# University of the Western Cape Women's F.C.

The University of the Western Cape Women's F.C., also known as UWC Ladies F.C., is the women's football club representing the University of the Western Cape based in Bellville, Western Cape. The senior team competes in the SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in South Africa.
In 2024 they won the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League and qualified for the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League becoming the first university to qualify for the CAF Women's Champions League.
UWC are the 2021, 2023, and 2024 Women's Varsity Football champions.

## History

They were runners-up in the 2018 and 2019 Women's Varsity Football editions losing both finals to TUT Ladies.

### Women's Varsity Football

The team won their maiden Women's Varsity Football Cup 4-3 via penalties against UP-Tuks Ladies after the match ended in a goalless draw. They had won all their matches in group B and kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament.
In 2022, they lost their Women's Varsity Football Cup title 5-3 via penalties to UJ Ladies after a goalless draw.
In 2023, they reclaimed the Women's Varsity Football Cup winning 2-0 against defending champions UJ Ladies.
They defended their Women's Varsity Football title with a 2-1 win over hosts TUT Ladies in the final.

### SAFA Women's League

The university is one of the founding team of the SAFA Women's League. They finished in 6th position in the inaugural season.
They rounded off the 2021 season with a third place finish in the league with 53 points.
In the 2022 SAFA Women's League, they finished as runner's up with 68 points to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies' 82 points.
In the 2023 season, the side were runner-ups for the second time in a row finishing with 75 points to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies' 78 points.
In 2024 season, they finished second for the third consecutive year finishing with 69 points.

### COSAFA Women's Champions League

In July 2024 it was confirmed that the 2023 SAFA Women's League second placed team would represent South Africa at the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League. This made the University of the Western Cape the first university to qualify for the Champions League qualifiers. On 15 August 2024, they opened their 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League with a 1-0 loss to Green Buffaloes from Zambia. They won their next match with a 3-0 win over FC Ongos from Namibia. They topped group A and qualified for the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe.
In the semi-finals against Young Buffaloes from Eswatini they won the match 6-0. They won the final 9-8 via penalties against Gaborone United Ladies from Botswana after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. This meant they qualified for the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League and will become the first university to play in the CAF Women's Champions League.

### CAF Women's Champions League

They opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to TP Mazembe from DR Congo. They recorded their first win in their second match with 2-0 win over Aigles de la Médina from Senegal. They lost their final group stage match 2-0 against AS FAR from Morocco, ending the tournament third in group A and 6th overall.

## Team
### Technical team

| Position | Staff |
| Head Coach | Thinasonke Mbuli |
| Assistant coach | Msekeli Mvalo |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Vulindlela Biko |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Ridhaa Allie |
| Team Doctor | Azande August |
| Team Physio | Nontobeko Nyalunga |
| Analyst | Wayne Hendricks |
| Team Manager | Yolanda Shezi |
| Sport Therapist | Zami Mbatha |
| Safeguarding Officer | Wendy Nomatse |
| Media Officer | Skhu Nkomphela |
| Admin Manager | Hassan Sobekwa |
| HOD | Emma Hendricks |

## Honours

* COSAFA Women's Champions League: 2024
* SAFA Women's League: Runner-up: 2022, 2023, 2024
* Women's Varsity Football Cup: 2021, 2023, 2024 Runner's-up: 2018, 2019, 2022
* COSAFA Women's Champions League: Fair Play: 2024

## Notable players
### FIFA World Cup participants

List of players that were called up for a FIFA Women's World Cup while playing for the university. In brackets, the tournament played:
* Bongeka Gamede (2019, 2023)
* Fikile Magama (2023)
* Sibulele Holweni (2023)
* Kholosa Biyana (2023)
Players who have received a Banyana Banyana call up while playing for the university:
* Thembi Kgatlana
* Leandre Smeda
* Noxolo Cesane
* Regirl Ngobeni
* Amogelang Motau
* Nondumiso Manengela
* Unathi Simayile

## Team statistics
### CAF Women's Champions League record

| Season | Pos | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Season | Pos | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
| 2024 | 6th place | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | (2) |

### COSAFA Women's Champions League record

| Season | Pos | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Season | Pos | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
| 2024 | Champions | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 9 |

### SAFA Women's League record

| Season | Pos | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Season | Pos | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pst |
| 2019-20 | 6th place | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 46 | 27 | 19 | 30 |
| 2021 | Third place | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 47 | 16 | 31 | 53 |
| 2022 | Runners Up | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 55 | 13 | 42 | 68 |
| 2023 | Runners Up | 30 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 66 | 17 | 49 | 75 |
| 2024 | Runners up | 28 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 74 | 20 | 54 | 66 |
* Orange = In progress
* Gold = Champions
* Silver = Runner up