The 2023 SAFA Women's League was the fourth season of the professional SAFA Women's League, and the 15th season of nation-wide league competition in women's football in South Africa. It was the 2nd season played with 16 teams.
Teams The 2022 season ended with Golden Ladies and Tsunami Queens relegated to the Sasol Women's League, while Vasco Da Gama changed its name to TS Galaxy Queens after it was purchased by Tim Sukazi, who owns TS Galaxy FC. Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies sold its status to Shauwn Mkhize, and was replaced by Royal AM. Two teams joined the league. Copperbelt Ladies won the 2021 Sasol League National Championship, while the University of Pretoria were runners-up.
Stadiums and Locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity 2022 season City Lads Ibhayi Isaac Wolfson Stadium 10,000 12th Coal City Wizards eMalahleni Puma Stadium 24,000 13th Copperbelt Ladies Polokwane Rugby field adjoining Old Peter Mokaba Stadium 2nd in SWL Durban Ladies Durban Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium 6,500 10th First Touch FC Polokwane Baroka Village 1,000 9th JVW FC Johannesburg Wits Stadium 5,000 4th Ma-Indies Ladies Polokwane Giyani Stadium 20,000 8th Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Pretoria Loftus versfeid stadium 51,762 1st Richmond United Northern Cape Merino Park Stadium 200 7th Royal AM Pietermaritzburg Harry Gwala Stadium 6,500 6th Thunderbirds Ladies Gqeberha Sisa Dukashe Stadium 17,000 11th TS Galaxy Queens Mbombela Solomon Mahlangu Stadium 5,000 14thTswane University of Technology Pretoria TUT Stadium 2,500 4th University of Johannesburg Johannesburg UJ Stadium 8,000 5th University of Pretoria Pretoria UJ Stadium 8,0001st in SWL University of Western Cape Cape Town UWC Stadium 2,500 2nd
N.B. some teams play their home matches at multiple stadia (e.g. some of Durban Ladies 2023 matches were played at Noordelikes Rugby Club in Polokwane); locations listed above were the most common location for 2023 home matches.
Table
Statistics
Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals 1Sphumelele Shamase University of Johannesburg222 Boitumelo RabaleMamelodi Sundowns Ladies193Andisiwe Mgcoyi174 Lucia GaonweDurban Ladies155 Nomvuyo BhenguRoyal AM Women14Melinda KgadieteMamelodi Sundowns Ladies Nicole MichaelTS Galaxy Queens9 Kgalebane MohlakoanaRoyal AM Ladies13 Michelle SampsonRichmond United
Most clean sheets
RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Kaylin SwartJVW FC142Kebotseng MoletsaneRoyal AM Women12Regirl NgobeniUWC4Sedilame BosejaMamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC105 Elizabeth MaziviseUniversity ofJohannesburg96Dineo MagagulaTS Galaxy Queens87Dineo KabaiRichmond United78Andile DlaminiMamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC5 Asa RabalaoUP-Tuks Ladies Magabene PoloriFirst Touch FC
Awards AwardWinnerClubPlayer of the seasonBoitumelo RabaleMamelodi Sundowns LadiesFan's Playerof the seasonChuene MorifiGoalkeeper ofthe seasonKaylin SwartJVWTop goalscorerof the seasonSphumelele ShamaseUniversity of JohannesburgCoach ofthe season Thinasonke MbuliUWCYoung playerof the seasonMmabatho MogaleUP-Tuks LadiesAdministrator ofthe season Boitumelo Lekalakala Boitumelo Rabale was crowned the South African Football Journalists’ Association’s (Safja) Women’s Footballer of the Year.
References