The University of Johannesburg (UJ) women’s team overcame a laid-back early season to claim the inaugural championship title in the Varsity Football series in Pretoria on Monday 16 September.
UJ put in a commanding performance to claim a 6-0 victory over tournament favourites Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
The current USSA national club champions, TUT, were caught off guard by a strong midfield attack, which was spearheaded by UJ’s national players Amanda Dlamini, Prescious Matabologa and Maphuti Manamela.
According to UJ football manager Joel Kgokong, the home team had underestimated his side, which has won the Gauteng student league for the past five seasons.
“Our game plan was to control the midfield, eliminate the wingers and play two strikers in the middle, who could easily penetrate the flat four defenders,” Joel said.
The plan worked, as player of the match Disebo Mametja opened the scoring from a long ball. She outran the defenders and dribbled past the goalkeeper to place the ball in the net with ease.
Amanda and Prescious headed in a goal apiece from two corner kicks, while seasoned national striker Noko Matlou scored a brace to take the tally to 5-0 at halftime.
After the break, Disebo repeated her opening goal manoeuvre in the final minutes of the game to make it an unbeatable 6-0.
Joel attributed the team’s success this season to new management and coaching strategies aimed at improving the standard of women’s football in accordance with UJ’s Performance Excellence programme.
“Management have realised the importance of having a coach who understands women’s football.
“Coach Isaac Mokoena, who moved from the Soweto campus, and assistant coach Leah Masango had made a formidable team,” Joel added.
UJ women’s football manager Julia Maredi echoed Joel’s sentiments, saying the side’s results spoke for themselves.
“Coach Mokoena has instilled values that have brought together a focused and determined team with an aim to succeed.
“Our forwards have the confidence to take on defenders and beat them with pace, as was evident on Monday night when Disebo took on the TUT defenders.
“We also have creative midfielders in the centre of the park that make it possible for our wings and strikers to score. Most of our goals come from corners and set pieces.”
Julia said trust was a core team value and every player on the field had faith in the other to perform and execute their relevant attacking or defending duties to the best of their ability.
UJ overcame a sluggish UP-Tuks side 2-0, while TUT trounced the University of the Limpopo 4-0 in their march to the finals.
For more information visit www.uj.ac.za
