The Lucas Moripe Stadium will be alive with excitement this weekend as Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies host the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Ladies in the third round of the Hollywoodbets Super League.
Banyana Ba Style has kicked off the season in impressive fashion, securing a 4-0 victory over Royal AM in their opening game, followed by a thrilling 5-3 win against TS Galaxy Queens in their second fixture.
Melinda Kgadiete expresses confidence in the team’s performance after a flawless start to their title defence.
“It is a good start and we plan to maintain this momentum throughout the season, even though we know there are a couple of tough fixtures coming up. Beginning the campaign positively and collecting points early while other teams are still finding their footing is advantageous,” Kgadiete remarked.
Melinda has shown excellent form against UJ Ladies, having scored in both the 2-1 away victory last season and the 3-1 home triumph the season before.
Leading up to Saturday’s match, the Sundowns Ladies striker emphasizes her focus on securing victory for the team rather than pursuing personal accolades.
“We acknowledge the strengths of our opponents, but our focus remains on our performance. By capitalizing on our opportunities and minimizing errors, we believe we can continue our good start to the season. The mood in camp is very positive and we are looking forward to the game,” the striker concluded.
Tiisetso Makhubela, who also scored against UJ Ladies two seasons ago in the 3-0 away win, believes there is everything to play for on Saturday.
“I am pleased with how we have dominated this fixture in recent times, but every season brings its challenges. We understand that they will be motivated to halt our momentum, but we are collectively ready for the challenge they will bring,” Makhubela said.
UJ Ladies have also started the campaign strongly, securing a 4-1 victory against First Touch Ladies in the season opener, followed by a 3-1 win over JVW FC. Tiisetso believes there are much more than three points at stake.
“Of course, there is a lot on the line on Saturday because the winner will not only secure maximum points but also become the early leader of the table. The goal is to start the season strongly and I am excited about our goal return (9 goals) after the first two games,” Tiisetso concluded.
The match between Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and University of Johannesburg Ladies is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 16th, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, with kick-off set for 15:00.
