As Gauteng's Palace Super Falcons look towards challenging for their third consecutive national triumph, a host of new clubs will look to steal the limelight.
Tembisa-based Palace Super Falcons have won all but one of the past three Sasol League National Championship finals – when they went down to Mpumalanga's Detroit Ladies in a thrilling encounter in Cape Town in 2009.
With Banyana Banyana players of the calibre of defenders' Janine van Wyk and Nothando Vilakazi plus goal-getter Portia Modise in their ranks, Palace Super Falcons may be seen as the undisputed favourites, but football has the ability to spring surprises.
Add in experienced campaigners in Cape Town Roses (who finished fourth at last year's event held in Bloemfontein) and Bloemfontein Celtic, plus hosts Durban Ladies and Port Elizabeth-based City Lads, and the scene is set for a week of thrilling women's football action.
Cape Town Roses are expected to look to the experience of their Banyana Banyana striker Leandra Smeda en route to possible success, while Bloemfontein Celtic will be hoping that their inspirational goal machine Sannah Mollo will be able to show some of the form that has seen her net four goals in the past three Banyana matches.
Zamandosi Cele has been a regular in the Banyana defence in the matches played this year and is expected to be worth her weight in gold to the cause of Durban Ladies.
The Sasol League provincial champions in the form of Kanatla Ladies (Polokwane, Limpopo), Msiphuya Ladies (Kwamhlanga, Mpumalanga), RC Mills Ladies (Keimos, Northern Cape) and Als Puk Tawana (Potchefstroom, North West) may be new to the week-long on-field battle at the women's premier club showpiece, but will be out to seize the moment.
"Safa is delighted to have walked a four year road with Sasol in terms of uplifting and improving women's football in South Africa," Safa President Kirsten Nematendani says. "The Sasol League National Championships is the premier platform for clubs to showcase their playing talent in a bid to land the national title."
"On behalf of Safa, I wish all the clubs the best of luck for the 2012 Sasol League National Championship and may this edition of the tournament be the best of the best to further encourage other women to get involved in the beautiful game, be it as players, coaches, administrators or match officials."
Sasol sponsorship specialist: football, Dumisani Mbokane says: "The Sasol League has been the fundamental nursery of talent to Banyana Banyana and the other national age group teams and I am sure that the challenge for the national title will be tougher than ever.
"Sasol has been a committed partner to Safa in empowering women through football and I am sure that football fans attending the event, will be treated to the ultimate Sasol football experience mix of action-packed football, music and entertainment, plus competitions – the perfect day out for the whole family."
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