The Sasol National Championship which will crown new annual champions on Sunday got underway with crucial wins for Kovsies and Ezemvelo FC, while Ramatlaohle Ladies and Super Strikers will rue missed chances to break their deadlock in Knysna on Tuesday, 15 October 2024.
The KwaZulu Natal team put in a solid performance to take a 2-0 win in their opening match which will set them in good stead as they look ahead in booking their place in the HollywoodBets Super League for the 2024/2025 season.
Photos: Sasol in Sport
Ezemvelo had emerged from the tough Sasol Championships provincial season unbeaten, dropping only two points after playing to two draws, and the team will be one of the favourites to go all the way.
Amanda Mkhize got the first goal for her team as they took the 1-nil lead into halftime, and she returned after the break to score her second and the winner for Ezemvelo, walking away with the Diski Queen of the Match prize and a winner cheque of R1500.
The second game of the day saw Free State University’s Kovsies and the North West University go head-to-head in the tertiary institutions derby, and it was the Bloemfontein team who took the early lead via Morongwe Ratabane, only to miss a second shortly thereafter.
Despite this setback, they are able to double their lead in the second half before Aphiwe Shamase got past the NWU goalkeeper to score a fantastic third goal. It looked like the match was done and dusted only for a determined NWU to pull back two late goals, for a nervy finish to the game that ended 3-2 in favour of the team from the Free State.
Photos: Sasol in Sport
The final match of the day saw Ramatlaohle Ladies up against Super Strikers Ladies at Loerie Park Sports Ground, and the team from Mpumalanga was first on the score sheet in the 29th minute as Mavis Maiacane dispossessed Ramatlaohle Ladies’ defender in the box and cooly slotted the ball for the match opener.
However, the team from Limpopo was able to level matters on the other end when they were awarded a penalty, which Mary Morudi converted. The teams went into the half-time break with the score tied 1-1.
The action continued when Maicane went on to score her second for a match brace, regaining the lead for Super Strikers Ladies, only for Ramatlaohle Ladies to be handed their second penalty of the game, and it was again Morudi who made no mistake in scoring and ensuring her team secured a 2-all draw.
Wednesday’s action sees North West University take on Royal Wizards, Super Strikers will turn their attention to FC Raycon Ladies, while Ezemvelo will look to continue with winning ways when they face UCT.
Fixtures and Results of the 2024 Sasol National Championship
Tuesday, 15 October
09:00 – Sophakhama Ladies 0-2 Ezemvelo
12:30 – Kovsies 3-2 NWU
15:00 – Ramatlaohle Ladies 2-2 Super Strikers
Wednesday, 16 October
9:00 – North West University vs Royal Wizards
12:30 – Super Striker vs FC Raycon Ladies
15:00 – Ezemvelo vs UCT
Thursday, 17 October
9:00 – FC Raycon Ladies vs Ramatlaohle Ladies
12:30 – UCT vs Sophakhama
15:00 – Royal Wizards vs Kovsies
Friday, 18 October
Semi-Finals
Sunday, 20 October
Final
Main Photo Caption: The Sasol National Championship is underway and it was Ezemvelo FC and Kovsies that earned vital wins as action kicked the action off in Knysna on Tuesday, 15 October 2024. Photos: Sasol in Sport
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