A catch-all thread for updates, news, videos etc, from any women's club football that catches your eye - in Africa, Europe, Asia, Central America, Caribbean or Oceania. All the following leagues have (or should have) their own threads for news: Asia: Japan 2018, Korea, Middle East/mid-Asia Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands 2018, Norway, Spain, Sweden, England/Ireland/N.I./Scotland/Wales Oceania: Australia W-League tba North America: Mexico, Canada, U.S. NWSL/college/lower divisions South America: CONMEBOL all club leagues The Turkish First League runners-up in 2017/18, Beşiktaş (photo: CeeGee, cc-by-sa) Hopefully it'll be a chance to learn and go beyond the clichés about the less well-known leagues. For example Did you know the Chinese Super League has got loads of money? - http://jwsports1.com/revealed-tabitha-chawinga-record-breaking-transfer-fee-paid-by-jiangsu-suning/ the Russian league isn't well supported? except for Moscow derby ultras - https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/327924-russian-women-play-football the Nigerian league kicked off in April and Nasarawa United are the defending champs? - http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/nige...ason-set-to-kick-off/7dhxs6m3mun1d16cebf5tgh9 (Archived) the Montenegro league, the ŽFL, has 4 teams? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegrin_Women's_League and much more Useful links: - https://women.soccerway.com - https://translate.google.com - uh, some others too
Austria's league kicked off on Saturday with a televised game - the Frauenliga champions St. Pölten away at Sturm Graz, highlights are online here for a week. Other info: - https://translate.google.com/transl...r-sturm-damen-brillierten/&edit-text=&act=url - https://www.oefb.at/Spiel/2405690/?SK-Sturm-Graz-vs-SKN-St-Poelten-Frauen St. Pölten will play against PSG in the Champions League 1st round. Wir starten in die Planet Pure Damen Bundesliga. 💪🏻🖤 Jetzt live auf @ORF SportPlus. #sturmgraz #stuskn pic.twitter.com/2JGIdzV997— SK Sturm Graz (@SKSturm) August 18, 2018
Actually this league is exceedingly hard to find out about! As an example match, this was at the end of last year - Asisat Oshoala starring for Dalian Quanjian (red), with 2 goals and an assist. 2017 Chinese FA Women's Super Cup In 2018, these are the eight teams and their interesting names (from Chinese Wikipedia) Wuhan are newly promoted in the league, and won their opener 2-1 in April thanks to Byanca (BRZ) and Wang Shuang. But there aren't many reports, even on the league's official Chinese site. A few early-season ones are here http://www.jhun.edu.cn/92/fd/c222a103165/page.htm It looks like the money that Jiangsu spent is paying off - Tabitha Chawinga from Malawi is the top goalscorer in China by far, and scored in their cup final win: - https://www.nyasatimes.com/tabithas...ional-cup-malawi-star-gets-golden-boot-award/ (Archived) - https://mwnation.com/chawinga-sisters-soar-in-foreign-leagues/ (Archived) Asisat Oshoala isn't hitting such heights this season, but she did buy her parents a mansion in Nigeria and her team are top of the Chinese Women's Super League by 2 points at the midseason break: (8 games played) 1 Dalian Quanjian 19pts, 2 Jiangsu Suning 17pts, 3 Changchun 15pts, 4 Wuhan Jiangda 15pts, 5 Shanghai 11pts, 6 Beijing North Control 6pts, 7 Henan Huishang 6pts, 8 Hebei Huaxia Happiness 0pts ironically (WP)
I am sure they're happy to play anyway, if they're well paid! Last year, former Japanese international Yukari Kinga had tried the Chinese League, after the end of Australian W-League, but I didn't hear anything of the kind in 2018. Do you know if she's in any team or if she passed the Chinese opportunity this season?
I am impressed of what you found. I tried to find out how it went for Tabitha Chawinga over there, I found the two Malawian articles but everything else I found was from the men's league or earlier seassons.
New Zealand cup winners are Dunedin Technical, after a tough road to yesterday's final: - https://in-the-back-of-the.net/2018/09/09/technical-analysis/ (Archived) 1038616328897146880 is not a valid tweet id
Thanks for posting these news! Cheers to Dunedin Technical! Actually I watched the match, the competition was tough!
