The Hollywoodbets Super League festival staged at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein from 16 to 18 October produced several decisive moments as the premier women’s football league moves into its closing rounds.
Stalemate halts Sundowns’ streak
In the standout fixture the University of the Western Cape (UWC) held unbeaten leaders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to a goalless draw, denying the league leaders a further clean sheet and a victory. Sundowns head coach Godfrey Sapula acknowledged the challenge his side encountered, saying that UWC had provided a useful benchmark.
“UWC gave us something to think about. Sometimes, when you need to work on certain details of your game, you always need a reference point and today we got one,” Sapula said.
The result leaves Sundowns still unbeaten after 11 matches and having not conceded a goal, and retains their comfortable cushion at the top of the table. According to the festival report, Sundowns sit 11 points clear of second-placed University of Pretoria, while UWC are level on points with Pretoria on 20.
Title race and close margins
The weekend’s results did little to shake the title race beyond reinforcing Sundowns’ dominance. In the other streams, Super Rise Stream leaders JVW FC were held to a goalless draw by First Touch Ladies, leaving them still unbeaten after 11 matches but with their advantage trimmed. JVW now lead by a single point over University of Fort Hare (UFH), who strengthened their challenge with a 2-1 win over Ezemvelo Women’s FC.
UFH’s victory was powered by a brace from Kesha Hendricks, who was named Player of the Match in their encounter with Ezemvelo, according to the festival coverage.
Relegation fight and breakthrough for Stellenbosch
At the other end of the standings, Stellenbosch Ladies finally secured their first win of the campaign in their 11th attempt, edging Diepkloof Ladies 1-0. Both sides remain embroiled in the battle to avoid relegation in the Super Era Stream. Stellies co-coach Ilze Jones described the victory as the fruit of hard work while stressing that the team must continue to fight over the remaining fixtures.
“The win means everything to us because we’ve been working very hard for it. We can just be proud of the girls,” Jones said. “The job is not done yet. We still need to fight. There are three games coming up and we’re going to show up.”
What this means for Bloemfontein and the competition
The Amplified Festival at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium has offered Bloemfontein a concentrated showcase of the top tiers of women’s football in South Africa, bringing teams and supporters from across the country to the city. For local fans and the stadium, the festival is an opportunity to witness pivotal matches as the league progresses into its final three rounds.
Key outcomes from the festival include:
- Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies remain unbeaten and have yet to concede after 11 matches.
- UWC produced the weekend’s headline result by holding Sundowns to a 0-0 draw.
- Stellenbosch Ladies recorded their first win of the season, crucial in the relegation fight.
- JVW FC and UFH continue to contest closely in the Super Rise Stream.
| Team | Notable point |
|---|---|
| Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | 11 matches unbeaten; still yet to concede |
| UWC | Held Sundowns to 0-0 |
| Stellenbosch Ladies | First win of the season (1-0 v Diepkloof) |
| University of Fort Hare | 2-1 win over Ezemvelo; Kesha Hendricks brace |
With three rounds remaining, the festival’s results tighten the narrative for both the championship and relegation battles. For Bloemfontein the successful hosting of the festival underscores the city’s capacity to stage high-profile women’s sporting events, and offers local supporters a compelling run-in to watch as teams press for honours or survival.
