Basadi in Action Sports

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies began their 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League campaign with a goalless draw against Egyptian hosts FC Masar in their opening Group A encounter in Ismailia on Sunday. © @SundownsLadies The South African champions were hoping to make a winning start to their continental campaign, but had to settle for a point after struggling to find a breakthrough against a determined FC Masar side. Both teams showed intent going forward, but neither could make their opportunities count in a closely contested encounter. The result also reflected the competitiveness of Group A, with all four teams opening their campaigns with draws. In the other Group A fixture, Morocco’s FUS Rabat and Cameroon’s Lekié Football Filles also played to a 0-0 draw. The opening round has therefore produced four teams on one point each, with no goals scored in either match. Sundowns will be looking to improve their attacking output as the group-stage of progresses. The two-time African champions wi...

A single fixture will be played this weekend with Copperbelt Ladies hosting Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the Baroka Village in Ga-Mphahlele. Owing to the Brazilians' commitments in the COSAFA CAF Champions League qualifying round, this fixture was postponed to allow Sundowns to fully focus on the regional tournament. With the rest of the teams having already played nine matches, Copperbelts and Banyana Ba Style are playing a catch-up fixture.  Coach Godfrey Sapula's charges have started this season on a high and are scoring goals in clusters. Sundowns is sitting at the summit of the Super Era stream with a clean record, having won eight games out of eight. With 24 points in the bag and a five-point gap between them and a second-placed University of the Western Cape (UWC), the defending champions will look to extend the margins to eight with a victory over Copperbelt. Sundowns has scored 26 goals without conceding any. Copperbelt is in position five with 15 points. Though the Lim...

The Amplified Festival weekend produced 16 goals across eight matches as the Hollywoodbets Super League race begins to take shape. Siyamthanda Qashani The Hollywoodbets Super League’s penultimate round was staged at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Stadium and delivered a weekend of goals, defensive dominance, and statement victories as the battle for supremacy intensified across the Super Rise and Super Era streams. Across eight matches, 16 goals were scored, with several teams strengthening their positions while others were left searching for answers as the season gathers momentum. In the Super Rise, the University of Fort Hare compounded City Lads FC’s struggles with a 2-0 victory. Copperbelt remain without a goal in the stream, highlighting the challenges they have faced in front of the goal. First Touch FC continued their impressive campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ezemvelo Ladies FC, a result that keeps them firmly inside the top four and within touching distance o...

Ibanathi Msindo’s football journey is a powerful story of talent, sacrifice and unwavering family support. The University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) midfielder has established herself as one of the standout players in the 2026 Women’s Varsity Football campaign, but her journey to the big stage began on the streets of Pampierstad in the Northern Cape. Ibanathi Msindo  Born on 25 July 2002 and raised in Pampierstad, Msindo developed a love for football from an incredibly young age. Barely three years old, she was already kicking a ball around, and by the age of seven, she was playing street football with her nephews. Despite often being the only girl among the boys, Msindo more than held her own. Her passion for the game continued to grow, eventually leading her to club football.  At 15, Msindo joined Nicko Taurus Academy after she and her mother moved to Kagiso on the West Rand, partly to give her greater opportunities to pursue her football dream. However, tragedy struck just as Ms...

The 2026 Varsity Football Women’s tournament has reached its business end, with an action-packed weekend at Wits producing plenty of goals, competitive encounters and four teams securing their places in the semi-finals. © X (@VarsityDiski) UJ continued their impressive campaign to finish top of Group A. They opened the weekend with a convincing 4-0 victory over WSU, before being held to a 1-1 draw by UL. The result saw UJ finish the group stage unbeaten on 10 points. UWC also finished strongly, following their commanding 6-0 win over UL with a 2-0 victory against TUT. The defending champions secured second place in the group and will now face UJ in the semi-finals. In Group B, UP-Tuks claimed top spot after a 3-1 win over CPUT and a crucial 2-1 victory against Wits. TUT also booked their place in the last four, despite their 2-0 defeat to UWC, following an impressive run that included an emphatic 11-1 win over CPUT. The weekend brought the group stage to an end, with Wits, WSU, CPUT an...

