UCT looking to become the second WC team in the Hollywoodbets Super League

UCT qualified for the Sasol League National Play-offs after defeating Magic FC 3-0 over the weekend and were crowned Sasol League Provincial champions.

The Capetonians are part of nine teams that will contest the national championship from 15–20 October in the Western Cape.

Parker says they draw inspiration from their neighbours UWC.

"UWC being in the Hollywoodbets national women's league has to be an inspiration to the rest of Capetonians. With Vasco Da Gama having made it a few years ago, we wanna follow in their footsteps and hopefully, we will be able to sustain a little bit differently from what Vasco was able to but they inspired us and we've played against them before and we are hoping to fill that void for sure and do a little bit better,” Parker said.

“Hopefully with a little bit of learnings from the experiences that they've gained from playing in the Hollywoodbets League as well."

UCT won Stream A in the Western Cape and had to face Stream B winners Magic FC for a place in the elusive Sasol League National Play-offs. Parker says they were well-prepared.

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"The game against Magic FC, it was definitely something that we knew that we were going to overcome in order to have that opportunity at playoffs again. So, for us, it was a case of we went into this season on the back of the disappointment of last year and our squad bought in two players who went on to play Hollywoodbets for other teams and they're doing really well in those teams as well,” he added.

“We pretty much had the same squad and we were able to bring in a couple of players, on that basis, the core of the team knew what it was gonna take to get to playoffs again, we have the opportunity now and we are gonna do the best that we can."

By virtue of the play-offs taking place in the Western Cape, UCT are the hosts but Parker feels differently. The competition will be played in Knysna, some 500km away from their Cape Town base.

"It's a little bit dissapointing that the hometown advantage will possibly be slightly compromised because it's outside of Cape Town but having said that, we are grateful to be playing in our home province,” the coach explained.

“Knysna is a wonderful little part of the country, the garden route is a gorgeous part of South Africa so we are definitely looking forward as UCT Football Club to represent the home province and give it our absolute best shot at the national playoffs this year.

“Last year we were privileged to play against the hometown team and we beat them and we are hoping that nobody gets to beat the hometown team this time around."

The draw for the Sasol League National Championships takes place on Thursday in Johannesburg. The following teams will go into the hat: FC Raycon (Gauteng); Super Strikers Ladies (Mpumalanga); Sophakama Ladies (Eastern Cape); NWU (North West); Ramatlaohle Ladies (Limpopo); Ezemvelo WFC (KwaZulu Natal); Kovsies FC (Free State); Royal Wizards (Northern Cape) and UCT (Western Cape).