The University of Johannesburg (UJ) might have been haunted by last year’s Varsity Football final defeat to Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), but this time around the team hopes to have learnt from its mistakes and go one step further.
UJ will travel to Bloemfontein to play this year’s campaign opener against Central University of Technology (CUT) on 27 July.
The team’s soccer manager, Joel Kgokong said they did not want to experience the same disappointment they did last year, and would need a good start against CUT, whom they beat in the fixture last year.
“This time we don’t want history to repeat itself,” he said. “From the technical staff to the players, they don’t want to go through the same pain they experienced last year,” he said.
Kgokong added that the team was focusing on reaching the play-offs, but knows that to reach the final a good start is needed, as well as consistency in the seven matches in the league phase.
While UJ had not won any soccer titles this year, Kgokong said they were aiming for ‘the big one’.
“This year we have placed a lot of focus on Varsity Football and we will be looking to some of our experienced players, led by captain Dane Fortuin, to show the way.”
If UJ can finish high on the log, they could secure a home semi-final and final, which can make all the difference.
“You could see last year when TUT hosted the final how their supporters came through for them. We want to make sure we have a good back-up in the form of the 12th player – the fans.”
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