THE DIRECTOR of Mphehli All Stars playing in the Safa KwaZulu-Natal Sasol League, Dumisani Thusi, admits that their failure in the national Play-Offs last season opened their eyes and that is why they saw the need to strengthen the squad for the 2026 season which started this weekend.
The opening games of the 2026 season of the KZN Sasol League, which were supposed to be played on the weekend we are returning from, were not played because of the qualifying games for the teams that will play in the Engen Knockout Challenge.
The All Stars were the provincial champions of the Safa KZN Sasol League in the last season of 2025, and represented KwaZulu-Natal in the national Play-Offs held in Gauteng, in November.
It has become history that this team from KwaMashu came back with the baton in the qualifiers for the teams promoted to the Hollywoodbets Super League, as Diepkloof Ladies from Gauteng and Ramatlaohle eventually won.
“Last season we had a team with many young players who had no experience, but their performance in the national Play-Offs taught them a lot.
“Also this season we have prepared ourselves by fighting to return to the national games and we have finally achieved our goal of entering the team in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“So we have added experience to our coaching team by getting Thabang Marou who will be the deputy coach, Nhlanhla Mbili.
Thabang has worked with several North West teams, playing in the Sasol League and the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“We also appointed Snothile Shobede, who will be the manager of the team. He has experience working in Hollywoodbets Super League teams,” said Thusi.
The team then signed six players with experience playing in the Hollywoodbets Super League, namely Nontobeko “Sgqemeza” Mkhwanazi, Nomali Masinga, Michelle Mondo, Phindile Mchunu, Nobuhle Mthembu, Luyanda Ngubane, Luyanda Thabede and Neliswa Dumakude.
Mkhwanazi and Masinga were playing for Ezemvelo Women’s FC and Durban Ladies separately.
All Stars are paired with Lindelani Ladies and Durban Ladies in Stream B, which are teams they have played in the Super League.
Durban Ladies were relegated from the Super League last season against Royal AM. AM plays on Stream A.
Safa KwaZulu-Natal Sasol League matches:
Stream A:
Sunday – 3pm:
Dlala Ntombazane v Royal AM (Wadley Stadium); Diski Pros Academy v MUBS Ladies (Riverview Ground); DUT Midlands v Revolution FC (Indumiso); Sunflower WFC v Newcastle Chess (Mpumalanga Stadium); UKZN Ladies v Mshwathi Future Stars (Howard Gate 10)
Stream B:
Sunday – 3pm:
Mphehli All Stars v Rebels Ladies (John Dube); UniZulu Ladies v DUT Coastal (Ongoye Soccer Field); Lindelani Ladies v Heroes FC (Ntuzuma G Sport Ground); Toti Ladies v Durban Ladies (Adams College); Sapphire Ladies v Westville United (Wentworth Ogle Road)