School’s out for South Africa’s University of the Western Cape

University of the Western Cape (UWC) will make their debut at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier that will be staged in Blantyre, Malawi from August 15-24, and have some big shoes to fill.

With African champions Mamelodi Sundowns having qualified for this year’s continental finals as holders, UWC will appear as South Africa’s representatives in the regional competition.

Sundowns lifted the COSAFA trophy in 2021 and 2023, and were runners-up in 2022, so there will be much expectation on UWC, who finished as runners-up to The Brazilians in the  HOLLYWOODBETS Women’s Super League last season.

UWC open their Group A campaign against the champions from two years ago, Green Buffaloes of Zambia on August 15, before a clash with Namibia’s FC Ongos two days later. They finish their pool play against Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe on August 19.

The top two teams in the pool advance to the semifinals and stay in contention for the single spot available at the continental finals, which is handed to the regional winner.

“I think it’s a tough group. We have two teams in the group that have played in the qualifiers before so we know it won’t be easy,” UWC coach Thinasonke Mbuli told SuperSport. “Obviously we want to qualify for the Champions League. But we know we have to come prepared because it won’t be easy.”

UWC have several players that feature in the Banyana Banyana squad and have taken part in the COSAFA Women’s Championship in the past.

These include defenders Fikile Magama and Lonathemba Mhlongo, star midfielder Sibulele Holweni, Amogelang Motau and forward Noxolo Cesane.

They have finished runners-up to Sundowns in the Super League for the last three seasons, cementing their place as the ‘best of the rest’ in the local South African league.

The club is based in Cape Town and will be the first university team to compete in the Champions League qualifiers.