Three non-professional women’s football teams of the four in the Free State are buoyant after promotion to the second-tier Sasol Women’s League, the second highest domestic league. Clubs guaranteed status in the upper division are Ugu from Virginia, Inter Madrid from Bloemfontein and Clever Girls from Qwaqwa.
Automatic promotion came after winning matches at the provincial promotion play-offs held at the Bronville Stadium in Welkom on Saturday (29/01). These clubs campaigned in the lower rank, the Promotion Women’s League, which is also played under the auspices of the South African Football Association (Safa). This league is at reginal level.
Ugu claimed first position, receiving a gold medal plus a floating trophy, Madrid got a silver medal while Clever Girls received a bronze medal. Ugu surpassed all opponents to clinch the ultimate prize, beating Madrid by 6-2 and Clever Girls by 1-0. Madrid’s only win was over Clever Girls, 1-0.
Promotion of fourth-placed achiever Napoli of Botshabelo will only be possible if Ixias FC from Welkom gets promoted to the Safa National Women’s League – the country’s first-ever professional women’s league. The national promotion play-offs for the National Women’s League, is set taking place in Durban this month, and will culminate with promotion of only two teams – the overall winner and the runner-up.
The three promoted Ugu, Madrid and Clever Girls qualified by winning in their respective regions, under the auspices of Safa. Madrid and Napoli represented Mangaung Metro, Ugu represented the Lejweleputswa while Clever Girls represented the Thabo Mofutsanyana.
These four clubs competed on a round-robin basis for the available slots in the second-tier division of the Free State stream. The provincial stream will have 18 clubs that will be divided into two streams, nine teams each in stream of A and B.
