Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies returned to the top of the summit of the Hollywoodbets Super League with a convincing but hard-fought 2-0 win over a stubborn University of Fort Hare (UFH) on Sunday (14 September 2025) at the Davidson Stadium in Alice.
Two goals from Isabella Ludwig, who walked away with the Player of the Match award, as well as Nonhlanhla Mthandi were enough to see the Brazilians collect maximum points on the road. They had lost their spot to TS Galaxy Queens while participating in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers recently.
This was Sundowns Ladies’ first league match in about a month following their appearance in the regional competition. They last played against the University of Cape Town (UCT), beating them 1-0 (Saturday, 16 August).
The UFH clash also saw the return of defender Karabo Dhlamini who missed out on the COSAFA tournament due to as yet unknown reasons.
After 18 rounds of league fixtures, Banyana ba Style are on 44 points, one ahead of second placed TS Galaxy Queens whose game against the University of Pretoria (Tuks) was postponed as the students have four players in the South African U20 Women’s National Team that will be playing in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Eswatini on Friday, 19 September.
The Rockets have played the same number of games, making the race to the league title look far from over.
UFH have 23 matches under their belt, and are sitting on 39 points, just one ahead of TUT Matsatsantsa, who also did not play this past weekend.
Completing the top five is JVW on 36 points after 19 games – they were also not in action.
Elsewhere, Richmond United Ladies swopped places with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) from 14th to 13threspectively when they registered a 2-0 win over UCT at Merino Park in the Mother City.
Richmond United Ladies are now on 23 points after the same number of games, while UCT remain eighth from 23 matches.
UWC are involved in the Varsity Women’s Cup – they face the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) in the final this Friday (19 September) – both were not fixtured in the Hollywoodbets Super League. UWC are 14th on the table with 21 points after 17 games – probably their worst season ever – while UJ are sixth with 35 points from 21 matches.
Limpopo side Copperbelt Ladies travelled to the Eastern Cape and returned with all three points after downing hosts City Lads Ladies 2-0 in Alice. Copperbelt Ladies are now on 33 points after 22 games, and lie in seventh position, while City Lads are 12th – 23 points from 21 rounds of fixtures.
At the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, hosts First Touch Ladies and Ezemvelo Ladies could only manage a goalless draw. The visiting KwaZulu Natal side, who are in their first year in the elite South African women’s football league, have 28 points from 22 games, and occupy the ninth spot. First Touch is 11th with 23 points from 21 matches.
While the title race is heating up, the bottom of the league table almost looks like a foregone conclusion with Durban Ladies still at the basement with five points after 21 games and may need a miracle to survive relegation with nine matches remaining. Equally in trouble is Royal AM who are lying on the 15th spot – they have 13 points from 22 games.
TS Galaxy Queens’ Leandra Smeda remains the leading top goal scorer with 13 strikes from 16 games. Hot on her heels are Bonolo Mokoma of JVW and Thabiso Senyatsi from TUT – both have nine goals each from 18 and 20 games respectively.
In the goalkeeping department, TS Galaxy Queens are also leading the way – with Dineo Magagula posting 12 clean sheets in 18 matches. But she is under heavy pressure from UFH’s Kebotseng Moletsane who has 11 from 18, and Monnye Theledi of Copperbelt Ladies with 10 from 21.
By Matlhomola Morake
