The league finds itself at the halfway point with reigning champions Sundowns leading the way. UWC Ladies, TUT Ladies, JVW FC and First Touch FC are within striking distance and need to beat the Brazilians in order to chase them down.
Beating Masandawana won’t be possible in the league this weekend, as coach Jerry Tshabalala’s team will be in Durban for the inaugural edition of the COSAFA Women’s Champions League.
Gabriela Salgado set the league alight with a hat-trick for JVW FC against Richmond United last Saturday, while a host of teams won by narrow margins.
Thunderbirds and Durban Ladies will lock horns in this Saturday’s early kick-off, while JVW FC aim for their fourth win in a row, beginning with the first of four home games at the Tsakane Stadium, with Ma-Indies next in their sights.
Second and third-placed UWC Ladies and TUT Ladies will go toe-to-toe in the pick of this rounds matches with Coal City Wizards and Tsunami Queens closing out the action in Sunday’s only game.
Saturday 28 August
Durban Ladies 17/10 | Draw 2/1 | Thunderbirds Ladies 15/10 (13:00)
Durban Ladies host in-form Thunderbirds Ladies in Saturday’s early kick-off at the Chatsworth Stadium, hoping to return to winning ways after two gritty but winless performances, pitting their skills and wits against the quality of UWC Ladies (0-0) & TUT Ladies (1-0), both of whom have numerous players that frequently represent Banyana Banyana.
These sides began their inaugural Hollywoodbets Super League campaign four months ago, squaring off against each other, as Thunderbirds ran out 2-0 winners at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium. Durban Ladies will be aiming to avenge that defeat and down the ‘Birds to claim their current top-7 position in our 14-team league.
Durban has been a tough place to travel to in recent weeks, however, Thunderbirds will not fear and would rather come into the clash with the confidence of a team that are unbeaten in seven matches.
We’re set for a humdinger, if pressed for a prediction I’d firmly say back the home win, Durban Ladies really impressed me last Sunday.
JVW FC 5/10 | Draw 5/2 | Ma-Indies Ladies 11/2 (15:00)
JVW FC completed their first round of 13 league fixtures by winning three games on the trot within the space of seven days. Coach Ciara Picco’s team eased past Tsunami Queens in a 7-0 victory before heading to UJ Campus in midweek action to claim maximum points and another clean sheet in a 2-0 win.
Last Saturday, midfielder Gabriela Salgado banged in a hattrick for the ‘Blue Diamonds’ inspiring them to a 5-1 win in De Aar, while captain Nompumelelo Nyandeni scored her 11th league goal, who only trails Richmond United’s Nthabiseng Majiya by a single goal in the race for the Golden Boot and continued asserting herself as a Player of the Season candidate.
Ma-Indies Ladies come off a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the champions Sundowns and face another uphill task after winning only once on their travels.
UWC Ladies 13/10 | Draw 2/1 | TUT Ladies 2/1 (15:00)
TUT Ladies make the 1 500km trip to Cape Town to lock horns with UWC Ladies at their infamous ‘Operation Room’. On home soil, coach Thinasonke Mbuli’s team have won all seven games, imperiously keeping five clean sheets under both goalkeepers Regirl Ngobeni and Kay-Dee Windvogel.
Bloemfontein Celtic managed to take the lead against the odds last Sunday in the sixth minute at Erica Park with Noxolo Cesane and Molatelo ‘Nemo’ Kobo completing a well-deserved come from behind victory.
TUT worked their socks off against Durban Ladies, claiming three points thanks to Tiisetso Makhubela’s second-half strike, her sixth goal of the season.
Both teams along with JVW FC have won eight games and have the responsibility of knocking Sundowns off their perch. All of these three sides are capable of taking points off Masandawana which could leave the door for a title-race ajar, albeit by the slimmest of margins.
These sides shared the spoils in a 2-2 stalemate last time out, but on current form, UWC Ladies is the best bet. Captain Bongeka Gamede didn’t make the starting XI for the first time, following a knee injury in the clash against Durban Ladies, while Leandra Smeda is yet to feature since returning to the Mother City.
If I had to predict the correct scoreline, my money would be on 1-0 to UWC.
First Touch FC 11/20 | Draw 5/2 | Richmond United 9/2 (15:00)
First Touch FC claimed their seventh win in 12 games beating Tsunami Queens 2-1, away in Harrismith. The Limpopo-based team club will leapfrog the likes of UWC Ladies, TUT Ladies and JVW FC if they win their game in hand, possibly moving from fifth to second.
Kgothatso Manamela missed last Saturday’s game due to personal reasons, as coach Rhulani Mathebula’s second-choice goalkeeper Kedibone Malinga stepped in. In Polokwane, First Touch remain unbeaten with two wins and three draws.
Richmond United on the other hand, have been underwhelming on their travels. The Northern Cape outfit come off three straight losses conceding 13 goals at the hands of Thunderbirds, Sundowns and JVW FC.
The hosts hit Richmond United for six on the opening day, smart money says back the home win.
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies 6/10 | Draw 5/2 | UJ Ladies 4/1 (15:00)
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies return home after three testing away matches which saw Siwele claim maximum points over rock bottom Golden Ladies, before succumbing to defeats in the east and west coasts of Mzansi, losing 6-1 in Durban and 2-1 in Cape Town.
UJ Ladies have been backsliding down the Hollywoodbets Super League log standings, currently in 12th place. The ‘Orange Army’ have tasted three defeats and clawed their way to a draw away at First Touch FC, in the four gameweeks since we’ve resumed proceedings after a six-week-long break due to Covid-19 protocols.
I’m not sure where the goals are going to come from with attacking midfielder Jessica Wade still an absentee due to injury. The last meeting saw these sides cancel out each other in a 1-1 draw, however this time I’m tempted to get on the hosts to capitalize on a weakened UJ on home soil.
Sunday 29 August
Coal City Wizards 7/10 | Draw 23/10 | Tsunami Queens 15/4 (15:00)
Coal City Wizards beat UJ Ladies 2-0 away at the Soweto Campus to overtake both the ‘Orange Army’ and Richmond United in the standings. The victory was only ‘Mawizards’ second win away from home as they prepare to finish off the season strongly.
Tsunami Queens tasted their sixth straight league defeat, but managed to find the scoresheet this time around. Considering the visitors current form and tendency to find difficulty on the road, my money is on the rejuvenated Coal City Wizards who’ve impressed since the league resumed.
Expect the scoreline to mirror the previous meeting, 5-1 to JVW, if the Anytime Goalscorer option was available I’ll definitely have a punt on 17-year-old midfielder Jade Leask to score.
MULTIPLE @ 38/1
Durban Ladies Win 17/10
JVW FC Win 5/10
UWC Ladies Win 13/10
First Touch FC Win 11/20
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies Win 6/10
Coal City Wizards Win 7/10
