FIRST-TIME Varsity Football champions will be crowned on Thursday, September 24, when UWC and TUT battle it out in Cape Town for the coveted Varsity Football trophy.
Hosts UWC failed to make the play-offs in the first two seasons of Varsity Football, but have had an incredible run this year and remain unbeaten at home and claimed the top spot on the standings.
It will also be a first final for TUT who were knocked out in a home semi-final in 2013 before missing out on the competition last year. Both teams won their goalless semi-finals on penalties, with UWC ending Wits’ challenge and TUT knocking out two-time champions UP-Tuks. When the two sides met earlier this season at the same venue, UWC walked away with a slender 1-0 win in a game that could have gone either way.
While TUT has quite a few star players at their disposal, UWC has a united team willing to work hard for each other. This epic final will be the clash of styles as TUT rely on style and flair while UWC rely on their vocal home crowd to carry them through.
For TUT the key players will be talented midfielders, Itumeleng Mogotsi and Thabang Motau, along with goalkeeper King Ndlovu, while for UWC the players to watch will be Thulani Mkosi, Tapelo Sixishe and captain Reon October in goal. Although expectations will be high on his side, UWC coach Salie Adams, expects them to handle the pressure and rise to the occasion. “I am sure the boys will cope with the so-called pressure they are experiencing now. In saying that, the excitement should be there and it will also give them a little more motivation to do well,” he said.