A tour of African leagues and cups from earlier in 2018 - from Julia Wanjeri's site JWsports1. Algeria: "FC Constantine beat holders ASS Nationale 4-2 on penalties to win the 2018 Coupe d’Algérie Féminines" - http://jwsports1.com/fc-constantine-edge-ass-nationale-to-win-algerian-womens-cup/ (Archived) Uganda and Gambia: "It was a tale of two contrasting Cup finals in two of the most promising nations in the continent. "Uganda’s UCU Lady Cardinals picked their first ever silverware while Interior FC extended their Cup dominance in Gambia." - http://jwsports1.com/june-review-cup-champions-crowned-uganda-gambia/ (Archived) Tanzania: "JKT Queens finally got their hands on the Tanzania Women’s Premier League (TWPL) trophy on Saturday 7 July. The Dar es Salaam-based wrapped up their glorious procession to the title with a 6-2 demolition of holders Mlandizi Queens to bag their first league title." (by Issack Msumba) - http://jwsports1.com/tanzania-unbea...-title-with-win-over-holders-mlandizi-queens/ (Archived) Ethiopia: "Dedebit made history by winning a record fourth Ethiopia Women’s Premier League (EWPL) title on Saturday 7 July at the Addis-Ababa Stadium." (by Firew Asrat) - http://jwsports1.com/dedebit-claim-record-fourth-ethiopian-womens-premier-league-title/ (Archived) Second division winners: Tiret Corporate - http://jwsports1.com/champions-tiret-corporate-clinch-ethiopian-womens-second-division-title/ (Archived) They've also had sporadic reports from the leagues in Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, but not all through the season.
After the surprise defeat of Barcelona against BIIK-Kazygurt in Kazakhstan, the BIIK manager Kaloyan Petkov spoke to Tim Grainey of Tribal Football. Petkov talked about the victory and aftermath, and about the Kazakhstan women's league (5 teams, hopefully 10 teams in 2019). BIIK is a highly international team, and they want to find a league to match. They're hoping to branch out and join the far-off countries of the Baltic League. - https://www.tribalfootball.com/arti...north-carolina-courage-win-nwsl-title-4249921 (Archived) From the article: Central Asian club BIIK-Kazygurt could join the Baltic League (map: NormanEinstein, cc-by-sa)
Wow, could they afford going back-and-forth from Kazakhstan to the Baltic Sea? How many kilometers of travel?
"Things You Never Thought You Would Google" From BIIK's city, Shymkent, it's over 4,000km / 2,500 miles! Don't drive it. It sounds like BIIK might make 2 or 3 trips to play in the Baltic League, but they're used to long journeys for the Champions League.
With the Australian W-League starting soon, it's a good time to look at the other leagues in Australia in 2018. Hopefully it'll be a chance to learn and go beyond the clichés about... oh for god's sake https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=392433394592280 THERE'S A KANGAROO IN THE PLAYGROUND
I am disappointed! When you talked about "other leagues in Australia" I had hoped that a specific league for teams made of kangaroos only had been made in the country: a single kangaroo on the pitch is not enough!!!
