As much as the technical benches in the Hollywoodbets Super League are dominated by women coaches, the league is also home to several former PSL players.
This group will again come to the fore at the Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified Festival in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, this weekend as they bid to guide their respective sides to glory.
The mini-tournament at Westbourne Oval, which features all 16 clubs from across the Super Era and Super Rise Streams, will run from Friday to Sunday.
The list in the dugout will be headed by former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Godfrey Sapula, who has been in charge of the Pretoria powerhouse’s Ladies FC since March last year.
Sapula (52) has former University of Pretoria FC (AmaTuks) and SuperSport United striker, Thabo Mnyamane alongside him as a performance analyst, adding further PSL experience to the Sundowns technical team.
They are complemented by long-serving assistant coach and former Sundowns Ladies team captain, Agnes Nkosi as Sapula’s second-in-command.
With such a high-profile technical bench, Sundowns have continued their dominance of the domestic elite women’s league.
Banyana Ba Style will enter Matchday 10 having won all nine of their matches, scored 30 goals and kept a clean sheet in every game.
Sundowns will face Richmond Ladies FC on Sunday morning.
For Sapula, coaching in the women’s game comes with a different kind of pressure, but one he has embraced.
“For me, it’s been good pressure because I’m in an environment where the pressure is to win. So, I’d rather be under pressure to win than be under pressure battling relegation or fighting to finish in the top eight in the men’s Premier League.
“So, I embrace the pressure. I appreciate the rise of the women’s game. There are teams with good playing structures and better coaching. I think we can build from this.”
University of Pretoria Ladies FC (Tuks) are also thriving under former PSL star, Sibusiso Themba as head coach.
At the height of his playing career, the 40-year-old turned out for the university’s men’s team when Tuks were competing in the PSL elite league. He also played for Moroka Swallows and Mpumalanga Black Aces and represented South Africa at Under-23 level.
Themba, who previously served as an assistant coach under former Banyana Banyana player, Maude Khumalo at Tuks Ladies, took over the reins in May.
Tuks have been among the top three this season, alongside city rivals Sundowns and UWC.
Earlier this year, Themba also guided Tuks to the Varsity Cup final, where they lost to the University of Johannesburg (UJ), coached by former Banyana Banyana captain, Nthabeleng “Dunga” Modiko.
Themba believes former professionals have a responsibility to help promote the Super League and develop its players.
“There’s still a long way to go, but so far the display is good and we are probably going in the right direction.”
Another former PSL player making his contribution to the women’s game is retired Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper, Lee Langeveldt, who is part of the coaching setup at the club’s Ladies FC.
The 39-year-old serves as goalkeeper coach across the Stellies men’s and women’s teams.
Former Mpumalanga Black Aces goalkeeper, Bafana Nhlapo also moved into coaching in the women’s game when he joined JVW FC two years ago.
The 46-year-old combines goalkeeper coach and co-coach duties at the club founded in 2012 by Banyana Banyana legend, Janine van Wyk.
The Blue Diamonds, under Nhlapo and head coach, Alexia Cassar, have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign so far this season, leading the Super Rise Stream by five points ahead of second-placed University of Fort Hare.
For Langeveldt, the move into coaching represents a full-circle moment in a 21-year career that included a few call-ups to Bafana Bafana.
“Not many ex-professional players get this opportunity, so I’m grateful to Stellenbosch,” said Langeveldt.
“It’s all about giving back to the game, and there’s no better way to start than with the ladies’ team.”
At Stellies Ladies, Langeveldt is working alongside an all-women technical team comprising co-coaches Shannon Mills and Ilze Jones.
The club’s entire women’s structure is overseen by former Banyana Banyana performance analyst, Shilene Booysen.
Unfortunately, Stellies, who are still a relatively new team, have had it tough so far this season.
They are bottom of the Super Era Stream, having lost all nine matches.
The former PSL stars admit that coaching women requires some adjustments for coaches accustomed to working in the men’s game.
Said Themba: “It’s tricky for us, but football is football at the end of the day. That’s why we are here and why we love it so much. The more you make the girls happy, the better it is for you as a coach.”
Still, with former PSL players increasingly finding their way into the technical structures of women’s football, their experience is adding another layer of expertise to the growth of the women’s game.
At the same time, women coaches working alongside these former professionals are gaining valuable knowledge and experience.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) can also look back with pride, knowing that the majority of the country’s coaches, both men and women, attained their qualifications through SAFA’s coach education programmes.
Full Fixtures
Friday, 02 October 2026
TS Galaxy Queens vs Diepkloof Ladies – 13:30
Copperbelt Ladies vs Stellenbosch Ladies – 16:00
Saturday, 03 October 2026
University of the Western Cape vs University of Pretoria – 09:00
Ezemvelo Women’s FC vs JVW FC – 11:00
University of Fort Hare vs Ramatlaohle Ladies – 15:00
Sunday, 04 October 2026
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Richmond Ladies – 09:00
University of Johannesburg vs Tshwane University of Technology – 11:00
First Touch vs City Lads – 15:00
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