NWU eye revenge against UFS in Varsity Football home semi-final

Siraj Kamedien
3 hours ago
2 min read

For NWU head coach Nkululeko Malgas, history serves as both a reminder and a source of motivation. Last season, his team dominated UFS with a commanding 4-0 victory at home in the semifinals, only to stumble to a narrow 1-0 defeat away earlier this year.

Now, with another home semifinal on Thursday, 25 September, Malgas is determined to ensure the focus remains on the present, insisting that the slate has been wiped clean and that his side is ready to rise to the occasion once again.

“It’s a new game, a new year, and even new match officials. They have a new coach, Mokete Tsotetsi, who has done extremely well in his first season at the university level. So, we cannot rely on the past; we must prepare for this match as its own battle,” said Malgas.

“I call that a Championship Spell - they also collected seven points from nine away from home. To take four points off Wits and UP-Tuks on the road is not easy. They’ve been very good travellers.”

For NWU, this semi-final is about more than just progress; it’s about redemption.

Last year, they reached the home final only to lose to UWC on penalties, a result that still stings.

“That one hurt,” Malgas reflected. “We had the opportunity in front of our fans and couldn’t take it. This year, we want to finish the job. The last time NWU won Varsity Football was in 2018. It’s time.”

“We are where we wanted to be from the start of our Varsity Football technical strategy. We needed a bit of luck from TUT to secure a home semi, but the boys know the stage they are on and what is expected. They are a fully motivated group.”

Malgas underlined the role of supporters as a crucial factor.

“Our 12th man is something else,” he said.

“They arrive two hours before kick-off. By the time we go out for warm-up, the stadium is already half full. They drive these boys to another level. They are just unbelievable.”

“We owe it to ourselves and to our supporters. We have been close before, but now is the moment to bring the Varsity Football trophy back to NWU.”