So, as I was saying, Australia's federation the FFA is giving plenty of support to women's soccer. However, there isn't a national finals for women's 'local' clubs, which there is in the men's NPL. The leagues are organized in the 8 states, and New South Wales has 2 leagues. They're known as the women's National Premier League(s), or NPLW, or WNPL, running alongside the state cup competitions. (Map: Spebi, cc-by-sa) They film a lot of the games, so here's a round-up: New South Wales: Football NSW women's final on Sep 4 – Sydney University played Macarthur Rams, who had lost 3 finals in a row. The crowd at Valentine Sports Park were treated to a thriller: Queensland: The final involved the Brisbane Roar NTC youth team, who were the underdogs against north Brisbane's The Gap FC on Sep 9: Capital Football (Canberra): The Federation Cup final in August was Belconnen United v Canberra United Academy (full video), and the NPL Women's grand final was Belconnen v Canberra FC (highlights). Inter-state: Sydney University won the "Inaugural Women's Challenge Cup" away at Canberra's Belconnen Utd with a 1-0 scoreline. There's talk (no more than talk currently) of expanding to a women's FFA Cup that could include every club in the country. But that's a much bigger task. - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...-step-to-women-s-ffa-cup-20180921-p5056x.html (Archived) Victoria: The famous AAMI Park in Melbourne was the venue for that state's grand final on Sep 23. It was South Melbourne v FC Bulleen Lions, and some W-League players in the mix: The full game was streamed here: NPLW VICTORIA FINAL - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eVNe04c6J8&t=7m54s South Australia: A couple of interesting full matches, and a bonus penalty shootout from another final match because it overran - West Adelaide vs Adelaide City (Premier League & State League Cup Final, 10 Aug) - Adelaide City v Metro United WFC (WNPL Grand Final, 1 Sep) Western Australia: Perth's Balcatta FC won the Women's Top Four Cup on penalties over Queen's Park (Highlights / Match report) Tasmania: Ulverstone SC managed a perfect season as champions – their trophy ceremony was streamed here. Taroona became the state cup winners. Northern New South Wales: Warners Bay took the Herald WPL title. Northern Territory: In the far north, Darwin club Casuarina FC have apparently won the state final 2-0 over Hellenic AC. There's a profile of a recent Casuarina player, Zainab Mohamud: she moved there from Victoria, and is now applying for funds to set up a women's football club for the African community in Darwin: - https://thewomensgame.com/news/black-panthers-they-speak-with-their-feet-512469/page0 (Archived)
Asia: Japan 2018, Korea, Middle East/mid-Asia and add the Philippines: Filipinas Rising (The Philippines Women's Football Thread) https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/filipinas-rising-the-philippines-womens-football-thread.2044996/ 2018 is the second season of the PFF Women's League, with Dernhelm reporting (see page 7). Main title contenders are the universities of Santo Tomas and De La Salle.
Another cup winner to add: Uganda: A special tournament, the Independence Cup, was won on penalties by UCU Lady Cardinals, who had also won the FUFA Women's Cup in June. They beat the Elite League 2017/18 champions, Kawempe Muslim Ladies from the capital Kampala. UCU play in the neighbouring region of Mukono. I've been looking at the Nigerian women's league too - will post some stuff soon.
BTW the Ugandan league is linked to the rise of the Uganda national team, the Crested Cranes – the whole squad are playing for Ugandan clubs. Some of their most important goals were scored by players of Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Aluka Grace, Akiror Tracy Jones and Nalukenge Juliet) and UCU Lady Cardinals (Nassuuna Hasifah) in the 2018 African CECAFA and COSAFA cups. The goalkeepers are evenly matched too: Kawempe's Ruth Aturo and UCU's Juliet Adeke. The 2018/19 season of the Elite League has just started. This week, there are season's finals and playoffs in Korea, Brazil and Sweden.
In Nigeria the NWPL has reached the 2018 championship playoffs, the Super Four. Over the past decade the successful teams have been the southern clubs Rivers Angels and Delta Queens, and the 2017 champs Nasarawa Amazons from north-central Nigeria. The league is focusing on getting more media coverage, and the governing NWFL signed a partnership deal with La Liga in Spain. But this season is in danger of being overshadowed by violence at games. On Oct 27, some home fans of Abia attacked players of Sunshine Queens, and the match officials including referee Maryam Usman, who is pregnant. The league's only action was to punish an Abia official. - sportsdayonline.com/ondo-state-agency-wants-abia-angels-sanctioned (Archived) - busybuddiesng.com/nwfl-bans-abia-angels-welfare-officer-6-matches (Archived) Then in November, fans of Confluence in Lokoja were alleged to have attacked the goalkeeper from Ibom Angels, Nelly Edet. Apparently there had also been some crowd trouble at a 2017 NWPL game. On the less depressing side, the Aiteo Cup was won by Rivers Angels, and Nigeria's U20 star Rasheedat Ajibade is playing well. Her club is the same one where Asisat Oshoala made her name, FC Robo. - Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVAKXCiEmjc - http://www.naijafootballplus.com/bu...players-emmanuel-osahon-fc-robo-queens-coach/ (Archived)
