Sundowns Ladies defeated Richmond Ladies, 4-2, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium to end a long season of mixed emotions and retained the Hollywoodbets Super League title. 27 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, 126 goals scored, 13 against. 82 points accumulated, reads their record at the top of the log on the last day of the 2022 campaign.
Despite failing to defend two of the three titles won in 2021, Banyana Ba Style played all 39 competitive matches in the football calendar. 30 Hollywoodbets Super League Fixtures, 4 COSAFA CAFWCL Qualifiers matches and 5 CAFWCL fixtures, all in 8 months.
“It’s been a long season across the various competitions we participated in. Regardless of the results in the COSAFA Qualifiers and CAFWCL, I am proud of how my charges displayed their bravery all occasions” said Tshabalala after his side’s midweek clash against University of Johannesburg.
Sundowns Ladies were dominant in the domestic league and suffered just 2 losses in 30 matches. In the COSAFA qualifiers for Champions League, Sundowns lost the final to Green Buffaloes of Zambia via penalties. In the main event which was held in Morocco, Sundowns lost the final to ASFAR of Morocco, 4-0, despite being the most dominant side in the competition.
In prize money, Sundowns Ladies collected a total of R6.2 million for their great exploits in all fronts. R4.2 million for finishing second in CAFWCL in Morocco, and R2 million for winning the Hollywoodbets Super League title.
Sundowns management have shown seriousness in the women’s team by recruiting top talent to assist in the technical team led by the coach Jerry Tshabalala. Downs roped in experienced strength and conditioning coach, Simone Conley, to assist the team with fitness. Conley, 32, has worked in the Highlands Park and TS Galaxy teams in the premiership. She has also worked with the junior national teams and was part of the 2018 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.
Sundowns chairman, Tlhopie Motsepe, also confirmed during the World Football Summit in Durban that the technical will be allowed to go the market and look for more players to bolster the team.
Sundowns’ Ladies may have played every match on offer but it was their resilient attitude that separated them from the rest. The Sundowns team also had players who featured in the AFCON winning Banyana Banyana team in Morocco that also qualified for 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia/New Zealand.
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