The countdown is on as the 2026 Varsity Football Women’s tournament prepares to take centre stage, bringing together some of South Africa’s top university teams for another exciting season of football.    © X  (@VarsityDiski) · The tournament kicks off on Saturday, 1 August 2026, with matches set to take place at Tuks Stadium over the opening weekend. Eight universities will compete for the prestigious title, with each team determined to make a strong start to their campaign. TUT, UJ, Wits, UWC, UL, Tuks, CPUT and WSU will all battle it out for championship glory. Varsity Football Women continues to play an important role in the growth of women’s football in South Africa, providing talented players with a platform to showcase their skills while representing their universities at the highest level of student sport. With some of the country’s most promising young footballers set to take part, supporters can expect exciting matches, strong competition and unforgettable momen...

The SAFA Women's Provincial League returns with a crucial 3-week stretch that will test title ambitions, squad depth, and consistency across Gauteng’s top sides. From the Soweto Derby feel to key away trips, here is a professional breakdown of all fixtures involving Kaizer Chiefs Ladies between 25 July and 15 August 2026. MATCHDAY 1: THE EARLY STATEMENT Mamelodi Sundowns vs Kaizer Chiefs Ladies Saturday, 25 July 2026 | 11:00 |  This is the headline fixture of the opening weekend. Sundowns, host a Chiefs Ladies side looking to lay down an early marker. For Amakhosi, this is about more than 3 points — it’s about measuring themselves against the best. A disciplined defensive shape and quick transitions will be key for Chiefs to get something from this away fixture. MATCHDAY 2 & 3: HOME DOUBLE-HEADER Kaizer Chiefs Ladies vs M.U.S.A United Saturday, 1 August 2026 | 11:00 |  Kaizer Chiefs Ladies vs JVW FC Sunday, 2 August 2026 | 11:00 |  Back-to-back home games give Chiefs ...

The Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified Festival concluded at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, with clubs heading into the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) break after an action-packed weekend of football. Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies maintained their perfect record at the top of the Super Era group, while TUT Ladies returned to winning ways and Diepkloof Ladies looked ahead with optimism despite another defeat. The headline fixture of the weekend saw league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies secure an impressive 2-0 victory over previously unbeaten TS Galaxy Queens. Isabella Ludwig gave the Brazilians the perfect start with an early opener before Ronnel Donnelly, making her return after a lengthy injury layoff, sealed the result late in the second half. The victory ensured Sundowns remained flawless after five matches, while TS Galaxy suffered their first defeat of the campaign.  Despite the loss, TS Galaxy head coach Sizwe Sibiya was encouraged by his team...

The Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified festival returned to Tshwane from 19-21 June, with the University of Pretoria (Tuks) hosting a weekend of league fixtures that highlighted the quality and competitiveness of women’s football in South Africa.  HWBS Top Goal scorers JVW © Backpage TXT The festival got underway on Friday, 19 June, with an entertaining clash between Richmond United and Diepkloof Ladies. Diepkloof Ladies made an early statement when they found the back of the net in the ninth minute, but Richmond United responded almost immediately levelling matters just a minute later. With the match finely balanced heading into the second half, Richmond United returned with renewed energy and determination. Their efforts paid off when Zoe De Kock scored the decisive goal to hand her side the lead and ultimately  secure all the three points. De Kock’s influential performance earned her the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on her display, she admitted that she had a slo...

Cape Town-born coach and football administrator Shilene Booysen has taken on one of the most important leadership roles in South African women’s football after being appointed Head of Women’s Football at Stellenbosch FC Women ahead of the club’s debut season in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Shilene Booysen  © Gallo Images Booysen arrives at Stellenbosch with extensive international and domestic experience, having recently worked together with Scottish coach Pauline Hamill in the FIFA-sponsored Afghan Women United side during the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 in Morocco. The tournament marked an important moment for Afghan women’s football as the refugee-based team competed on the international stage under FIFA’s support.  TUKS vs Stellenbosch For Booysen, however, her latest appointment represents more than simply stepping into another technical role. It is a chance to shape the future of women’s football at one of South Africa’s fastest-growing clubs. “This role means a ...

University of the Western Cape (UWC) defender Shakira O’Malley has been named in the Banyana Banyana squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Algeria (7–18 April), as the technical team continues to assess depth and consistency within the backline. Shakira O’Malley © BackpagePix The 23-year-old defender, who was part of the squad at the recent COSAFA Women’s Championship in Polokwane, retains her place in the national setup, taking her senior cap tally to eight. Her continued inclusion points to growing trust from the coaching staff as preparations build toward upcoming continental competitions. O’Malley’s pathway to the senior national team has been gradual but structured. Hailing from Ocean View in Cape Town, she developed through local structures at Ocean View FC before progressing to Spurs WFC, where she gained exposure in a more competitive environment. Her development was further strengthened during her time in the United States, where she featured for the Univ...

