Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies continued their relentless march at the top of the SAFA Women’s League table after securing a convincing 3–0 victory over the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Ladies on November 12 at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

The Brazilian Ladies displayed their trademark dominance and tactical discipline throughout the match, netting three well-crafted goals while keeping a clean sheet against a determined UJ side.

Refilwe Tholakele opened the scoring early in the 12th minute, setting the tone for what would become another clinical Sundowns performance.

Nthabiseng Majiya doubled the lead in the 50th minute, before Kholosa Biyana sealed the win with a strike in the 80th minute.

Despite their utmost efforts, the UJ Ladies were unable to breach the Sundowns defence, ultimately leaving the game goalless.

The win not only extended Sundowns’ unbeaten run to 12 matches but also reinforced their position at the top of the league standings.

Coming into the fixture, Masandawana sat comfortably in first place, while UJ occupied sixth position.

The result marked the third meeting between the two sides this season, with Banyana Ba Style having previously beaten UJ 5–0 in a display that featured a hat-trick from Isabella Ludwig and additional goals from Tholakele and Lelona Daweti.

The match followed another statement performance by the Brazilian Ladies, who thrashed Durban Ladies 7–0 in their previous outing.

Speaking before the UJ clash, defender Thato Letsoso, who previously played for UJ, reflected on the team’s mindset and drive for improvement.

“We always feel like there is room for improvement, and that keeps us grounded,” she said.

“Even when we win convincingly, we look at the match again and analyse what we could have done better, whether it is our defensive shape, our decision-making in the final or our transitions. That hunger to refine every detail is what drives us as a team and keeps us from becoming complacent.”

Letsoso, who has been a key part of Sundowns’ defensive structure this season, also spoke about the importance of consistency and long-term focus.

She explained that the team’s success is built on a culture of discipline and shared goals.

“The team has clear goals and objectives, and those goals ensure we do not lose focus,” she added.

“Every session and every match is linked to what we want to achieve as a collective. We treat each game like a cup final because we understand that consistency is the difference between a good team and a great one. That mentality has carried us through tough fixtures, and it will continue to guide us.”

Midfielder Katleho Malebana also highlighted how the team balanced confidence and humility following their victory over Durban Ladies.

“The 7–0 victory definitely lifted the spirits of the group. But as a team, we have spoken openly about staying humble and level-headed.”

She said that being confident is beneficial, but it must be controlled.

“UJ is a very organised side, and they do not give you many chances. The focus is to approach this match with a fresh mindset, understanding that what happened last weekend does not automatically carry into this one,” she added.

Breaking down the tactical side of their preparation, Malebana pointed out that facing UJ required patience, structure, and adaptability.

“UJ play with a lot of intensity and structure, especially in transition. They can go from defence to attack very quickly, so we need to be disciplined in possession and intelligent in how we move the ball. Quick combinations, patience around their defensive block, and good communication will be crucial. Defensively, we want to stay compact and make sure we control the tempo,” she said.

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