Puleng Moremi, the talented midfielder from Royal AM, had a compelling season in the Hollywoodbets Super League, showcasing her skill and resilience on the field. Originally from Welkom in the Free State, Puleng has journeyed through the ranks of South African football, playing for the U/17 and U/20 national teams and previously representing the University of the Western Cape. As the 2024 season comes to an end, Puleng shares her thoughts on her performance, the league, and her future aspirations.
Looking back at her personal performance in the 2024 season, Puleng opened up about her progress and performance in the league. “I would say this is the best season I have ever had since joining Royal AM Ladies. It has been a season full of growth and I am extremely proud of how I have contributed to the team as a whole. If I had to rate my personal performance this season, I would probably give myself a 7 out of 10,” she shared.
“This season I focused a lot on improving my weaknesses, particularly my fitness since it was my main issue which was affecting other elements of my game. I have worked extremely hard on my physical conditioning so I’ve felt sharper on the pitch, especially in the latter stages of matches. I have been getting into dangerous areas a lot easier and my link-up play with teammates has been better, as a result I have been able to contribute with a few assists and goals which is good for my game.”
The competitive nature of the league provided Puleng with plenty of challenges, particularly when facing some of the top teams. When asked about her toughest opponent, she didn’t hesitate to point to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies who have been crowned Champions for a 5th time in a row. “A lot of teams in our league have improved and so has the competition, but if I had to pick one team it would definitely be Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. We all know that they are a powerhouse in the Hollywoodbets Super League. What makes them so difficult to play against is their high level of organisation and intensity, both defensively and offensively. They also have a lot of special players like Lebogang Ramalepe and Karabo Dlamini who are extremely creative and versatile.” More Sundowns Ladies Stories
Puleng’s ambitions extend beyond domestic football. With her sights set on playing internationally, she dreams of testing her skills in the United States. “Definitely, I do have aspirations to play internationally. It has been a dream of mine since I first started playing football. The league I would like to play in is the [National Women’s League] NWSL.”
Overcoming the obstacles of being a female athlete in South Africa is one of the milestones and achievements she hopes to reach in her career within the next few years of her playing career, she said: “Ultimately, I want to continue to give my best every single time I get an opportunity to play and keep on making a difference on and off the field. The journey of being a female footballer in South Africa has a lot of hardships and it is just as important as a milestone.”
Reflecting on Royal AM’s performance this season, Puleng struck a balance between pride and acknowledgment of areas needing improvement. “Finishing seventh in the league this season has definitely been a mixed feeling for us as a team. On the one hand, we have seen the team grow, but on the other hand, we know we have a lot of potential that we didn’t fully tap into as a team.”
“There have been a lot of highs and lows and overall it has been a season of learning and reflection. One of our biggest strengths this season has been our teamwork and resilience. Things didn’t always go our way but we always fought as a team and pushed till the last minute. An area that requires improvement has to be consistency. We’ve had some great performances, but then we have followed them up with unsatisfying results. Sometimes, we haven’t been able to finish teams off when we’ve had the chance to, and that is something we will be working on next season.”
In 2023, Royal AM managed an impressive 16 wins, translating to a 55-point tally and a solid 5th-place finish. In 2024, the win count dropped significantly to 11 wins, resulting in 43 points—a 12-point decline.
The KwaZulu-Natal side registered 7 losses in 2023 compared to 10 losses in 2024, draws increased from 7 in 2023 to 9 in 2024. Interestingly, the team scored 50 goals in both seasons, maintaining a consistent attacking output and also conceded 42 goals in both seasons. Check out the HWBSL Log
Comments
Post a Comment