The overall prizemoney for the 2017 Sasol League National Championship have increased by 250 percent from R200 000 to R500 000, with a mouth-watering R200 000 up for grabs for the winners of the year-ending club competition, compared to the previous years' R50 000.
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies are back in the mix to defend the title they won when they defeated Gauteng’s JVW FC in the final at the D’Almeida Stadium in Mosselbay in 2016. The two-time former national champions make their return to the season ending tournament after missing out on the previous edition, while Cape Town Roses make an appearance for the first time since clinching the title back in 2014.
Other teams that have qualified are: Thunderbirds Ladies (Eastern Cape), *Kanatla Ladies/Ma-Indies (Limpopo), Sunflower FC (Kwa-Zulu Natal), De’Scorpion FC (North West) and RC Mills (Northern Cape).
*A disciplinary enquiry will determine the eventual representatives for Limpopo.
Of the 9 teams for the 2017 Sasol League National Championship, only three teams played in the 2016 edition of the tournament – Celtic (2016 champions), Kanatla (3rd place) and Coal City Wizards (4th place).
“The Sasol League National Championship is the culmination of a long season for women’s football where the best teams face off to determine the ultimate champion," said Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol Manager: Group Brand Marketing.
"The women’s game has grown in leaps and bounds over the past eight years and as the brand powering women’s football, we had to recognise and reward the gallant strides made in the game.
"Following our recent sponsorship renewal with SAFA, the prize money for the teams has been increased with the winners set to pocket R200 000 for their efforts.
“We wish all the teams the very best in Mpumalanga, it won’t be easy but there is no better platform for women footballers to showcase their talent, not only to the nation but to the Banyana Banyana technical team that will be in attendance, scouting for talent to draft into the national team structures.”