The University of the Western Cape Women's F.C., also known as UWC Ladies F.C., is the women's football club representing the University of the Western Cape based in Bellville, Western Cape. The senior team competes in the SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in South Africa.
 | |
| Full name | University of the Western Cape Women's Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "The Blues and Gold" "uDubs" |
| Ground | UWC Stadium |
| Capacity | 2500 |
| Coordinates | 33.934993°S 18.634121°E |
| Owner | University of the Western Cape |
| Head Coach |  Thinasonke Mbuli |
| League | SAFA Women's League |
| 2023 | 2nd |
| Website | Club website |
In 2024 they won the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League and qualified for the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League becoming the first university to qualify for the CAF Women's Champions League.[1]
UWC are the 2021, 2023, and 2024 Women's Varsity Football champions.
History
editThey were runners-up in the 2018 and 2019 Women's Varsity Football editions losing both finals to TUT Ladies.[2][3]
2021 season
edit2021 Women's Varsity Football
editThe team won their maiden Women's Varsity Football Cup 4-3 via penalties against UP-Tuks Ladies after the match ended in a goalless draw. They had won all their matches in group B and kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament.[4]
They rounded off the 2021 season with a third place finish in the league.[5]
2022 season
editIn 2022, they lost their Women's Varsity Football Cup title 5-3 via penalties to UJ Ladies after a goalless draw.[6]
In the 2022 SAFA Women's League, they finished as runner's up with 68 points to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies' 82 points.[7]
2023 season
editIn 2023, they reclaimed the Women's Varsity Football Cup winning 2-0 against defending champions UJ Ladies.[8]
In the 2023 SAFA Women's League, the side were runner-ups for the second time in a row finishing with 75 points to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies' 78 points.[9]
2024 season
editCOSAFA Women's Champions League
editIn July 2024 it was confirmed that the 2023 SAFA Women's League second placed team would represent South Africa at the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League.[10] This made the University of the Western Cape the first university to qualify for the Champions League qualifiers.[11] On 15 August 2024, they opened their 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League with a 1-0 loss to Green Buffaloes from Zambia.[12] They won their next match with a 3-0 win over FC Ongos from Namibia.[13] They topped group A and qualified for the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe.[14]
In the semi-finals against Young Buffaloes from Eswatini they won the match 6-0.[15] They won the final 9-8 via penalties against Gaborone United Ladies from Botswana after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.[1] This meant they qualified for the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League and will also become the first university to play in the CAF Women's Champions League.[16]
2024 Women's Varsity Football
editThey defended their Women's Varsity Football title with a 2-1 win over hosts TUT Ladies in the final.[17]
Team
editTechnical team
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Thinasonke Mbuli
|
| Assistant coach | Msekeli Mvalo
|
| Goalkeeper Coach | Vulindlela Biko
|
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Ridhaa Allie
|
| Team Doctor | Azande August
|
| Team Physio | Nontobeko Nyalunga
|
| Analyst | Wayne Hendricks
|
| Team Manager | Yolanda Shezi
|
| Sport Therapist | Zami Mbatha
|
| Safeguarding Officer | Wendy Nomatse
|
| Media Officer | Skhu Nkomphela
|
| Admin Manager | Hassan Sobekwa
|
| HOD | Emma Hendricks
|
Honours
edit- COSAFA Women's Champions League: 2024
- SAFA Women's League: Runner-up: 2022, 2023
- Women's Varsity Football Cup: 2021, 2023, 2024 Runner's up: 2018, 2019, 2022
Notable players
editFIFA World Cup participants
editList of players that were called up for a FIFA Women's World Cup while playing for the university. In brackets, the tournament played:
Players who have received a Banyana Banyana call up while playing for the university:
Team statistics
editCOSAFA Women's Champions League record
edit| Season | Pos | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | ||||
| 2024 | Champions | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 9 | ||
SAFA Women's League record
edit| Season | Pos | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pst | |||
| 2019-20 | 6th place | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 46 | 27 | 19 | 30 | |
| 2021 | Third place | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 47 | 16 | 31 | 53 | |
| 2022 | Runners Up | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 55 | 13 | 42 | 68 | |
| 2023 | Runners Up | 30 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 66 | 17 | 49 | 75 | |
| 2024 | In progress | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 13 | 41 | 44 | |
- Orange = In progress
- Gold = Champions
- Silver = Runner up
References
edit- ^ a b "EN, FR, PR: UWC win CAF Women's Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers". 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ koosventer (2019-09-30). "TUT win sixth straight Varsity Women's Football title". Rekord. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ mathieu (2018-10-03). "Tshwane University of Technology claims South Africa varsity football double". FISU. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ Crouch, Faheedah (2021-10-07). "UWC Eager to Build on Varsity Football Title Victory". gsport4girls. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Inqaku. "League - Hollywoodbets Super League - SNWL 2021 | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Abrahams, Celine (2022-10-17). "UJ Dethrone UWC to Win 2022 Varsity Football Crown". gsport4girls. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Times, iDiski (2022-11-28). "Final Hollywoodbets Super League Wrap". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Hare, Rudene (2023-08-20). "UWC Crowned 2023 Women's Varsity Football Champions". gsport4girls. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ CentreCircle (2023-11-22). "HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE: UWC fall to TS Galaxy, treble within touching distance for Sundowns Ladies". Centre Circle. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "High expectations for CAF Women's Champions League Qualifier debutants, UWC in Malawi". High expectations for CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifier debutants, UWC in Malawi. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "UWC in Women's Champions League qualifiers | soccer". SABC. 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ Kganyago, Lethabo (2024-08-15). "UWC Lose First Match At CAFWCL Qualifiers". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ Kohler, Lorenz (2024-08-17). "UWC Keep CAFWCL Hopes Alive With Vital Win". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "EN, FR, PR: UWC upset Herentals Queens as both teams proceed to the semis". 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "EN, FR, PR: Rampant UWC set final date with Gaborone United". 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
- ^ "UWC Ladies make CAF Women's Champions League history | soccer". SABC. 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Pillay, Alicia (2024-08-11). "Tiffany Kortjie and Ronnel Donnelly Lead UWC to Varsity Football Title Defence Triumph". gsport4girls. Retrieved 2024-08-14.