After a two-and-a-half-month off-season break, the Hollywoodbets Super League gets underway on Sunday (2 March 2025).
Newcomers Ezemvelo Ladies visit JVW at the University of Johannesburg Stadium in Soweto, kicking off the 2025 proceedings at midday.
Following their promotion to the South African elite women’s football league at the end of last year, the KwaZulu Natal outfit is believed to have beefed up their squad as they were preparing for the season ahead. They have signed 18 new players.
They are aware however, that it will be a totally different ball game to where they come in the Sasol League. Ezemvelo come against a team that finished fifth on the log standings in the last campaign.
“We acknowledge the challenge that comes with facing a team of such a caliber but trust me we are confident in our own abilities and the work the team has put in during pre-season The ladies are ready more than ever, they are focused and prepared for the opening match against JVW. We are not nervous at all, but the team is definitely showing respect to our opponents. They have a talented squad with many experienced players who have even played for Banyana Banyana,” said a confident Sinothile Shobede, the Ezemvelo Ladies Team Manager.
JVW has gone through some changes – including that of the technical team. They have parted ways with long-serving head coach, Mitch Stevens, replacing him with former player and co-owner of the Blue Diamonds, Janine van Wyk.
She will be assisted by Alexia Cassar and Bafana Nhlapo – the latter is also the Goalkeeper Coach.
Van Wyk has admitted to being nervous and excited at the same time, after all, this will be her first official outing as a coach.
“Of course my first game as a head coach officially, so I’m quite excited and had a good preseason with the team, but also faced some challenges along the way with weather conditions as we train in the evenings, loadshedding of course and having to adjust, so I quickly learnt how to deal with challenges fast,” said Van Wyk.
“It’s almost like I am ready to play a big match in my career. I’m feeling the nerves and the butterflies and excitement; I think it’s good nerves and good emotions.”
The former Banyana Banyana captain says they don’t have much info on their new opponents but is looking forward to the encounter.
“Very excited for the upcoming match against unknown opponents in the Hollywoodbets Super League, Ezemvelo, but quite excited to see what they bring to the league as well,” added Van Wyk.
The former Banyana Banyana defender has already made some changes in an effort to instil her coaching philosophy and playing style.
“There are some players that have come in and players that have left and that is due to the kind of style and philosophy that I’ve brought to the team. It will be completely different to what you saw last season and that’s just me trying to find my own identity as a coach and trying to implement it with the players that I have and the player that I’ve acquired is suitable for the style that I want to play,’ she said.
The other new kids on the block, the University of Cape Town (UCT), will also be in action on the first of the 2025 league season.
The Capetonians will make the long trek to Soweto to face a stubborn University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) in what could be a baptism of fire for the visitors.
UCT finished second in the 2024 Sasol League National Champs in Knysna, behind Ezemvelo Ladies.
They have had their own drama leading to their opening match – appointing a coach, Nasief Morris, and parting ways with him within a month of the appointment.
It is believed they will be led by assistant coach Shaquille Williams for their first assignment, with coach Ahmed Parker expected to take over going forward.
They have lost the services of first choice goalkeeper Kay-Dee Windvogel who has relocated to Pretoria where she is on the books of Tuks. But they have signed the much sought-after shot stopper, Jessica Williams from Badgers FC in the Sasol League – unfortunately the latter is still recovering from an injury and will not be available for a few fixtures.
UJ Ladies finished fourth on the table last season, and look set to continue from where they stopped. They haven’t made any announcement on departures but have welcomed five new signings, one of them the exciting former U15 CAF Schools Player, currently in the U17, U20 and Banyana Banyana squads, Nobahle Mdelwa. She arrives from the relegated Lindelani Ladies in KZN and is joined by Luthando Radebe (Durban Ladies FC), Portia Masilela (Springs Home Sweepers FC), Unathi Mjijwa (Diepkloof Ladies FC) and FC) Manana Myeki (Wits University FC).
The Varsity Derby between UJ and UCT is set to kick off at 3pm, also at the UJ Stadium.
HOLLYWOOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES:
Sunday, 2 March 2025:
JVW vs Ezemvelo Ladies
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
12h00
UJ Ladies vs UCT
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
15h00
The rest of the teams will be in action from next weekend.
By Matlhomola Morake
