Knysna in the Western Cape is the place to be as nine provincial winners from the Sasol League are in battle to determine which two teams will be promoted to the Hollywoodbets Super League, the South African elite women’s football league next year.
Last year this time the Sasol League National Champs were taking place in Bloemfontein, with the University of Fort Hare (Eastern Cape) claiming the title, while Lindelani Ladies (KwaZulu Natal) took second place.
Sadly, the Durban outfit did not last the distance, become the first ever team to be relegated after just one season in topflight women’s football. Also suffering the drop was the Eastern Cape’s Thunderbirds Ladies.
While the two teams are left with one match each to complete their Hollywoodbets Super League assignments – Lindelani vs UJ Ladies and Thunderbirds vs Royal AM – the competition to get their replacements is already underway in Knysna at the Sasol League National Championship, which kicked off on Tuesday, 15 October. Action is happening at Loerie Park Sports Grounds.
The nine teams participating in the competition are Ramatlaohle Ladies (Limpopo), Super Strikers (Mpumalanga), FC Raycon (Gauteng), Kovsies FC (Free State), North West University (North West), Royal Wizards (Northern Cape), Sophakama (Eastern Cape), Ezemvelo (KwaZulu) and the University of Cape Town (Western Cape).
The 2024 tournament has three teams making a return from the last edition in Bloemfontein – UCT, Ramatlaohle and Royal Wizards.
What is making the field even more interesting is that there are three university teams – NWU, Kovsies and UCT – all trying to add to the five that are currently campaigning in the Hollywoodbets Super League: University of the Western Cape; University of Johannesburg; University of Pretoria; TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies and the University of Fort Hare.
In addition to gaining promotion to the elite women’s league, the winners of the tournament will walk away with 200-thousand-rand, while the runners will pocket half of that amount (100-thousand-rand).
“Sasol has been at the forefront of transforming women’s football through its continued investment in the Sasol League, which has played a crucial role in developing the sport and empowering female footballers both on and off the field. The Sasol League National Championship represents the pinnacle of this journey throughout the year. This year, Sasol has launched the campaign slogan, “Fuelling Her Game,” to cement the Sasol League tournament in the hearts and minds of football supporters across the nation. This bold message invites fans to witness these players’ pursuit of greatness, fuelled by Sasol’s unwavering support,” said Sasol in a statement.
“The campaign underscores Sasol’s belief that no talent should go unnoticed, and that every young woman has the potential to thrive and achieve her own version of success.”
The group stages start on 15 October, followed by the semi-finals on 18 October while the finals are set for Sunday, 20 October.
Here’s a quick look at all the teams:
WESTERN CAPE:
The hosts went through the season undefeated in their stream, as they dropped only two points in the entire campaign. In the provincial play-offs they saw off Magic Ladies 3-0 to book their spot at the finals.
Experience could play a key role for them as they have retained the bulk of the players that played in the 2023 play-offs in Bloemfontein.
EASTERN CAPE:
Undefeated the whole season, Sophakama Ladies went on to win where it mattered the most as they beat Executive Ladies, who won the other stream. Eastern Cape’s Thunderbirds Ladies have been relegated from the Hollywoodbets Super League, which leaves Sophakama under pressure to replace them and join City Lads Ladies and the University of Fort Hare as the province’s representatives. Sophakama is the team that produced Banyana Banyana’s Sibulele Holweni, who is now running out for the University of the Western Cape.
FREE STATE:
The Free State Province has not had a representative in the Hollywoodbets Super League since 2022 following the relegation of Tsunami Queens, now the onus is on Kovsies to remedy the situation. They did not have it easy coming into the national play-offs, having to beat a strong Ixias FC who won the other stream. The students are one of the teams that did not taste defeat in the 2024 league season. Ixias FC hosted the national finals last year but failed to gain promotion.
MPUMALANGA:
Mpumalanga’s Coal City Wizards were relegated at the end of last season and Super Strikers will be hoping to become the second side from that province – after TS Galaxy Queens – to play in the South African elite women’s football league.
Super Strikers denied the 2023 provincial winners, Sasol Juventus a place in the current competition in the Western Cape. On the league front, Super Strikers only suffered one loss in the season.
GAUTENG:
In one of the most competitive campaigns, Gauteng’s FC Raycon battled through the season but managed to win their stream ahead of the more experienced Croesus Ladies – both sides were level on 32 points each, but the former had a superior goal difference. As if that was not enough, FC Raycon still had to fight off a strong challenge from a stubborn Mito Stars in the provincial playoffs to represent Gauteng in Knysna.
NORTHERN CAPE:
Defending champions Royal Wizards continued their dominance in the Northern Cape Sasol League, which they have won almost every year. But it is at the play-offs that they fail. Will they offer anything different in 2024? The province only has one team in the Hollywoodbets Super League, De Aar-based Richmond United.
To get to Knysna, Royal Wizards knocked out NC Consciousness to book their place among the elite, and they come with a perfect no-loss record.
NORTH WEST:
Royal Queens of North West almost made a return to the national play-offs after failing in 2023, but NWU proved too strong for them in the end. The students become the third university team in the 2024 tournament, after UCT and Kovsies FC.
North West has not had a team in the Hollywoodbets Super League since 2022 when Golden Ladies lost their place in the elite league – now NWU are under pressure to restore pride to the province.
KWAZULU NATAL:
Two draws and no loss saw Ezemvelo Ladies finish unbeaten in their stream and faced Newcastle Chess FC, who claimed the other stream. The former prevailed when it mattered the most and are currently representing KwaZulu Natal in Knysna.
LIMPOPO:
A flawless campaign by last year’s champions, Ramatlaohle Ladies – 14 games, 14 wins – saw them take on Sinthumulekutama FC for the honours of the province.
Ramatlaohle was too strong as they continued their dominance to reach the national finals.
Group C will kick off the proceedings when Sophakama face Ezemvelo in the first match at 9am at Loerie Park Stadium. This will be followed by a Group B clash, a Varsity Derby between Kovsies and NWU. In the last match of the day, Ramatlaohle Ladies will go toe with Super Strikers at 3.30pm in Group A.
By Matlhomola Morake
