The 2022 Hollywoodbets Super League season was yet another entertaining roller coaster, with Sundowns Ladies seeking a third straight title. Despite dropping down the table in July due to the international break, the Tshwane giants delivered some scintillating performances in the catch-up games to assume leadership of the log.
Sundowns Ladies made a winning return to action thanks to a 3-1 win over the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Ladies before heading to the COSAFA Women’s Champions League zonal qualifier in Durban.
The Brazilians who had already qualified for the CAF Women’s Champions League by virtue of being defending champions were pitted in Group A against debutants Costa Do Sol of Mozambique and Double Action Ladies from Botswana.
Kappa’s charges registered a comprehensive 8-1 win over the Mozambicans before squeezing out a 1-1 draw against Double Action Ladies to reach the final of the tournament. The Chloorkop-side would go on to lose the final on penalties to Zambian champions Green Buffaloes.
The spot-kicks misery did little to slow down Sundowns Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League who responded with a 7-1 victory over Golden Ladies on their return to domestic action. Further wins against Durban Ladies, Tsunami Queens, City Lads Ladies and Richmond United saw Kappa’s troops end August in blistering form.
Despite dropping four points in September (1-1 draw against the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and 1-0 defeat against TUT Ladies), Sundowns Ladies were unstoppable against Ma-Indies Ladies and Thunderbirds Ladies with Miche Minnies scoring five times across both fixtures.
The Brazilians notably enjoyed a perfect October with seven straight wins featuring a whopping 29 strikes as Kappa’s charges clocked up a century of goals in style. Consequently, Sundowns Ladies arrived in Morocco for the CAF Women’s Champions League in the best possible way.
Pitted in Group B against Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens, Egypt’s Wadi Degla and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, Sundowns Ladies were aiming to retain their continental crown. The Brazilians cruised through the group stage with a perfect record, including becoming the first-ever side to score five goals in a single game at the continental showpiece when they smashed five past Wadi Degla in their second group game.
A hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tanzania’s Simba Queens in the semi-final clash sent Sundowns Ladies to the final where they fell short to eventual winners AS FAR. The defeat was their first at the continent’s premier women’s tournament. Despite the loss, Kappa’s troops left Morocco with their heads held high thanks to an incredible run of results since the inaugural edition of the tournament.
The Brazilians would go on to finish off the Hollywoodbets Super League season in crushing style, scoring 14 goals in their last three games to clinch their third successive league crown. In the end, Sundowns Ladies racked up a staggering 27 wins out of 30 games, scoring 126 goals and conceding just 13 times. The league champions also accrued a mammoth goal difference of +113.
Thus, Sundowns Ladies dominated the second edition of the end-of-the-season Hollywoodbets Super League awards ceremony. Coach Jerry ‘Kappa’ Tshabalala clinched the Coach of the Season award for the second time in a row while Boitumelo Rabale was named the Player of the Season. The reigning Hollywoodbets Super League champions were also named among the 2022 List of Newsmakers organized by gsport.
Sundowns Ladies will be gunning to excel across every competition they participate in this year!!!
Good season ladies… Excellent in fact… Hardluck on the champion’s league… At least you got to the final