Ma-Indies 1-0 Thunderbirds Ladies:
Ma-Indies Ladies will go into the FIFA break in high spirits after registering their first win of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League season in eight attempts.
The Limpopo outfit defeated fellow strugglers Thunderbirds Ladies 1-0 in Polokwane, a result which saw a swopping of places – the home side moving just one notch up from the basement of the table to 15th place, while the Eastern Cape side dropped down to the 16thspot.
Thunderbirds Ladies remain the only side in the league to win a match.
Ma-Indies has three points, just one above Thunderbirds.
Sundowns Ladies 0-1 Royal AM:
Royal AM, formerly known as Bloemfontein Celtic, beat Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies for the first time since the inception of the South African women’s league.
Led by Delisile Mbatha, the KwaZulu Natal side won 1-0, scoring their first ever goal against the Brazilian in seven matches – against Banyana ba Style’s 13.
Mbatha led the South African U17 Women’s National Team to victory in the 2022 COSAFA U17 Women’s Championship in Lilongwe, Malawi in December when they defeated defending champions Zambia 4-3.
Copperbelt Ladies 0-2 UWC:
Sundowns Ladies are now in second place on the log standings, with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) leading the pack after their seventh win in as many games, following a 2-0 triumph over newcomers Copperbelt Ladies 2-0 in Limpopo.
The Students maintained their unblemished record despite the absence of the influential duo of Amogelang Motau and prolific goal scorer, Fiona Ndlovu who are both injured – Khanya Xesi and Sibulele Holweni took over the goal scoring duties against Copperbelt Ladies.
With one match in hand, UWC are on 21 points, two above the defending champions. The Capetonians are the highest scoring team with 28 goals, and have conceded the least (3).
Coal City Wizards 0-6 TS Galaxy Queens:
At the Puma Stadium in Witbank, Nicole Michael sent a strong message to the national team selectors as she ran riot with a hattrick to lead TS Galaxy Queens to a 6-0 victory against Coal City Wizards in the first ever Mpumalanga Derby in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
She was ably assisted by Busisiwe Ndimeni with a brace while Mamello Makhabane chipped in with one goal.
This is the highest score TS Galaxy has registered in the league this season, and it comes at the back of the Mpumalanga side acquiring the services of new coach Sizwe Sibiya after sacking Jabulile Baloyi. The former TUT coach has now won the two matches since taking over.
Michael spent this past week training with Banyana Banyana who are preparing for the international friendly match against Serbia – however, the TS Galaxy forward did not make the cut when the final squad of 23 players were announced.
Durban Ladies 1-2 University of Pretoria:
There was an upset at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium when newcomers University of Pretoria defeated experienced campaigners Durban Ladies 2-1.
The KwaZulu Natal side has now lost to the two 2023 debutants – last month they were beaten 3-1 by Copperbelt Ladies.
The victory will come as a welcome relief for Tuks Ladies following the defeat they suffered last weekend.
Durban Ladies now has 12 points after four losses and the same number of victories, while the Pretoria side is two points adrift with three wins, a draw and four defeats.
UJ Ladies 3-0 First Touch:
The University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) continue to make their home ground a fortress after they emerged 3-0 winners over Limpopo’s First Touch.
UJ Ladies have been victorious in their five matches at the Soweto venue, while the visitors continue to struggle on the road and are yet to win a match away.
The Soweto outfit is in third place on 18 points – three behind the leaders.
Richmond United 2-0 City Lads Ladies:
Another team that’s so far become untouchable at home is Richmond United.
They registered their fourth win in as many matches, overcoming City Lads Ladies of Eastern Cape 2-0 at Merino Park in De Aar, Northern Cape.
After five victories in total, Richmond United is now fifth on 15 points – level with fourth-placed TS Galaxy and Royal AM who are fifth on the table.
TUT 0-1 JVW:
JVW ensured they return home from Pretoria with all three points after defeating the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 1-0.
The influential Gabby Salgado scored the winning goal in this fifth meeting between the two sides – leaving the Blue Diamonds with a better head to head results of two wins, two draws and a defeat.
The league goes into recess due to the FIFA break, and action will resume on weekend of 15th and 16th April 2023.
WEEK 8 RESULTS OF THE HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE:
Saturday, 1 April 2023
Copperbelt Ladies 0 – 2 UWC
Durban Ladies 1 – 2 University of Pretoria
Richmond United 1 – 0 City Lads Ladies
Ma-Indies Ladies 1 – 0 Thunderbirds Ladies
UJ Ladies 3 – 0 First Touch
Coal City Wizards 0 – 6 TS Galaxy Queens
Sunday, 2 April 2023
JVW 1 – 0 TUT
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 0 – 1 Royal AM
After 8 Rounds of Matches, here are some interesting stats:
- UWC is the only team to have won all their matches; highest scorers with 28 goals in 7 games; Lowest conceded goals – 3; With a match in hand, they are two points clear at the top table on 21 points
- Ma-Indies Ladies collect first three points of 2023, and move from the basement of the table
- Sundowns Ladies suffer first defeat of the season, drop to 2nd spot, two points behind the leaders
- Sundowns Ladies is one of two teams to win 6 six games each – the other is UJ Ladies
- Four teams have lost only one match each: Sundowns Ladies, TS Galaxy Queens, Royal AM, JVW
- Six teams yet to play a draw: UWC, UJ, Richmond United, Durban Ladies, Copperbelt Ladies & Ma-Indies
- Three teams have won one match each: First Touch, Coal City Wizards & Ma-Indies
- Four teams have played 7 games each and have a match in hand: UWC, Richmond United, JVW & City Lads Ladies
- One team yet to win: Thunderbirds Ladies, bottom of the table
- Most goals conceded: Coal City Wizards – 33
- Least goals scored: Thunderbirds Ladies – 3
By Matlhomola Morake
