Basadi in Action Sports

University of the Western Cape (UWC) mentor Thinasonke Mbuli has opened up to Basadi In Action about the departure of key player Sibulele Holweni and her team's preparations for a crucial Hollywoodbets Super League Super Era stream encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. UWC will face the high-flying Banyana Ba Style on Saturday afternoon at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.  Hollywoodbets Super League Fixtures The encounter presents a significant test for the Western Cape outfit, who will be looking to challenge a Sundowns side that is yet to concede a goal this season. However, Mbuli, who is affectionately known as "The Bull" within her football circles, remains confident in her team's ability to rise to the occasion and find a way past the reigning champions' stubborn defence. Preparing for high-stakes encounters is part of what drives the UWC mentor, who understands the demands that come with facing a team of Sundowns' ...

The DP World Lions Women will be eager to make their mark on the 2026/27 Hollywoodbets Pro Series when they take on the Fidelity Titans Women in the Hollywoodbets Pro50 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday, 10 October.  DP World Lions The Lions head into the encounter looking to get their campaign underway after the weather disrupted their opening-round fixture against the Warriors at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. With rain preventing both teams from batting, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled, leaving the Lions without an opportunity to test themselves in the opening weekend. Their clash against the Titans therefore presents an important opportunity to get their season moving, although they face a side that has already demonstrated its batting strength. The Titans made an impressive start to their campaign, recording an 86-run victory over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in their opening Pro50 encounter. After being asked to bat first, the Centurion-based side p...

The Hollywoodbets Super League delivered another weekend of goals, tight contests and important points as teams continued to fight for supremacy across the two streams. While several sides were forced to settle for narrow wins or share the spoils, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies once again underlined their dominance, producing one of the weekend’s biggest results with an emphatic 8–0 victory over Richmond United Ladies. Banyana Ba Style remain the team everyone is chasing, with the comprehensive win extending their winning streak to 10 matches and keeping their perfect record intact. Their latest performance once again showed the quality and consistency that has made them such a formidable force this season. University of Pretoria also enjoyed a valuable weekend, securing a 1–0 victory over UWC. The result strengthened Tuks’ position in the Super Era stream and gave them another important three points in what continues to be a closely contested campaign. In the Super Rise stream, JVW FC were ...

The Hollywoodbets Pro20 delivered another action-packed day of domestic cricket, with standout individual performances, debut moments and weather once again playing a major role. @Titans_Cricket Dolphins Ladies vs Fidelity Titans Batting first, the Dolphins Ladies posted 157/3 after 20 overs, setting the Titans a competitive target. Alexandra Candler led the way for the Dolphins Ladies with a superb 89*, while Yasmeen Khan contributed a valuable 35 as the Dolphins posted a competitive total. The Fidelity Titans, however, produced a commanding chase to secure an eight-wicket victory, with Laura Wolvaardt starring with a brilliant 69 off 40 balls. Anneke Bosch added 51 off 37 balls as the Titans comfortably reached their target. Wolvaardt's outstanding knock also earned her another Player of the Match award. The match also marked a special milestone for Erin Scrooby, who received her Pro20 cap on debut for the Girls in Blue. Garden Route Badgers Women vs YesPlay Cobras The Garden Rou...

TS Galaxy Queens' ongoing salary crisis has taken a new turn, with several senior players refusing to travel with the team for Friday's Hollywoodbets Super League fixture against Diepkloof Ladies in Gqeberha. Basadi in Action understands that Banyana Banyana midfielder and captain Refiloe Jane, alongside experienced players Leandra Smeda, Dineo Magagula, Nicole Michael, Noluthando Vilakazi, Lesego Nkoane and others did not make the trip to the Eastern Cape in protest over outstanding salaries. The players' decision comes after months of reported uncertainty surrounding salary payments at the club. Information gathered by Basadi in Action indicates that players and members of the technical team have not been paid consistently since the beginning of 2026 with their payments from 2025 only being made this year. By September, some players and technical staff members were reportedly owed at least four months' salaries. The players have also reportedly not heard from the club...

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 stage is set for an intriguing Tshwane derby in the Hollywoodbets Super  League as Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies prepare to face the University of  Pretoria (AmaTuks), with Khunjulwa Mali set to come up against her former club.  @AmaTuks The two sides will meet on Sunday, 20 September at Oscar Mpetha Stadium at the University of Limpopo, with both teams having plenty to play for.  Sundowns currently lead the Super Era stream, while Tuks have established  themselves among the teams challenging near the top of the standings.  For Mali, the fixture carries an added level of significance. Having previously  been part of the Sundowns setup, the midfielder will now face familiar  teammates while wearing the Tuks colours.  Her move to Tuks has provided her with an opportunity to play a more  prominent role and showcase her ability on the field. Although she admits  leaving Sundowns was difficult financially, Mali believes the move has been...