The 2018 Chinese Women's Super League was won by Dalian Quanjian, their fourth title. However, they didn't have it all their own way. Malawian striker Tabitha Chawinga won the golden boot at 2nd-place club Jiangsu Suning - she scored 17 goals in 14 league games (and 32 goals in total). For the champions, Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala scored 10 times in her second season. - http://jwsports1.com/october-highlights-oshoala-chawinga-go-toe-toe-china/ (Archived) But in the Women's Cup final between the league's top 2, the holders Dalian went down to a shocking defeat, Jiangsu beat them 7-0 on aggregate. (Match reports / Archived). The following week, Dalian took the Super Cup 1-0, with a goal by Sole Jaimes of Argentina. As well as the African stars, there was a French influence on the title race - via the coaches, Farid Benstiti (Dalian) and Gérard Prêcheur (Jiangsu). Final league table (14 matches) 1 Dalian Quanjian 35pts, 2 Jiangsu Suning 31pts, 3 Changchun 28pts, 4 Wuhan Jiangda 21pts, 5 Shanghai 20pts, 6 Beijing North Control 15pts, 7 Henan Huishang 9pts, 8 Hebei Huaxia Happiness 0pts, relegated - (Chinese Wikipedia) Next season starts in July 2019. Match reports are hard to find, but here were a few CWSL articles in various languages/translated - Jiangsu v PLA (forfeited Cup game, Sep 12), Beijing v Dalian (Sep 23), Beijing v Dalian (Sep 24), Henan Huishang news, League review (Goal.com)
NATIONAL TEAM | "According to the domestic calendar released by CFA, 2019 #CWSL and 2019 Women's League One will not begin until the World Cup comes to an end in July". Some changes for the next year in China: https://t.co/P8g0NhtrDS. #SteelRoses #WomenInFootball pic.twitter.com/3xLvKD3MQn— China Women's Football - 中国女足 (@CHNWNT) December 11, 2018 "According to the domestic calendar released by CFA, 2019 CWSL and 2019 Women's League One will not begin until the World Cup comes to an end in July. Meanwhile, no member of the national team will be required to attend 2019 CFA Women's Cup or any other domestic tournament in the first half of 2019."
In Vietnam, the 4th-place finishers managed to win the league championship 2018 (Cúp Thái Sơn Bắc). After the 12-match season, the four playoff qualifiers were 1 Hanoi 29pts, 2 Ho Chi Minh City 27pts, 3 Than Khoang san VN (Mineral Coal Vietnam) 26pts, 4 Phong Phu Hà Nam 22pts In the playoff round semi-final, Hà Nam defeated the top club Hanoi on penalties. Then in the final, Hà Nam beat Ho Chi Minh City and lifted the trophy, 1-0. Match report and photos: https://vff.org.vn/ (Archived) Some video coverage and full games were also put online by the VFF federation.
The final of the New Zealand National Women's League went to extra time this week. From the 7 regional teams, the finalists were the Northern Lights v Canterbury United Pride: - www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhcyXgAkRRI NZ international Annalie Longo scored twice for Canterbury, and both teams had several bronze-medallist players from the recent U17 children's soccer World Cup. Match report: www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/378395/canterbury-claim-title-in-extra-time (Archived)
(OK OK, young people's World Cup) In Hong Kong, the women's league has existed since 1986, but it's facing calls for reform and professionalization. Women's football is getting a lot of coverage in the South China Morning Post: HK women footballers fight misconceptions and time constraints forcing them to move abroad to pursue love of the game - https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kon...men-footballers-fight-misconceptions-and-time (Archived) Kitchee SC are top of the HK league table in the 2018/19 season, which ends in February. Kitchee are the defending champs, but Citizen AA won most titles in recent seasons. Kitchee and Citizen drew 0-0 recently, while 3rd-place Happy Valley got an 8-0 win over 4th-place Chelsea FC Soccer School - who are affiliated with the English club. And they're doing equally well There's more news on the HKFA site (and a few low-qual vids) Mongkok Stadium will host the 4th annual Guangdong v Hong Kong match on Jan 6 (photo: Chong Fat, cc-by-sa)