Relief for AmaTuks after first Hollywoodbest Super League win

  • By Kate Nokwe

  • 7th March 2023

Relief for AmaTuks after first Hollywoodbest Super League win

University of Pretoria Ladies coach Maude Khumalo believes they are on the right trajectory in their debut Hollywoodbets Super League season.

AmaTuks beat rivals Tshwane University of Technology 3-2 in Brakpan on Sunday to pick up their first three points of the season.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Khumalo says, after years in the Sasol League, the step up is much harder than anticipated, but the result against TUT proves they are on the right track.

"I'm so happy, to be honest with you, because I wanted to show the girls that it's possible if you put your mind to it, and you trust the process because there's no way you can come in as a newcomer and start to win," said Khumalo.

"So, you need to understand where your shortcomings are and then you build, and you fix them in training, and that's what we were doing. 

"I realised that we can't convert the chances that we create, and it's still a problem with the team."

The former Banyana Banyana star admits they needed to sweat for the result but the players' desire to come out on top in the derby made the job even more rewarding.

"It's not [as] easy as you see it on TV, you need to work hard for three points. But I knew it was not going to be an easy game, I always tell the girls that each and every game is different," she added.

"But I'm happy because we were knocking on that door – we started with two losses and a draw, and I told them that we are building up.

"The game was a motivation itself, a Tshwane derby, so they wanted to prove a point. For me, it was more of motivating them and then making [sure] they are switched on all the time, but I knew they wanted to win it at all costs."

The former Banyana Banyana star could not suppress her relief at finally getting a victory in the competition, which showcases what her team is capable of.