The South African Football Association (SAFA), Hollywoodbets, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) have recently unveiled a new format for the Hollywoodbets Super League.
This development signifies an effort and a commitment from SAFA and the Hollywoodbets Super League to establish a more robust, commercially sustainable, and fully professional women’s football ecosystem in South Africa, which is significantly lagging behind the men’s game in the country.
The announcement and the commencement of the league have been delayed for an extended period, as governing bodies have remained silent, leaving those in the community and passionate fans with unanswered questions. Nevertheless, following the announcement on Tuesday, 12 May, there was a palpable atmosphere of relief, hope, and excitement about the new Hollywoodbets Super League.
Hollywood Group spokesperson Vuyisile Ngobese told the press that “Hollywoodbets has believed in the potential of women’s football since day one. This new format will create a stronger platform for clubs and players and provide a better experience for supporters across the country. Together with SAFA, we remain committed to helping grow and professionalise the women’s game in South Africa.”
Starting this year, the league will transition from a national format comprising 16 teams to a structure featuring two groups of eight teams each.
A recent press statement has revealed that this new structure aims to alleviate the financial pressures on clubs, enhance match-day experiences, improve the broadcast product, and generate more high-stakes football throughout the season.
A significant aspect of this new format will be the establishment of a championship match, which will serve as a premier event for fans, sponsors, and broadcasters, thereby heightening the excitement surrounding the league.
These modifications also set the stage for a two-division system beginning in 2027, which will introduce promotion and relegation to bolster competitiveness and ensure long-term sustainability in women’s football.
Alongside the new format, the league will also introduce a refreshed digital platform through nwl.co.za. Fans can look forward to festivalised match weekends, centrally coordinated event experiences, and enhanced broadcast production in partnership with the SABC. Fans can expect awesome match day experiences, increased television exposure, stronger radio promotion and improved streaming accessibility where broadcast coverage is unavailable,” the statement read.
SAFA and Hollywoodbets believe the new structure signifies more than a mere change in format – it is a strategic reset aimed at fostering a stronger, more sustainable, and more thrilling future for women’s football in South Africa.
SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao said, “The introduction of the festivals for this league will enhance the event experience for fans, level the competition for clubs, and enhance the broadcast for viewers at home on the SABC platform. This enables us to increase the number of televised matches on SABC and thus enhance sponsor value for Hollywoodbets and also attract new sponsors. We appreciate the continued partnership with Hollywoodbets and the collaboration in our roadmap to realise the goals of our SAFA Women’s Football Strategy 2025-28, launched last year. Good luck to all the teams with the upcoming season of Super-Era and Super-Rise, and we look forward to the fans experiencing the best of African women’s football,” the SAFA CEO said.
Keletso Totlhanyo, Head of Sport at SABC, said: “We are delighted to be one of the key enablers at the forefront of advocating for the development and empowerment of women in sports. For us, this is just not about broadcasting matches; it is about giving women’s sport the respect, platform, and future it deserves.”
As a public service media organisation, Tothanyo stated that, as the SABC, they possess the reach and obligation to guarantee that women’s sports are accessible to all communities. Together with their partners, they ensure their contribution to social advancement and the enduring sustainability of women’s sports.
The new phase of the Hollywoodbets Super League is anticipated to foster stronger competition, better commercial prospects, enhanced fan experiences, and greater long-term sustainability for clubs—all while persistently raising the standard and visibility of women’s football in South Africa.
