Football fans in Limpopo are in for a feast of women’s football this weekend when the Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified Festival brings eight matches to the Oscar Mpetha Stadium at the University of Limpopo in Turfloop.
The festival, which gets underway on Saturday, will feature three eagerly anticipated derbies, including the Western Cape Derby, Varsity Derby and Tshwane Derby, with some of the country’s top women’s clubs expected to battle for crucial points.
The action starts at 9am on Saturday, 19 September, when Stellenbosch FC face the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in the Western Cape Derby.
Stellenbosch head into the encounter desperate for a change in fortunes after a difficult opening to their campaign.
The Stellies are bottom of the SuperEra stream and are still searching for their first points after eight rounds.
UWC, meanwhile, arrive in Turfloop in impressive form after winning their last four matches.
The students have also found their scoring boots, recording consecutive 3-0 victories in their last two outings.
The derby will therefore see Stellenbosch attempting to break their duck against a UWC side determined to continue its impressive run.
UJ, UFH SET FOR VARSITY SHOWDOWN
The second derby of the day is the Varsity Derby, with University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) taking on University of Fort Hare (UFH) at 11am.
The two university sides are separated by just one point in second and third positions respectively, adding further importance to the encounter.
UJ Ladies will be looking to bounce back after suffering defeat in their previous match, while UFH arrive with renewed confidence following their latest victory.
With so little separating the teams on the log, the result could have a significant impact on the battle near the top of the standings.
Saturday’s programme continues at 3pm, when Copperbelt Ladies meet TS Galaxy Queens.
Galaxy Queens will be desperate to stop their slide after losing their last two matches and conceding six goals during that run.
At 6pm, JVW will take on City Lads Ladies under the floodlights before TUT Ladies and First Touch Ladies close the day’s programme at 8.30pm.
SUNDOWNS, AMATUKS RENEW TSHWANE RIVALRY
Sunday’s programme will be headlined by another derby when reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies face the University of Pretoria (TUT/Amatuks) in the Tshwane Derby at 11.30am
Amatuks come into the match after scoring seven goals in their previous two matches, but they face a formidable Sundowns side that has made an unbeaten start to the SuperEra group.
The champions are yet to concede a goal or suffer defeat in the group, making Sunday’s clash a stern test for Amatuks.
The match promises to be one of the festival’s biggest attractions, with Amatuks’ attacking form coming up against a Sundowns defence that has yet to be breached.
Sunday’s action begins at 9am when Diepkloof Ladies face Richmond Ladies.
The festival will conclude at 3pm when Ramatlaohle meet Ezemvelo in the final match of the weekend.
TURFLOOP READY FOR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL BONANZA
With eight matches scheduled across Saturday and Sunday, the Oscar Mpetha Stadium is expected to become the centre of women’s football in Limpopo for the weekend.
The Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified Festival gives supporters an opportunity to watch several of the country’s leading women’s teams in one venue, while the derby fixtures add an extra edge to an already packed programme.
For the teams, however, the weekend is about more than the spectacle.
With points at stake and positions on the SuperEra log up for grabs, every match could prove significant as the season progresses.