Greek Queens’ do or die play-offs now in February

The Sasol Women’s League’s national championship play-offs that were scheduled for January 17 have been moved to February 7.

The South African Football Association (Safa), after consultation with Sasol as the sponsors of the provincial leagues, indicated the play-offs will now be held on February 7 in Durban. The championships were initially due to take place last December but had to be postponed due to the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Safa has not provided any reasons for the current postponement.

The Gauteng Sasol Women’s League winners for the 2021 season, Croesus Ladies will be among those vying for a spot in the National Women’s League-run Hollywood bets League for the upcoming 2022 season.

Better known as the Greek Queens, the Balfour Park-based side has dominated the Sasol league since 2018 but often fell short at the last hurdle to settle for a second spot. The win has opened a window for possible promotion to the National Women’s League.

Two teams will be promoted to the Hollywood Bets League for the last time as Safa intends to introduce a new system of promotion and relegation as of the end of the 2022 season. The winners of the various Sasol provincial leagues will lock horns to decide the national champion of the various leagues, which will then gain automatic promotion to the Hollywood bets League, along with the runner-up of the championships.

Greek Queens manager Maria Athanassouli told Alex News the spirits of the girls were still high and they are still looking forward to the Durban trip. “We’re raring to go for the do or die championship play-offs,” she said.

“We missed so many chances of promotion over the years and 2021 seemed to be our year and we made the most of it. It was a very hard road but I am glad we finally made it. The girls have truly come a long way and the championship playoffs will be a do or die affair for them.”