaten in six matches. They will be hoping to continue with the momentum when they welcome Royal AM at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto at 13h00.
The visitors grabbed their second win of the season last weekend and will be eager ride on that wave to notch up another victory. They are 11th on the table with four draws and two defeats.
Durban Ladies have been on a freefall with five losses in a row – they host a TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies side that has been blowing hot and cold. The students are yet to draw a match but have won as much as they have lost – four. The Durbanites will be without their Head Coach, Siphephelo Makhaye who is also attending the CAF B Diploma Licence Coaching course.
The home team occupies position 14 on the log standings, compared to the eighth spot of TUT.
Kickoff is at 15h00 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban.
Richmond United and newcomers Lindelani Ladies come into their clash wounded after suffering defeats in their respective games last weekend. The two sides meet at 15h00 at Merino Park in De Aar, Northern Cape.
The visiting new kids on the block were humbled 6-1 by TS Galaxy Queens – the biggest loss of the weekend, while Richmond were beaten 2-1 by Royal AM, making it two defeats at home in a row for the Northern Cape side.
Lindelani have lost six in succession.
In their second successive fixture on the road, TS Galaxy Queens will want to prove that their high scoring match this past weekend was no fluke. With Head Coach Sizwe Sibiya back at the helm in his first game, the Rockets were too powerful for Lindelani Ladies and will be eager to continue where they left off – but they travel to a stubborn First Touch Ladies, with the clash scheduled for the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane at 15h00.
The 10th-placed First Touch have lost two encounters in a row and will want to put an end to that.
Across town in Polokwane, also at 15h00, the University of Johannesburg will come face to face with Copperbelt Ladies at the Baroka Global Village.
The hosts are still smarting from a 0-1 loss to City Lads in their previous fixture.
In only their second season in the league, Limpopo’s Copperbelt Ladies are holding their own in topflight football. They are currently at position seven with three wins, three draws and as many defeats after nine rounds of fixtures.
The Gauteng side is among the top three on the table and will want to hold on to their spot as they are just two points off the pace.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES: WEEK 10
Wednesday, 1 May April 2024
Sundowns Ladies vs City Lads Ladies
Groenkloof Stadium
Pretoria
11h30
JVW vs Royal AM
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
13h00
Durban Ladies vs TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies
King Zwelithini Stadiu
Durban
13h00
Richmond United vs Lindelani Ladies
Merino Park
De Aar
15h00
University of Fort Hare vs Thunderbirds Ladies
Davidson Stadium
Alice
15h00
First Touch Ladies vs TS Galaxy Queens
Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Polokwane
15h00
Copperbelt Ladies vs University of Johannesburg
Baroka Global Village
Polokwane
15h00
University of the Western Cape vs University of Pretoria
UWC Stadium
Cape Town
15h00
By Matlhomola Morake