Ramatlaohle Ladies FC will be looking to return to their winning ways when they host Ezemvelo Women’s FC in a closely contested Hollywoodbets Super League encounter with just two points separating the sides at Oscar Mpetha Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Noko Matlou The fixture forms part of the weekend’s football festival at the University of Limpopo, with Ramatlaohle representing the host province as they welcome Ezemvelo for a crucial league encounter. The occasion also provides an opportunity for supporters to witness two sides competing for valuable league points as the Super Rise Stream campaign continues to take shape. With both sides separated by just two points on the standings, the match carries significance for two teams as they look to strengthen their respective positions. After eight matches, Ramatlaohle sits fifth with 11 points, having recorded three wins, two draws and three defeats. Ezemvelo are sixth on 9 points, with three wins and five defeats from their opening eight...

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 University of Pretoria (TUKS) heads into the next Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified festival with renewed confidence after securing a landmark 2-0 victory over the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in Polokwane this past weekend.  HWBSL Fixtures Sibusiso Themba The result was a significant milestone for the Tshwane outfit, marking their first-ever league victory over UWC after six previous meetings. It also handed TUKS their second win in three matches this season, lifting them to third place on the Super Era standings with six points. They currently sit one place above fourth-placed Copper Belts on goal difference, with both sides level on points. Tuks' next challenge comes on Friday, 3 July, when they face Limpopo-based Copper Belts at 15h00 in Mpumalanga as the Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified continues at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium. This fixture promises to be another closely contested affair between two in-form teams. Both TUKS and Copper Belts recorded victories d...

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 ...

The spotlight will firmly be on JVW FC and newcomers Ramatlaohle FC when they officially open the 2026 Hollywoodbets Super League season on Friday night at UJ Soweto Campus. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm, with free entrance for supporters, while fans can also catch the action live on SABC Sport and YouTube. Amanda Mthandi After narrowly missing out on the title last season, JVW returns determined to challenge once again after finishing second in 2025 with an impressive record of 21 wins, six draws and just three defeats. Interestingly, for the second consecutive season, JVW will begin their campaign against a newly promoted side after defeating Ezemvelo 3-2 in last year’s opener. JVW attacker Amanda Mthandi says excitement has been building within the squad after months of waiting for the season to finally begin. “I’m excited about the start of the new season. We’ve been training since the last week of January and there were uncertainties about the league, but now that we know who we a...

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. Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies  © Gallo Images 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, includ...

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Super League will officially kick off between 22-24 May at the UJ Soweto Stadium as South African women’s football enters a groundbreaking new chapter under the newly launched “Amplified” format. Speaking during the official launch, Hollywoodbets Super League Senior Sponsorship Coordinator for Football Menzi Ngcobo explained that the league has been split into two streams of eight teams — Super Era and Super Rise — to increase competition and create more opportunities for clubs to grow. “This is an opportunity to split the league from 16 teams into two groups of eight. It gives an opportunity for the best of the best to crown themselves champions at the final championship at the end of the playoffs,” said Ngcobo.  HWBSL Groups Under the new structure, teams in each stream will first compete amongst themselves before the top sides progress to the playoff rounds. The winners of Super Era and Super Rise will then meet in a final championship match to determine t...

Marumo Gallants have marked a significant milestone in their commitment to women’s football following the acquisition and official launch of Diepkloof Ladies, who are set to compete in the Hollywoodbets Super League. The move will now operate under the club's women empowerment CSI initiative known as Marumo Cares to reinforce a growing trend of professional clubs investing in the women’s game, providing greater structure, visibility, and opportunity. The launch signals more than participation—it represents a clear vision for long-term growth, driven by Technical Director Anna Monate. Central to her philosophy is recruiting players with strong character and untapped potential. “I want players with characters,  you can tell when a player is hungry,” Monate said. “I didn’t understand why these teams got rid of these players, but can they be given a chance?” Her approach focuses on restoring belief and offering opportunities to overlooked talent, building a team rooted in resilience an...

The 13th edition of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship burst into life at the iconic Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, delivering goals, standout individual performances and early statements of intent across Groups A, B and C. South Africa  © Gallo Images Group A: Angola and Hosts South Africa Off to Winning Starts The tournament opened with a Group A clash between Lesotho and Angola at 12h00. Angola proved too strong on the day, securing victory in the curtain-raiser and immediately positioning themselves as serious contenders in the group. Arminda Lopes was instrumental in her side’s success and walked away with the Player of the Match accolade after a commanding performance. In the second fixture at 15h00, hosts South Africa women's national football team thrilled the home crowd with a winning display against Malawi. Banyana Banyana showed composure and attacking fluidity as they kicked off their title charge in style. Nthabiseng Majiya’s impact did not go unnoti...

The countdown to the 2025 Hollywoodbets Super League Awards is officially on, following an announcement by the league sponsor’s unveiling the nominees ahead of the new season. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, 1 February, at the Vodacom Dome in Midrand, celebrating the standout performers from another highly competitive campaign in South Africa’s top-tier women’s football league. Boitumelo Rasehlo Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies once again asserted their dominance, securing their sixth Hollywoodbets Super League (HWBSL) title after a commanding season. Behind them, the battle for second place went down to the wire, with JVW FC and TS Galaxy Queens both finishing on 69 points. JVW cemented their position based on goal difference to claim second place, underlining the fine margins that defined the 2025 season. TS Galaxy Queens enjoyed an exceptional individual campaign, particularly in attack and defence. Goalkeeper Dineo Magagula recorded the most clean sheets in the league with 1...