The University of Fort Hare FC has made history by being the first team from the Eastern Cape to lift the coveted Sasol League National Champs trophy – at the first attempt.
Hailing from Alice, the students had already booked their spot in the South African elite Women’s Football League, the Hollywoodbets Super League, by virtue of qualifying for the final alongside eventual runners up Lindelani Ladies.
UFH defeated the KwaZulu Natal outfit 4-3 on penalties after a pulsating final that ended in a goalless stalemate at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Rocklands, Bloemfontein on Sunday (22 October).
“This is a great achievement by my players, I can never thank them enough for the hard work they put in the prior the tournament, with a lot of preparation and planning, that eventually led to us lifting this trophy. I am at a loss for words and once I have gathered my emotions, I believe the celebrations can begin. Thanks to SAFA for giving the players the platform, but our greatest appreciation goes to Sasol for the support and helping the players live their dreams,” said an elated Fort Hare coach, Asanda Mnakaniso.
The 2023 Sasol League National Champions have also made history by being the first university in the Eastern Cape to play in the Hollywoodbets Super League – beating the trio of Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University and Rhodes University to glory.
Fort Hare is also the third team from Eastern Cape in the top tier of Women’s Football in South Africa, alongside City Lads Ladies and Thunderbirds Ladies.
So confident were they of success that they bussed in fans from Alice, just over 500km away.
Also in attendance, among others from the university, were the Vice Chancellor, Sakhela Buhlungu and Lufuno Tshikhudo – Dean: Student Affairs.
“We are so proud of this team, they really outdid themselves at the first time of asking. Without revealing much, the players will get incentives, firstly for qualifying for the Hollywoodbets Super League and secondly for winning the final, especially against experienced campaigners like Lindelani Ladies,” said a beaming Buhlungu.
“What these players have done is put not just the university in the little town of Alice on the map, but they have done wonders for the province. This is history in the making and we will ensure that we put more resources into the team and give them as much support as they will possibly need because we know that playing in the Hollywoodbets Super League will be even more demanding. One of the important things about our campus, Alice, is that it is the heart of sporting excellence. We have excelled in other sporting codes, now the women’s football team has come to the party and because of that, we will ask the university’s executive to invest more.”
Also watching from the stands was the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Dr Danny Jordaan, SAFA Vice President Linda Zwane, SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao, some SAFA NEC members and the Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Councillor Gregory Nthatisi.
“We would like to congratulate Fort Hare, and welcome another addition of a university to the Hollywoodbets Super League because these institutions have a structure organization, have budgets and facilities, which will go a long way in boosting the standard of the league,” said Dr Jordaan, who is also from the Eastern Cape.
“We should however applaud Sasol for the great work they put in with this league – if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here. Year in and year out we witness great football from these players – which helps a great deal to the national team coaches as the league is a feeder to the Hollywoodbets Super League and our national teams.”
The tournament also saw the head coach of Banyana Banyana Desiree Ellis, captain Thembi Kgatlana and Maud Khumalo, the South African U20 Women’s National Team coach grace the occasion. Ellis and Kgatlana handed out their autographed books to the players and coaches.
They also took gave a word of advice and encouragement to the players.
“It’s been a beautiful week of woman’s football and today was another tight game that ended with a goalless draw. We congratulate the University of Fort Hare for being this year’s champions of the Sasol League. As Sasol we continue to demonstrate our commitment for both on and off the field. The players came here, gave it their all and you could see from the tears just how much it meant to them to be able to participate and compete, and for them it’s just so much more than just a sport and we’ve been privileged to have the support of everybody who’s just come out here to back the teams because they see that whatever they’re doing is of value. It’s been a great tournament, and we are extremely grateful, as Sasol we’d like to congratulate the team that won today,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol’s Senior Manager: Brand and Sponsorships.
“We are still going to discuss and check where we can go next year, see opportunities where we haven’t been. We also want to introduce more smaller road shows that we get to visit more provinces rather than just go to one province and do the national championship, but we want to visit more and do more coaches workshops and really try to expand the space. We want to see the Sasol League grow, yes it remains the foundation and there’s still a lot of work to be done in this space but what we saw today and what we witnessed this week is really encouraging.”
Fort Hare University played five matches and won all to be crowned champions.
They started well with two victories to secure a semi-final spot, where they faced a tough and experienced Croesus FC, but the students progressed to the final after a nerve-wrecking penalty shootout.
In the final, Fort Hare met up again with Lindelani – a team they beat in the group stages. After an intense 90 minutes, nothing could separate the two sides this time around, but the match was decided on penalties, with the Eastern Cape outfit prevailing 5-4.
They pocket R200-thousand for their efforts, while Lindelani takes home R100-thousand.
FORT HARE UNIVERSITY’S ROAD TO THE TITLE:
Group Stages:
Royal Wizards 2 – 4 Fort Hare University
Fort Hare University 1 – 0 Lindelani Ladies
Semi-finals:
Fort Hare University (2) 5 – 4 (2) Croesus FC
Final:
Fort Hare University (0) 4 – 3 (0) Lindelani Ladies
Venue: Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein, Free State
2023 Teams:
- Ixias FC – Free State
- Sasol Juventus – Mpumalanga
- Croesus FC – Gauteng
- Royal Queens – Northwest
- Royal Wizards – Northern Cape
- University of Fort Hare – Eastern Cape
- Lindelani Ladies – KwaZulu Natal
- University of Cape Town – Western Cape
- Ramatlaohle Ladies – Limpopo
CHAMPIONS:
- University of Fort Hare
RUNNERS UP:
- Lindelani Ladies
DISKI QUEEN OF THE TOURNAMENT:
- Nomfundo Baleni (Lindelani Ladies)
TOP GOALSCORER OF THE TOURNAMENT:
- Lerato Ruele (Croesus Ladies – 4 goals)
GOALKEEPER OF THE TOURNAMENT:
- Thabisa Baleni (University of Fort Hare)
YOUNG PROMISING PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT:
- Akhona Mkhize (Lindelani Ladies)
REFEREE OF THE TOURNAMENT:
- Hloniphila Msizane
ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE TOURNAMENT:
- Amogelang Msiza
PREVIOUS SASOL LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPS WINNERS:
- 2022: Copperbelt Ladies (Limpopo)
- 2021: Vasco da Gama (Western Cape)
- 2019: JVW FC (Gauteng)
- 2018: TUT Ladies (Gauteng)
- 2017: Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies (Free State)
- 2016: Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies (Free State)
- 2015: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (Gauteng)
- 2014: Cape Town Roses Ladies (Cape Town)
- 2013: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (Gauteng)
- 2012: Palace Super Falcons (Gauteng)
- 2011: Palace Super Falcons (Gauteng)
- 2010: Palace Super Falcons (Gauteng)
- 2009: Detroit Ladies (Mpumalanga)
By Matlhomola Morake
