Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies announced the start of the new Hollywoodbets Super League season in emphatic fashion after cruising to a commanding 6-0 victory over Diepkloof Ladies at the Soweto Campus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The reigning champions wasted little time asserting their authority in the opening match of the newly revamped league structure and delivered a ruthless attacking display that underlined their determination to defend their crown once again.
Veteran defender Lebohang Ramalepe opened the scoring in the 28th minute after Sundowns Ladies dominated possession and pinned Diepkloof deep inside their own half for long periods. The breakthrough settled the Brazilians, who continued to control the tempo with quick passing combinations and aggressive movement in the final third.
The Brazilians doubled their advantage just before halftime when Noxolo Cesane found the back of the net in the 42nd minute, giving Banyana Ba Style a comfortable lead heading into the break.
The second half continued in a similar fashion as the champions intensified the pressure and showed their quality across the pitch. Nonhlanhla Mthandi added the third goal in the 52nd minute before Refilwe Tholakele extended the advantage further nine minutes later to put the result beyond doubt.
Cesane and Lelona Daweti remained lively throughout the contest, causing persistent problems with their movement and attacking combinations. Daweti eventually capped off her performance with a goal of her own in the 72nd minute as Sundowns Ladies continued to dominate proceedings.
Boitumelo Rabale completed the scoring in stoppage time to seal an emphatic six-goal victory and the perfect start to the new campaign.
Speaking after the match, Daweti praised the team’s mentality and explained that the performance reflected the hard work put in during the extended pre-season period.
“We are very happy with the result because starting the season strongly was extremely important for us as a team. The preparations were long and demanding, but I think today’s performance showed how seriously everyone approached the pre-season because we looked sharp, disciplined and hungry from the first minute until the end of the match. It is always important to begin the campaign with confidence, especially in a new league format where every game carries significant value and I believe we managed the occasion very well as a collective.”
Midfielder Kholosa Biyana echoed those sentiments and praised the squad’s focus and professionalism during the opening fixture.
“I think the most encouraging thing about today’s performance was the discipline and patience the team showed throughout the game. Sometimes in opening matches, players can become anxious or force situations because everyone is excited for the new season, but I believe we remained calm, trusted our structure and allowed the game to develop naturally. Once we scored the first goal, you could see the confidence growing within the team and that helped us play with more freedom and control.”
Kudos to our Ladies for a perfect start to the new-look Hollywoodbets Super League season as they continue their title defence dominantly.
