Defending Hollywoodbets Super League champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are eager to finally begin their 2026 campaign after an unusually lengthy pre-season caused by the delayed start to the league.
The newly launched Hollywoodbets Super League format, which was unveiled earlier this month, sees Sundowns Ladies placed in the “Super Era” stream as they prepare to defend their crown once again.
Head Coach Godfrey Sapula admitted that the postponement of the league from its traditional March start to mid-May created unique challenges for the team’s preparations.
“The mood is very good in the camp. The players are responding very well, but the challenge was that we initially planned for a six-to-eight-week pre-season,” said Sapula.
“It has been a very long pre-season which made things difficult in terms of preparation and knowing how to tone down for the start of the league. But we’ve kept ourselves busy with good practice matches, including games against boys’ teams, and we are pleased that the league is finally starting.”
Despite the extended build-up, Sapula believes the experience gained from last season has prepared the Brazilians for another title charge. The coach highlighted that while Sundowns were dominant at home at Lucas Moripe Stadium, away fixtures exposed areas that needed improvement.
“We collected maximum points at home, but the points we dropped came away from home. Now we understand the challenges that come with travelling and we know we need strong Plan A, B and C approaches to get maximum points away as well,” he explained.
Sapula pointed to difficult conditions faced at venues such as De Aar in Northern Cape and Fort Hare, where weather, artificial surfaces and poor pitch conditions often disrupted the team’s rhythm.
“When you go to Fort Hare, the support is unbelievable but the playing surface is difficult. You need to adapt and still find a way to play well enough to win games.”
The Sundowns mentor also expressed excitement over the club’s new additions ahead of the season, particularly attacking reinforcements Wendy Shongwe and Gugu Dhlamini.
Sapula believes Shongwe’s versatility, pace and eye for goal will add a new dimension to Sundowns’ frontline.
“She gives us options in attack, whether from the right, left or centrally. She has power, speed, a very good shot and can provide assists and goals.”
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Dhlamini has impressed with her physicality and ability in one-on-one situations.
“She is young, powerful and very good in 1v1 situations. She still has areas to improve on, but she has huge potential and the capacity to grow within our programme.”
Sapula added that Sundowns’ ambitions extend beyond domestic dominance as the club continues building a squad capable of competing strongly in COSAFA and the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will open their 2026 Hollywoodbets Super League campaign on Sunday, 24 May 2026 at 3pm against newly promoted Diepkloof Ladies at the UJ Soweto Campus. See all HWBSL Fixtures
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