Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will be aiming to begin their quest for a fifth consecutive Hollywoodbets Super League title on a high as they square off against Royal AM in the opening game of the season.
Banyana Ba Style has enjoyed season-opening victories in recent times and will be aiming to keep that streak alive. In their opening fixture of the last campaign, Banyana Ba Style registered a 1-0 victory over Richmond United. Two seasons ago, they secured a 2-1 victory against Ma-Indies Ladies, and three seasons ago, they achieved a 4-0 win against Golden Ladies.
Ahead of this year’s opening fixture, Oratile Mokwena believes the reigning champions are excited to embark on yet another title defense.
“I am very happy for the restart of the season. Obviously, as defending champions, we have to be a step ahead of other teams and show why we are winners. We have had a very good preseason and enough time to gel as a team, including the new signings. We have been working on all football principles, from attack to defense and transition. I believe everyone is hungry for the new season and we cannot wait to get started,” Oratile stated.
Mokwena believes the entire team is motivated to perform, given that Sunday’s opponents were the only team the Brazilians did not defeat last season, “Collectively, we believe that Royal AM owes us big time because they were difficult to break down last season in both home and away games. However, we will not dwell on that too much. We just have to stick to what we have been doing in training and I believe it will yield positive results. Every game is a new challenge and we are determined to showcase our improvement and resilience this season.”
Regina Mogolola also believes that the team’s focus goes beyond concentrating on a single opponent and securing maximum points.
“We are not underestimating them; we have to go out there and fight for the result. We know how good they are and how they can play. However, we are not going to be serious just because we are playing them; we will be playing because we are determined to excel whenever we are on the field. Our focus is on our performance and executing our game plan effectively.”
The defender also expressed the value of season-opening wins, “It is always good to start the season on a positive note because it helps to set the tone for the entire season. We are all excited that the season is starting again; preseason was great and we want to build on that momentum. Securing a win in the opening fixture not only boosts our confidence but also establishes a winning mindset within the team.”
The match between Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Royal AM is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 3rd, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The kick-off is scheduled for 15h00.
