Kaizer Chiefs Ladies coach Unathi Mabena believes her side showed promising signs despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in their historic debut match in the 2026 Gauteng Women’s Provincial League.
The highly anticipated clash took place at a packed Tsakane Stadium in Ekurhuleni on Sunday afternoon, with Amakhosikazi making history by playing their first official match in club colours.
Speaking after the match, Mabena admitted her side gave Sundowns too much respect during key moments of the game.
“I think the players were trying to see how the opposition would push us.
“We now have to go back to the drawing board, correct our mistakes, and prepare for the next fixture,” said Mabena.
“I think we gave Sundowns too much respect; we allowed them space and got punished.”
Despite the defeat, the Chiefs’ mentor praised her players’ effort and thanked supporters who came out in large numbers to witness the occasion.
“But other than that, I am happy with the performance and thankful to the fans who came out in numbers to witness the club making history with our ladies playing their first match today,” she added.
The Glamour Girls currently sit 13th on the league table and will now shift focus to their next clash against JVW.
Mabena believes the defeat could serve as an important learning curve for the newly assembled squad.
“We will have to review this match and take note of our mistakes. I think this game served as a wake-up call, which will help us as we prepare for our next fixture against JVW,” she said.
The 46-year-old also revealed that several players picked up knocks during the encounter, but remains confident the team will improve as combinations continue to develop.
“We picked up a couple of injuries and knocks from this game, so we need to make sure the players recover well.
“I am happy with what they brought performance-wise. The combinations are coming together – we just need to fix a few things for the players to build better synergy,” concluded Mabena.