Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified Wrap: Sundowns keep winning, JVW and Galaxy Impress in Polokwane

The third round of the Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified in Polokwane delivered a weekend packed with statement performances as teams from the Super Era and Super Rise groups continued to fight for early-season points at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Lebohang Ramalepe

UJ Ladies set the tone on Friday

The University of Johannesburg Ladies won a thrilling university derby 4-2 against TUT Matsatsantsa, with Mpho Dlamini netting a brace and earning Player of the Match as UJ climbed into the top two of the Super Rise standings. UJ recorded their second win in three games, their only defeat was to Fort Hare, losing 2-0 in Pretoria. 

Later in the day, TS Galaxy Queens continued their strong start by beating Diepkloof Ladies 4-1, with Leandra Smeda scoring twice and Refiloe Jane as well as Babalwa Mngxunya adding another goal to keep Galaxy as strong contenders for the league title.

TS Galaxy Queens Head Coach Sizwe Sibiya said that his game plan for this fixture was well executed, “One of the main objectives for today was to ensure that we rotate the ball better, keep it better and support each other when we are in possession and then cover each other when we are out of position.

We saw how they played in their previous game, they missed a penalty and got about eight chances in their previous game. We looked at those things and knew there’s danger there.”

Saturday belonged to Gauteng teams.

JVW maintained their perfect record with a 2-1 victory over Ezemvelo, goals came from Bonolo Mokoma and Bongiwe Thusi, while Mokoma was also named Player of the Match. After the match Co-coach of JVW Bafana expressed that opponents are targeting his side, “They gave us a run for our money. It’s not easy for JVW when we go to play a game, each and every team pulls up their socks and always tries to beat us.

We still need to go back to the drawing board and make sure that we fix the mistakes that we did today and try to capitalise on the chances that we create and score a lot of goals. As you’ve seen today we only scored two goals and we had numerous chances to bury the game.”

In the university clash at midday, TUKS finally broke their hoodoo against UWC with a hard-fought 2-0 win, ending a run of three consecutive goalless draws between the sides. Siyamthanda Qashani and Pulane Moloi found the back of the net for the Pretoria based side to give them their first ever win in this derby, whilst teammate Ibanathi Msindo collected her second player of the match award. TUKS are now positioned third in the Super Era group after two wins and one defeat.

Saturday closed with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies who thrashed Richmond United 5-0. Masandawana celebrated goals scored by five different players, first to open the scoreline was Lelona Daweti. Teammates Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Lebohang Ramalepe, Noxolo Cesane and Boitumelo Rabale added one each, ensuring that the champions remained the only team in their group yet to concede a goal this season.

Despite their dominant display and high scoring results, Masanadawana’s Head Coach Godfrey Sapula emphasised on scoring more goals: “Three games, three wins and we scored 15 goals, it’s good but we can still improve. I've been saying that people look at the number of goals but for us we know that we could have scored more today. I think if we look at our game we are scoring through combinations, taking shots out of the box and from crosses, but we are not really scoring from set plays.

We get a lot of situations to score from set plays, and it's something that we've been really working hard on. I want us to be a team that is also dangerous on set plays, and we are working towards that. We are trying, the effort is there and there's improvement, but we'll keep fighting so that we can score more goals from set plays.”

Sunday wrapped up the festival with unpredictable movements.

Copper Belts, University of Fort Hare and City Lads all recorded important victories, while newcomers Ramatlaohle continued to show encouraging signs despite their baptism of fire in the top flight. Across the weekend, experienced internationals and emerging teenagers alike produced standout performances, underlining the growing depth of talent in the league.

First Touch head Coach Mmowa Kekana raised concerns over his team’s lack of scoring power despite victory, “It’s a problem in my team [not scoring goals]. Even the past seasons the problems we’ve been having is in the final third and scoring goals. I have hope that by the end of the season the team will do better.”

Coach Kekana revealed that the changes he made to his playing style is what gave them positive results, “I approached the game with an offensive style rather than attacking, I thought it was better to attack and that’s why I used the 4-4-2 formation in this match.”

While the log standings may tell a different story for City Lads who are yet to collect any points or score a goal in this campaign, Head Coach Zikhona Madinga remained optimistic after her team’s third consecutive defeat in Super Rise, she said: “Most of the players come from the development league and they are still adapting. They will be fine as time goes on. 

We will come back, I believe in my girls to adapt. Looking at today’s game it is better than the last two games, meaning that we are improving.”

With Polokwane now complete, attention turns to the next stop on the Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified calendar. The festival heads to Mpumalanga this coming weekend, from Friday 3 July to Sunday 5 July, where teams will continue their quest for points and momentum at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium.