The 2023 SAFA Women's League was the fourth season of the professional SAFA Women's League, and the 15th season of nation-wide league competition in women's football in South Africa.[1] It was the 2nd season played with 16 teams.
| Season | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 Feb 2023 - 6 Dec 2023 |
| Champions | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (6th title) |
| Promoted | University of Fort Hare Lindelani Ladies |
| Relegated | Coal City Wizards Ma-Indies Ladies |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Goals scored | 697 (2.9 per match) |
| Best Player | Boitumelo Rabale |
| Top goalscorer | Sphumelele Shamase (22 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Kaylin Swart |
| Biggest home win | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 11-0 Coal City Wizards (18 October 2023)) |
| Biggest away win | Coal City Wizards 0-9 Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (7 May 2023) |
| Highest scoring | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 11-0 Coal City Wizards (18 October 2023) |
| Longest winning run | (14 games) UWC |
| Longest unbeaten run | (17 games) Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies |
| Longest winless run | (17 games) Ma-Indies Ladies |
| Longest losing run | (13 games) Ma-Indies Ladies |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of 21 December 2023. | |
Teams edit
The 2022 season ended with Golden Ladies and Tsunami Queens relegated to the Sasol Women's League,[2] while Vasco Da Gama changed its name to TS Galaxy Queens after it was purchased by Tim Sukazi, who owns TS Galaxy FC.[3] Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies changed its name to Royal AM after Shauwn Mkhize bought it their status.[4] Two teams joined the league. The University of Pretoria won the 2021 Sasol League National Championship, while Copperbelt Ladies were the runners-up.
Stadiums and Locations
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | 2022 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Lads | Ibhayi | Issac Wolfson Stadium | 10,000 | 12th |
| Coal City Wizards | eMalahleni | Puma Stadium | 24,000 | 13th |
| Copperbelt Ladies | Polokwane | Rugby field adjoining Old Peter Mokaba Stadium | 2nd in SWL | |
| Durban Ladies | Durban | Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium | 6,500 | 10th |
| First Touch FC | Polokwane | Baroka Village | 1,000[5] | 9th |
| JVW FC | Johannesburg | Wits Stadium | 5,000 | 4th |
| Ma-Indies Ladies | Polokwane | Giyani Stadium | 20,000 | 8th |
| Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Pretoria | Loftus versfeid stadium | 51,762 | 1st |
| Richmond United | Northern Cape | Merino Park Stadium | 200[6] | 7th |
| Royal AM | Pietermaritzburg | Harry Gwala Stadium | 6,500 | 6th |
| Thunderbirds Ladies | Gqeberha | Sisa Dukashe Stadium | 17,000 | 11th |
| TS Galaxy Queens | Mbombela | Solomon Mahlangu Stadium | 5,000 | 14th |
| Tswane University of Technology | Pretoria | TUT Stadium | 2,500[7] | 4th |
| University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg | UJ Stadium | 8,000 | 5th |
| University of Pretoria | Pretoria | UJ Stadium | 8,000 | 1st in SWL |
| University of Western Cape | Cape Town | UWC Stadium | 2,500 | 2nd |
N.B. some teams play their home matches at multiple stadia (e.g. some of Durban Ladies 2023 matches were played at Noordelikes Rugby Club in Polokwane); locations listed above were the most common location for 2023 home matches.
Table edit
- As of 20 November 2023
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies(C) | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 95 | 15 | +80 | 78 | Champions League Qualifiers |
| 2 | UWC FC | 30 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 66 | 17 | +49 | 75 | |
| 3 | JVW | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 53 | 28 | +25 | 63 | |
| 4 | TS Galaxy Queens | 31 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 62 | 22 | +40 | 64 | |
| 5 | Royal AM Women | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 29 | +24 | 55 | |
| 6 | UP-Tuks Ladies | 29 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 54 | 32 | +22 | 52 | |
| 7 | Richmond United | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 48 | |
| 8 | Durban Ladies | 30 | 14 | 2 | 14 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 44 | |
| 9 | UJ Ladies | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 43 | |
| 10 | TUT Ladies | 30 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 36 | |
| 11 | First Touch FC | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 51 | −21 | 31 | |
| 12 | Copperbelt Ladies | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 26 | 58 | −32 | 26 | |
| 13 | City Lads | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 29 | 66 | −37 | 25 | |
| 14 | Thunderbirds Ladies | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 59 | −37 | 20 | |
| 15 | Coal City Wizards(R) | 30 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 32 | 104 | −72 | 17 | Relegation to the Sasol Women's League |
| 16 | Ma-Indies Ladies (R) | 30 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 18 | 78 | −60 | 8 |
Source: [citation needed]
Statistics edit
Top scorers edit
- As of 21 November 2023
Most clean sheets edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kaylin Swart
|
JVW FC | 14 |
| 2 | Kebotseng Moletsane
|
Royal AM Women | 12 |
| Regirl Ngobeni
|
UWC | ||
| 4 |  Sedilame Boseja
|
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC | 10 |
| 5 |  Elizabeth Mazivise
|
University of Johannesburg |
9 |
| 6 | Dineo Magagula
|
TS Galaxy Queens | 8 |
| 7 | Dineo Kabai
|
Richmond United | 7 |
| 8 | Andile Dlamini
|
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC | 5 |
| Asa Rabalao
|
UP-Tuks Ladies | ||
| Magabene Polori
|
First Touch FC |
Awards edit
Annual Awards edit
| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the season |
Boitumelo Rabale
|
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies |
| Fan's Player of the season |
Chuene Morifi
| |
| Goalkeeper of the season |
Kaylin Swart
|
JVW |
| Top goalscorer of the season |
Sphumelele Shamase
|
University of Johannesburg |
| Coach of the season |
Thinasonke Mbuli
|
UWC |
| Young player of the season |
Mmabatho Mogale
|
UP-Tuks Ladies |
| Administrator of the season |
Boitumelo Lekalakala
|
References edit
- ^ "NCPD Tests". Orthopaedic Nursing. 42 (1): 46–47. January 2023. doi:10.1097/nor.0000000000000919. ISSN 0744-6020.
- ^ CentreCircle (2022-11-16). "Golden Ladies and Tsunami Queens axed as Copperbelt Ladies and Tuks Ladies FC replace them in the Hollywoodbets Super League". Centre Circle. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ itumelengm (2023-01-12). "TS Galaxy acquire Hollywoodbets Super League status for their ladies' team". Mpumalanga News. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Shawn Mkhize Buys New Football Club, Royal AM Ladies FC". iHarare News. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Baroka FC Village". FastScore. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "May 2021 issue - Sports & Play". Issuu. Pro Landscaper Africa magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "TUT Stadium". SoccerWay. Retrieved 13 November 2023.