In a sporting landscape where female athletes have long had to fight for visibility, respect, and fair treatment, Jessica Mushavathu, popularly known as Auntie Diski, is stepping in as both protector and pioneer. Jessica Mushavathu A respected sports TV personality and passionate advocate for women’s football, Mushavathu is also the founder of Bokamoso Sports Agency — a groundbreaking platform dedicated to representing and empowering female athletes across South Africa.  Getting to know Jessica Her mission is clear: give a voice to those who have been overlooked for far too long. “There Was No Outlet” – Turning Frustration Into Purpose Mushavathu’s entry into player representation was not driven by ambition alone, but by necessity. Years of witnessing inequality in women’s sport pushed her to act. “I think there was a lot of injustice that was happening in the women's sports space that I came across through friends, acquaintances and industry colleagues, which was not solution driv...

For Sinegugu Zondi, representing South Africa women's national football team is more than just stepping onto the pitch — it is about growth, resilience, and constantly striving to improve.  Sinegugu Zondi © BackpagePix The University of the Western Cape Women's Football Team defender recently featured for Banyana Banyana during the COSAFA Women's Championship in Polokwane, where the team battled their way to the final before narrowly falling 2–1 to Namibia women's national football team. Despite the disappointment of the result, Zondi believes the tournament provided invaluable lessons for the squad as they continue preparing for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations that will be hosted in June — venue yet to be confirmed by CAF. Reflecting on the tournament that was staged in Polokwane from February 18 to March 1, 2026, Zondi highlighted the resilience shown by Banyana Banyana throughout the competition. “I think the team showed a lot of character and determination thr...

For nearly two weeks, Polokwane is about to turn into the heartbeat of women’s football as the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship kicks off from 18 February to 1 March. Banyana Banyana The city will live and breathe football, with Old Peter Mokaba Stadium and Seshego Stadium hosting the group-stage battles before the action moves to the grand stage of the New Peter Mokaba Stadium for the semi-finals, third-place playoff and the final. This is where champions are made and rivalries are settled. Banyana Banyana COSAFA Fixtures This year’s tournament promises more than just competition — it brings global stars back home. Fans will have front-row seats to watch Malawi’s lethal forward Temwa Chawinga, who continues to shine in the NWSL with Kansas City, bringing her pace and finishing touch to the COSAFA stage. Zambia will arrive stacked with attacking power, led by Barbra Banda of Orlando Pride and Racheal Kundananji of Bay FC, two forwards who have proven they can deliver at the hi...

The 2025 Hollywoodbets Super League Awards lit up the Vodacom Dome in Midrand on Sunday, 1 February, as South Africa’s top-tier women’s football league honoured the standout performers from another fiercely competitive season. Leadra Smeda TS Galaxy Queens forward Leandra Smeda was the biggest winner of the night, walking away with two major accolades. She claimed the Top Goal Scorer award after a sensational campaign that saw her net 22 goals, and was also crowned Player of the Season, underlining her impact and consistency throughout the year. The Young Player of the Season award and Player’s Player award went to Bonolo Mokoma of JVW FC, who continues to impress with her maturity and performances at a young age. An emotional Mokoma dedicated her award to her mother, saying: “I feel excited and I am dedicating this award to my mother because she sacrifices herself a lot for me.” Karabo Mokoma Champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies also had their moment on stage as they were officially pre...

The official draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 officially took place on Thursday at the King Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco. With the tournament expanded to a record 16 teams, excitement is already building ahead of the continental showpiece, scheduled from 17 March to 3 April 2026. Andile Dlamini The draw also carries added significance: the competition will double as the African qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, making every group stage match a vital step toward global glory. South Africa were drawn into Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania, a group that immediately raised eyebrows across the continent.   WAFCON POOL DRAW But for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Banyana Banyana’s experienced goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, the focus goes far beyond group permutations. “It’s a very tough group, a difficult group and it’s not going to be easy but we just have to believe in ourselves extremel...