2023 SAFA Women's League
Football league season
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The 2023 SAFA Women's League was the fourth season of the professional SAFA Women's League, and the 15th season of nation-wide league competition in women's football in South Africa.[1] It was the 2nd season played with 16 teams.
| Season | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 Feb 2023 - 6 Dec 2023 |
| Champions | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (6th title) |
| Promoted | University of Fort Hare Lindelani Ladies |
| Relegated | Coal City Wizards Ma-Indies Ladies |
| 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League | University of the Western Cape |
| Matches | 240 |
| Goals | 697 (2.9 per match) |
| Best Player | Boitumelo Rabale |
| Top goalscorer | Sphumelele Shamase (22 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Kaylin Swart |
| Biggest home win | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 11-0 Coal City Wizards (18 October 2023)) |
| Biggest away win | Coal City Wizards 0-9 Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (7 May 2023) |
| Highest scoring | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 11-0 Coal City Wizards (18 October 2023) |
| Longest winning run | (14 games) UWC |
| Longest unbeaten run | (17 games) Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies |
| Longest winless run | (17 games) Ma-Indies Ladies |
| Longest losing run | (13 games) Ma-Indies Ladies |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of 21 December 2023. | |
Teams
The 2022 season ended with Golden Ladies and Tsunami Queens relegated to the Sasol Women's League,[2] while Vasco Da Gama changed its name to TS Galaxy Queens after it was purchased by Tim Sukazi, who owns TS Galaxy FC.[3] Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies sold its status to Shauwn Mkhize, and was replaced by Royal AM.[4] Two teams joined the league. Copperbelt Ladies won the 2021 Sasol League National Championship, while the University of Pretoria were runners-up.
Stadiums and Locations
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | 2022 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Lads | Ibhayi | Isaac Wolfson Stadium | 10,000 | 12th |
| Coal City Wizards | eMalahleni | Puma Stadium | 24,000 | 13th |
| Copperbelt Ladies | Polokwane | Rugby field adjoining Old Peter Mokaba Stadium | 2nd in SWL | |
| Durban Ladies | Durban | Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium | 6,500 | 10th |
| First Touch FC | Polokwane | Baroka Village | 1,000[5] | 9th |
| JVW FC | Johannesburg | Wits Stadium | 5,000 | 4th |
| Ma-Indies Ladies | Polokwane | Giyani Stadium | 20,000 | 8th |
| Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Pretoria | Loftus versfeid stadium | 51,762 | 1st |
| Richmond United | Northern Cape | Merino Park Stadium | 200[6] | 7th |
| Royal AM | Pietermaritzburg | Harry Gwala Stadium | 6,500 | 6th |
| Thunderbirds Ladies | Gqeberha | Sisa Dukashe Stadium | 17,000 | 11th |
| TS Galaxy Queens | Mbombela | Solomon Mahlangu Stadium | 5,000 | 14th |
| Tswane University of Technology | Pretoria | TUT Stadium | 2,500[7] | 4th |
| University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg | UJ Stadium | 8,000 | 5th |
| University of Pretoria | Pretoria | UJ Stadium | 8,000 | 1st in SWL |
| University of Western Cape | Cape Town | UWC Stadium | 2,500 | 2nd |
N.B. some teams play their home matches at multiple stadia (e.g. some of Durban Ladies 2023 matches were played at Noordelikes Rugby Club in Polokwane); locations listed above were the most common location for 2023 home matches.
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies(C) | 30 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 97 | 15 | +82 | 81 | Champions League Qualifiers |
| 2 | University of the Western Cape | 30 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 66 | 17 | +49 | 75 | |
| 3 | JVW | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 53 | 28 | +25 | 63 | |
| 4 | TS Galaxy Queens | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 62 | 22 | +40 | 61 | |
| 5 | Royal AM Women | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 29 | +24 | 55 | |
| 6 | University of Pretoria | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 52 | |
| 7 | Richmond United | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 48 | |
| 8 | Durban Ladies | 30 | 14 | 2 | 14 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 44 | |
| 9 | University of Johannesburg | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 43 | |
| 10 | Tshwane University of Technology | 30 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 36 | |
| 11 | First Touch FC | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 51 | −21 | 31 | |
| 12 | Copperbelt Ladies | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 26 | 58 | −32 | 26 | |
| 13 | City Lads | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 29 | 66 | −37 | 25 | |
| 14 | Thunderbirds Ladies | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 59 | −37 | 20 | |
| 15 | Coal City Wizards(R) | 30 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 32 | 104 | −72 | 17 | Relegation to the Sasol Women's League |
| 16 | Ma-Indies Ladies (R) | 30 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 18 | 78 | −60 | 8 |
Statistics
Top scorers
- As of 21 November 2023
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sphumelele Shamase |
University of Johannesburg | 22 |
| 2 |  Boitumelo Rabale |
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | 19 |
| 3 | Andisiwe Mgcoyi |
17 | |
| 4 | Lucia Gaonwe |
Durban Ladies | 15 |
| 5 | Nomvuyo Bhengu |
Royal AM Women | 14 |
| Melinda Kgadiete |
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | ||
| Nicole Michael |
TS Galaxy Queens | ||
| 9 | Kgalebane Mohlakoana |
Royal AM Ladies | 13 |
| Michelle Sampson |
Richmond United |
Most clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaylin Swart |
JVW FC | 14 |
| 2 | Kebotseng Moletsane |
Royal AM Women | 12 |
| Regirl Ngobeni |
UWC | ||
| 4 |  Sedilame Boseja |
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC | 10 |
| 5 |  Elizabeth Mazivise |
University of Johannesburg |
9 |
| 6 | Dineo Magagula |
TS Galaxy Queens | 8 |
| 7 | Dineo Kabai |
Richmond United | 7 |
| 8 | Andile Dlamini |
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC | 5 |
| Asa Rabalao |
UP-Tuks Ladies | ||
| Magabene Polori |
First Touch FC |
Awards
| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the season |
Boitumelo Rabale |
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies |
| Fan's Player of the season |
Chuene Morifi | |
| Goalkeeper of the season |
Kaylin Swart |
JVW |
| Top goalscorer of the season |
Sphumelele Shamase |
University of Johannesburg |
| Coach of the season |
Thinasonke Mbuli |
UWC |
| Young player of the season |
Mmabatho Mogale |
UP-Tuks Ladies |
| Administrator of the season |
Boitumelo Lekalakala |
Boitumelo Rabale was crowned the South African Football Journalists’ Association’s (Safja) Women’s Footballer of the Year.[8]