Mahlangu: Teams Can Now Set Their Targets

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola 



With the Hollywoodbets Super League having released the dates for the resumption of the 2026 season, ShakingInk spoke with Dr. Prescott Mahlangu to assess the impact this lengthy preseason has had on athletes when the eagerly anticipated campaign finally begins. 


Dr. Mahlangu provides a comprehensive perspective on athletes' psychological well-being. According to a sports and exercise physiologist and biokineticist at Tshwane University of Technology, says the announcement of the start dates for the 2026 season, provides teams with a clear psychological framework and reduces uncertainty.

"The confirmation of the league dates provides teams with a clear psychological and performance target. The 2026 Hollywoodbets Women’s Super League is scheduled to start from 22–24 May 2026 at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus, using a new two stream format. 

TUT Ladies are placed in the Super Rise stream and will open their campaign against Stellenbosch Ladies during the first festival weekend. From a sport psychology perspective, this reduces uncertainty and improves goal setting, motivation, focus, and emotional readiness. In a student-athlete environment, this clarity is especially important because players must balance football preparation with academic demands, travel, recovery, and personal responsibilities." Said Mahlangu. 

Dr. Mahlangu is always the first to roll up his sleeves and get dirty when duty calls. He was a member of the technical team for the South African under-17 national team's FIFA World Cup qualifiers. According to Dr. Mahlangu, the difference between club and national team levels is huge. 

"Yes. The major difference is the time available to influence the players.
At club level, we work with players over a longer period. This allows for progressive 
conditioning, individualised monitoring, injury-prevention strategies, rehabilitation follow-up, academic support, and long-term athlete development. 

At national team level, especially in camp, the time is shorter and more intense. Players arrive from different clubs with different fitness levels, training histories, tactical backgrounds, and psychological states. The priority is therefore rapid assessment, load management, recovery, injury-risk reduction, tactical alignment, and team cohesion." Assured Dr. Mahlangu. 


Those who frequently travel the African continent insist that West African teams and those in the north use mind games to confuse their opponents. Dr. Mahlangu's expertise shines through as he supports this and explains why psychological stamina is just as important in sports as physical readiness.

"Psychological stamina is equally important to physical fitness. Football performance is not only physical; it is also technical, tactical, emotional, and cognitive. Physical fitness allows players to meet the running, speed, strength, and recovery demands of the game. However, psychological stamina allows players to remain composed, confident, disciplined, and focused under pressure."

@Lamola_Herold 




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