{"id":299014,"date":"2024-09-18T05:39:29","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T03:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/big-time-beckons-20240917\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:32:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:32:36","slug":"big-time-beckons-20240917","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/big-time-beckons-20240917\/","title":{"rendered":"Big time beckons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the first time, the University of the Free State\u2019s (UFS) women\u2019s team qualified to compete for promotion to South Africa\u2019s senior league. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This became possible after a hard-fought win over the team\u2019s arch-rivals, and three-time winners, the Ixias FC of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, Welkom campus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free State Sasol Women\u2019s League final fixture between these two teams was played at the stadium of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, in Bloemfontein, on 8 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An invasion of the pitch during and after the match by the Kovsie players and fans, in celebration, attest to their desperation to win at all costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pitch invasion began with celebration after the team had converted a penalty kick, levelling the scoreline at 1 \u2013 1. This relieved Kovsie of the lingering memory of being eliminated four times in a row by the gutsy Ixias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"pitch<\/figure>

<\/p>\n

The pitch evasion by Kovsie fans<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Welkom team won in their previous three meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The memory of elimination haunted the Kovsies when Ixias defender Masabata Mathapo scored a brilliant goal in the first stanza. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, the equaliser from a penalty kick inspired the Kovsie team to hold on until the end of the tension-filled fixture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UFS team, under former Banyana Banyana player Jabulile Baloyi\u2019s teachings, converted four penalties as the Ixias missed two out of five spot kicks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrations by the UFS\u2019 fans and players continued long after the championship decider had ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Pain<\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Ixias player in tears after losing the Free State Sasol Women\u2019s League <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The buoyant team will compete for promotion to the senior league during the play-offs set to take place early in October. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baloyi reiterates that this was a must-win match for her team, in view of their promotion aspirations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is very important we fight to get promoted, to benefit as a team, but also for the province. It will bolster the standard of women\u2019s football in the province and expose rich talent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are plenty of young, talented players in the Free State who need exposure to the highest level of football to realise their dream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe qualifying for the national promotion play-offs and securing a promotion to the senior league will be very beneficial in this regard,\u201d says Baloyi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free State has remained without a team in the women\u2019s senior division, the Hollywoodbets Super League, since the sale of the Bloemfontein Celtic women\u2019s team franchise to Royal AM and the relegation of the Qwaqwa-based Tsunami Queens team franchise. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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