The University of the Western Cape (UWC) head coach Thinasonke Mbuli says she is not in the least worried about the back-to-back defeats her team suffered in the new season of the Hollywoodbets Super League before the international break.
The students went down 1-0 to defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in Tshwane and were also felled 1-0 by a revamped University of Fort Hare in Alice, in the Eastern Cape.
“I am not disappointed with the losses; we are trying something new. We are going to get better, so I am not worried at all,” said Mbuli.
Following the resumption of normal scheduling for the new campaign where all the teams are in action bar two (Richmond United and University of Johannesburg), the Capetonians are gearing up for their third match of the season.
They will face Limpopo’s First Touch Ladies in Polokwane on Sunday, 13 April 2025 in the only fixture of the day in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“We are trying something new, a different formation like using midfielder Sibulele Holweni as a second striker. But as expected, I told the players it’s going to be tough this season, they will just need each other and we have to be a little patient with them, not rush and expect that the team is still the same,” added the Banyana Banyana assistant coach.
UWC lost three key players to overseas clubs last season, with the influential Bongeka Gamede heading to Nordsjaelland in Denmark, Noxolo Cesane signing with Eastern Flames in Saudi Arabia while captain Amogelang Motau was snapped up by Club Tijuana in Mexico in the Liga MX Femenil.
With the vacancy created by the departure of Motau, UWC has named ever-present Banyana defender, Fikile Magama as the captain for the new season.
Mbuli says it is well-deserved.
“Fiks (Fikile) has been with us now for so many years, she has grown. She is a player that we are really looking into assisting and take her game to a next level. She has done so much for us, be it as a winger or a fullback, she has shown that even if she was not an appointed leader, she was still a leader on the field,” said Mbuli.
“So, giving her the armband is just to make it formal, I think she’s someone that we can help grow, who knows, maybe she might be the next one who is going.”
After two matches played, the hosts are 11th on the table with one draw and a loss. The students are a further two spots down (13th).
The visitors will be hoping to continue where they left off last season when they registered back to back victories over the Limpopo outfit, wining 2-0 and 7-1.
First Touch and UWC kick off at 3pm at the Seshego Stadium.
By Matlhomola Morake
