The University of the Western Cape (UWC) were this week felled by a bout of flu that prevented seven key players from training for three days.
And this comes ahead of the much-anticipated top-of-the-table clash against Hollywoodbets Super League defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies on Sunday (14 May) at the University of Pretoria Stadium at 15h00.
Speaking to CentreCircle.online from her base in Cape Town, head coach of UWC, Thinasonke Mbuli, who is also suffering from flu, said everything is touch and go, but they have to pitch up for the match and fight.
What makes the clash even more interesting is that the Students are leading the table on 33 points, with the Brazilians in second place, two points behind.
“It is another tough fixture again, and I honestly don’t know how are we are going to approach this one as seven key players didn’t train for three days due to a bout of flu. What’s worse is that it is not just minor flu, we just couldn’t function and even had to do covid testing. We are going to see the doctor today (Friday, 12 May), hopefully they will clear us,” said Mbuli.
“But I’m feeling better now compared to the past two days, and if cleared we will play, no excuses. Maybe this is a test for us – to see how strong we are.”
Despite the gloom enveloping the team, there was some silver lining – prolific striker, Fiona Ndlovu is available for the clash against Sundowns Ladies. She got injured at the Banyana Banyana training camp at the end of March. Ndlovu was subsequently withdrawn from the international friendly against Serbia away, and also missed five of her club’s matches – Copperbelt Ladies, Tuks Ladies, TUT and Royal AM this past weekend.
“Besides the Flu disturbing our program this week, we are happy that Fiona is back and ready to play now,” added an excited Mbuli.
The Sundowns Ladies vs UWC encounter comes with both teams in a rich vein of form with four straight wins each.
They have both lost a match (UWC vs TS Galaxy Queens and Sundowns Ladies vs Royal AM).
Banyana Ba Style have dominated previous clashes in the early stages, winning four in a row (between 2019 and 2022), before the students turned the table last season with a 2-0 victory in the first round and shared the spoils in a 1-all draw in the reverse fixture.
Speaking to their Media Department, this is how the Sundowns Ladies players weighed in on the upcoming match:
“It is crucial to acknowledge the significance of every game, but there is no denying that this particular match is a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash. While we approach each fixture with utmost seriousness, we are well aware of the expectation surrounding this match. Our team has been diligently preparing, leaving no stone unturned, as we aim to secure maximum points. Emerging victorious is at the forefront of our agenda, and we are determined to deliver a strong performance on the day,” said Lerato Kgasago.
“They are a ball-playing team that has exhibited remarkable consistency throughout the season. As we approach this game, every member of our team fully understands the magnitude of the task on Sunday. From a tactical perspective, they possess tremendous energy on the field and consistently execute effective counter-pressing strategies. We are fully aware of their strengths and are ready to face them head-on,” added Regina Mogolola.
A win for UWC will see them stretch the lead at the top to five points, while victory for Banyana ba Style will return them to the summit of the table with a point ahead.
With a draw, the status quo remains.
HEAD TO HEAD – SUNDOWNS LADIES vs UWC:
6 Oct 2019
3-0 Sundowns win
11 Feb 2020
2-0 Sundowns win
9 May 2021
- Sundowns win
28 Nov 2021
- Sundowns win
15 May 2022
- UWC win
18 Sep 2022
1-1
The Week 13 Sundowns Ladies vs UWC clash is part of a double header that will see JVW take on Coal City Wizards, who were walloped 9-0 by Sundowns Ladies last weekend.
This encounter will be played at 11h30.
There are six matches scheduled for Saturday (13 May), and all will kick off at 15h00.
First Touch will tackle new kids on the block Copperbelt Ladies in a Limpopo Derby taking place at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, while in the same province the struggling bottom-of-the-table Ma-Indies Ladies will have a tough day at the office when they face the high-riding newcomers TS Galaxy Queens at the Giyani Stadium.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) travel to KwaZulu Natal for a date with Royal AM at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammersdale, while Eastern Cape’s Thunderbirds Ladies welcome the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London.
Still smarting from a 5-0 defeat at the hands of TS Galaxy, Richmond United are hoping to make amends when they host newcomers, the University of Pretoria (Tuks Ladies) at Merino Park in De Aar, Northern Cape.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE – FIXTURE 13/14 May 2023:
| # | ||||
| 97 | CITY LADS | vs | DURBAN LADIES FC | Isaac Wolfson Stadium, Gqeberha |
| Wk 13|13 May|15:00| | ||||
| 98 | FIRST TOUCH ACADEMY | vs | COPPERBELTS FC | Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane |
| Wk 13|13 May|15:00| | ||||
| 100 | MA-INDIES LADIES | vs | TS GALAXY QUEENS | Giyani Stadium, Limpopo |
| Wk 13|13 May|15:00| | ||||
| 102 | RICHMOND UNITED | vs | UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA | De Aar at Merino Park, Northern Cape |
| Wk 13|13 May|15:00| | ||||
| 103 | ROYAL AM | vs | UNIVERSITY OF JHB FC | Mpumalanga Stadium, Hammersdale |
| Wk 13|13 May|15:00| | ||||
| 104 | THUNDERBIRDS LADIES | vs | TUT FOOTBALL CLUB | Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London |
| Wk 13|13 May|15:00| | ||||
| 99 | JVW FC | vs | COAL CITY WIZARDS | University of Pretoria Stadium, Tshwane(Live on SABC Sport Channel) |
| Wk 13|14 May|11:30| | ||||
| 101 | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIESFC | vs | UWC | University of Pretoria Stadium, Tshwane(Live on SABC 1) |
| Wk 13|14 May|15:00 |
By Matlhomola Morake
