The 2022 Hollywoodbets Super League season is upon us, and clubs are already hard at work with their pre-season preparations.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are the reigning champions and the rest of the other teams would like to topple them off their crown.
One such club is JVW FC, who will be heading into their second year in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
In 2021 the Bedfordview-based outfit punched above their weight and pushed Sundowns for the better part of the first half of the year, but fell by the wayside on the home straight. They would finish fourth on 51 points, 22 behind Masandawana.
TUT and the University of the Western Cape Ladies claimed second and third positions respectively, with First Touch Academy completing the top five.
JVW have announced a new coach for the upcoming season following the departure of their long-serving mentor, Ciara Picco, who has moved abroad.
Picco was instrumental in the club’s promotion into the elite women’s league.
In a wide-ranging interview about women’s football, CentreCircle caught up with JVW founder, Janine van Wyk to find out what was in store in 2022.
CentreCircle: First of all, let’s start at the beginning. You returned to JVW in the middle of the 2021 season – how did you adjust to the difference in Scottish football and South African Football?
Janine van Wyk: It was quite a tough adjustment to make, coming into a completely different level and style of football. But I also had the experience of playing in the Sasol League for many years, and so I knew what the expectations were and how I could adjust to make it easier for myself.
CC: The last time you were in SA, JVW was playing in the Sasol League – how did you find the Hollywoodbets Super League in 2021?
JvW: I didn’t expect the Hollywoodbets Super League to be as competitive as it was. Playing the last couple of games in the league was quite challenging in many ways and required a lot from every player to stay within touching distance with the frontrunners. It was really energy-sapping but all worth it in the end.
CC: What needs to be done to improve the product even more in 2022?
JvW: Currently we have only one match broadcast live on television, I really feel that is not enough and more should be done so as to help improve the recognition of the women’s game. Remember the more people see more of the product the more they identify with it – and please don’t get me wrong I really appreciate what is happening now but I am convinced we can do more.
CC: In your own view, what is the state of South African women’s football, looking specifically at the Sasol League and Hollywoodbets Super League ?
JvW: I think everyone can see the tremendous growth of the women’s game not only globally but also in SA. Although I believe that there is still a big gap between development on the continent compared to the rest of the world, which is starting to invest more in the women’s game. I’m not sure why Africa has to always be the last Continent to develop in terms of everything else going on around the world and sadly this does not only apply in sport only, which is a shame as there is so much potential for it to be bigger and better than what it currently is.
CC: Sundowns seems to be the biggest challenge for all the teams in the league – how can they be stopped in 2022?
JvW: Sundowns is a highly experienced and well-structured squad with many quality players that have been together for several years. It is expected that they are the best not only in the league but also on the Continent, as we witnessed when they lifted the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League trophy. It will take a lot of hard work for all the other teams to match them this season, but then again, having said that, it’s also difficult for top teams to maintain their consistency when you have other teams always applying extra pressure to beat the best team in the league, so it is going to be an interesting 2022 for all. I guess we can’t wait for the start in April.
CC: JVW finished in fourth position in 2021, that is a good return for a team very new in the league.
JvW: Yes, it was the first time to experience so many challenges, such as long travelling hours across the country, playing on different surfaces and meeting certain teams for the first time. The aim before the season was to reach the top 3 in the league with the number of quality players JVW has, so I am extremely happy that we have come close to reaching our target, which is something we will have to improve on this season.
CC: What does JVW need to do to challenge for the title in 2022?
JvW: I think any team that wants to challenge for the title must work on being consistent throughout the season, and that comes with commitment and a “buy in” from each and every individual. And in order to achieve that, it will require more training days which is something that is being implemented.
CC: Let’s take a further step back, how was your stay in Scotland?
JvW: Absolutely loved my experience in Scotland, both on and off the pitch. It’s a place where I enjoyed playing football the most. I’m grateful that Glasgow City gave me an opportunity to play whilst South African Football came to a complete stop in 2020 due to covid.
CC: You have brought back a lot of experience following your stay at Houston Dash, Glasgow City as well as playing for Banyana Banyana, how has that helped JVW?
JvW: I guess I have all the experience of playing in different countries and at different levels of the game. Returning to SA football has allowed me to share all the knowledge and experience at JVW. One of the main factors which I’m still working on for the team to understand and achieve is to maintain the highest standards, starting on the training pitch, which is sometimes where the games are lost and won – because essentially what you do on the training pitch you will implement on match day, hence you need to treat every training session like a game situation.
CC: Can we see JVW challenging for the league title in 2022 – after all you started well in 2021 but fell short in the second round of the campaign.
JvW: The title is up for grabs for any team competing in this league. Every team has the ability to prepare the best they can to win it and we are certainly putting in the work to ensure we are ready to compete at our best. However, we have made a few changes within the squad by introducing a few JVW development players into the first team with the hopes that they bring a different dynamic to the team performance, so I’m looking forward to the start of the new season.
CC: What can you attribute that to (losing ground on the log leaders)?
JvW: Experience, time and team chemistry is what they have a little more than us.
CC: You have lost the services of your long-time coach, Ciara Picco.
JvW: Yes it was unfortunate to see former coach Ciara Picco depart the club. Ciara has been the coach of the first team since 2017 and has done exceptionally well and it was sad to see her go. In football there are always adjustments to be made and the same for this year with us – we have a new coach and some upcoming talent. We are happy that coach Arthur is on board and we are confident we will do well.
CC: What does 2022 hold for JVW?
JvW: An exciting journey that we have to learn and grow and another opportunity to continue to strive for success. Watch this space!
CC: Personally, you have won so many accolades, still the record holder of the highest capped footballer in the country, and highest capped female on the continent – what more do you want to achieve?
JvW: I would still like to lift the African Women’s Cup of Nations trophy. It’s a competition I have participated in seven times and never won a gold medal. Achieving this would complete all the goals I have set out for myself to achieve in my career, and now that we have qualified for the upcoming tournament in Morocco, it gives me more courage that with the good team that we have, this may just be our year.
CC: You have been to the World Cup, the Olympics, AWCON, COSAFA, UEFA Women’s Champions League – but you still keep going. Where do you get the drive?
JvW: The only thing that has ever kept me going is the love and passion I have for the game, and of course achieving success.
CC: Many have always asked about your retirement. Have you thought about that?
JvW: I have set my eyes on one last FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, which I’m hoping Banyana Banyana will qualify for. We have to be at our best in Morocco in July, and I have no doubt that we will finish in the top four and book our ticket – but we know it is not going to be easy, more so now that there tournament has been expanded from eight to 12 teams. Every match will have to be a cup final until we achieve our goal.
By Matlhomola Morake
