South Africa’s trailblazing national women’s football head coach Desiree Ellis will be the chief talent scout for potent players at the Sasol National League championship at the Dr RP Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. She is on the hunt for prospects to draft into the Banyana Banyana squad.
The action-packed competition, which commenced on 17 October, will culminate in the promotion of two of the nine clubs on 22 October. A total of 207 players (23 for each club) are expected to showcase their talent in pursuit of glory during this event.
Ellis is expected to pick those possessing the big match temperament she requires for the senior team.
The outfit of the Welkom campus of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, is one of the clubs aiming for the country’s senior rank.
Ixias FC failed in its first bid to achieve this, in the 2021 season, and will be gunning to atone for this shortcoming in a second attempt to attain promotion to the country’s top division, known as the Hollywoodbets Super League, which features 16 teams.
At the 2021 national promotion play-offs, the two-time Free State winner was eliminated in the group stage.
The Free State has no representation in the top league.
The province’s prospects were dealt an additional blow when the Qwaqwa-based Tsunami Queens were relegated following the sale of the Bloemfontein Celtic women’s team franchise last year.
Both matches that lie ahead for Ixias are a must-win in order for them to secure a slot in the final, thereby becoming the only team to represent the province in the women’s senior league.
The Ixias’ opening match is against the Limpopo-based Ramatlaohle FC on Wednesday at 15:30. The next fixture is against the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on Thursday at 12:30.
Ixias head coach, Thabo Koena, is hoping to take full advantage of playing host and hopes that the crowd will steer them in their tough quest for promotion.
The overall winner in this week’s competition is guaranteed a grand prize of R200 000, the runner-up will receive R100 000, while the third-placed achiever takes home a consolation prize of R60 000.
