AN Eastern Cape team has successfully climbed out of the relegation zone in the Hollywoodbets Super League, following this weekend’s matches.
The beginning of the season saw all three teams from the Eastern Cape, namely Thunderbirds Ladies, University of Fort Hare FC, and City Lads FC, lingering at the lower end of the league standings.
However, a significant turnaround occurred over the weekend when the University of Fort Hare FC secured a victory against their local rivals, City Lads FC, with a 1–0 scoreline in a league match held in Alice.
This win propelled the Alice-based Fort Hare FC from 10th to ninth place, amassing 16 points after 12 matches.
On the other hand, City Lads FC remains in a precarious position, ranking 13th with 12 points from 13 matches, while Thunderbirds Ladies from Butterworth are still at the bottom of the table, holding 16th with a single point from 13 matches.
The Thunderbirds Ladies’ struggles continued as they faced a 5–0 defeat to University of JHB FC, following a previous 7–0 loss to UWC FC at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
The Butterworth team has yet to secure a win this season, with 12 losses and one draw.
Fans of Thunderbirds Ladies are hopeful that the upcoming two-week FIFA break will provide a much-needed respite for the team to regroup and strategise for a comeback.
The break coincides with the national women’s team, Banyana Banyana, preparing for two friendly matches against Senegal on May 31 and June 4. This pause in the league offers the Butterworth team a chance to address their defensive weaknesses and scoring challenges.
League action resumes on June 8, with Thunderbirds Ladies hosting Royal AM Ladies, City Lads FC visiting Durban Ladies who are also struggling in the league, and the revitalised University of Fort Hare FC facing off against third-placed UWC FC, in what promises to be an exciting round of matches.
