Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies defender Bambanani Mbane says despite winning the 2025 Hollywoodbets Super League title, it was a very difficult season for the champions. This is their sixth title in a row – no any other team has managed to lift the trophy since inception of the South African elite women’s football league. Mbane has already collected five gold medals for winning the league – she missed out on the first
Banyana ba Style were handed their two-million-rand (R2m) winners’ cheque and the trophy on Sunday (7 December 2025) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville – this after a dominant 4-0 drubbing of TS Galaxy Queens.
Of the 29 matches played, the Brazilians won 25, lost two and drew the other two. There is one outstanding match for Sundowns Ladies vs Ezemvelo which was not played.
“I am so happy, but it wasn’t an easy season, I am just glad that today I have my gold medal on my hand. As a team, we achieved what we wanted to achieve,” said an excited Sundowns Ladies defender, Bambanani Mbane who wore the captain’s armband against TS Galaxy Ladies.
After a series of near misses in front of goal for Banyana ba Style in the opening stanza, it looked like the game was heading for a goalless draw at the break, until fullback Asanda Hadebe pounced on a floated ball and scored with a diving header – perhaps one of the most beautiful goals of the season to hand the lead to the home team. This was also her first goal for Sundowns Ladies.
On the other side of recess, the hosts continued where they left off with second half substitutes Nthabiseng Majiya and Munashe Mugwara getting on the scoresheet – the latter grabbing a brace to make 4-0.
“TS Galaxy Queens really made life difficult for us but as a team we had told ourselves that we need to finish on a high note, and we are glad we won especially with a big score,” added Mbane.
The players will take a break to recharge batteries but will have to be back ahead of time in the new year as the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 will be played early (17 March to 3 April), unlike in the previous years when it was staged in June.
“The season is over, but for some of us work starts now because we know what our goal is – this festive season will be like no other, concluded Mbane.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for TS Galaxy Queens as they needed three points to stand a good chance of finishing second, a position currently occupied by JVW.
The Blue Diamonds are on 69 points after 30 games, while the Rockets are third on 66 points with one match remaining – a tough clash against the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in Mpumalanga on Wednesday, 10 December to end the season.
A win here will see them level on points with JVW who have a superior goal difference.
By Matlhomola Morake
