UFS ready to make history and lift Varsity Football trophy for the first time

UFS Football is buzzing ahead of the Varsity Football final on Thursday night. Not only are they playing in the championship match, but they will also host four-time champions TUT Football at Shimla Park and have the opportunity to lift the trophy for the first time in their history in front of their home crowd. The Kovsies booked their ticket to the final after beating NWU on penalties in the semi-final away in Mahikeng.

Just two weeks ago, UFS lost 2-1 to TUT in a game they felt was decided by an unlucky penalty. Despite that, coach Mokete Tsotetsi believes his young squad has the resilience to shine under pressure, and this is their moment, one they have worked hard for throughout the campaign.

“This one is going to be an interesting and challenging game,” said the former Jomo Cosmos and Bloemfontein Celtic player.

“We’re up against a team that knows how to win Varsity Football, and we saw that just two weeks ago when they took all the points. But this is a new game and a new hurdle - a moment where all the hard work and challenges of the season will be tested.

“We’ve had to fight to understand one another, to buy into the philosophy, and to believe in what each player is capable of. Even though we have one of the youngest squads, the boys have shown real resilience and growth. We’ve already proven, with God’s grace and hard work, that we can overcome - like when we went to NWU, faced our fears, and came back with a dramatic win in the penalty shootout."

“Luck only follows those who put in the effort, and the players now see and believe they have a real chance to bring silverware to this institution. We know it won’t be easy, but we’ll put our hearts into it and give everything to clear this last hurdle. Our goal is to finish the way we started - strong and hopefully bring the trophy home.”

UFS captain and left-back Iviwe Dyabuza echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying the team has grown through this daunting journey in 2025 and now genuinely believes they are contenders for silverware.

“We’re very excited and motivated for the upcoming game,” said the inspirational captain.

“There’s a lot we want to show and a lot to offer on the day, and our focus is fully on that."

“It wasn’t a hurdle for us when Coach Mokete came in - in fact, we were fortunate to have him. He brought new and exciting ideas, and it wasn’t difficult to adapt because we were learning something fresh almost every day."

“His philosophy wasn’t much different from what we were already used to, which made the transition smooth. The players welcomed him, there were no clashes, and everyone was willing to listen and work with him throughout the tournament. It’s been a positive journey, and now we’re ready to take the next step.”

Thursday’s historic final at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein kicks off at 19:00.

Fixtures: HERE  

Tickets: HERE.