The Bloemfontein-based women’s football club Napoli FC is hoping for a longer stay in the Free State’s Sasol Women’s League (SWL) after regaining promotion. The team were promoted with Ravens FC through playoffs that were held in Qwaqwa on Saturday, 11 November.
Napoli received the runner-up prize after losing 2 – 8 to the Ravens via penalty shoot-out. They had been gridlocked at the end of regulation time.
The two clubs campaigned in the lower rank, known as the Safa Promotion League. Napoli won in the Mangaung Metro region, while Ravens won in the Fezile Dabi region.
Napoli’s longest stint in the SWL was two terms, in 2018 and 2019. Challenges saw them relegated at the end of the latter season.
Napoli managed to regain promotion to the second-tier league in 2022, but withdrew at the start of it.
Wesi Matata, coach cum director, explained the decision to discontinue.
“It was rather financial considerations than talent and ambitions in the team. I did not sell the franchise, but gave it to someone with interest to continue,” he said.
Matata is optimistic about the prospects for longevity in the second-tier rank, which is one step closer to the Hollywoodbets Super League, the country’s semiprofessional division.
He said he had a workable plan, adding he was already recruiting capable players to further hone their play for tough competition in the SWL, and that they would be depending on experienced players such as Rethabile Morgan to steer the club. She has been with the club for more than three years.
