UP-Tuks turn up the heat as Varsity Football race intensifies

The 2026 FNB Varsity Football season heads into Round 5 with the race for the semi-finals heating up. After two wins, a draw and a loss, UP-Tuks sit third on the log, level on points with fourth-placed Wits, with goal difference separating the two sides.

The Stripe Generation will take a short trip to city neighbours Johannesburg to lock horns with Wits.

Tuks’ inform striker Ntokozo Madela relishes his side’s commitment and hunger in this campaign.

“Big win against DUT at Harry Gwala stadium, I am very happy with the team’s performance. Good performance all round, three goals and we also kept our first clean sheet. Now we are looking forward to Wits and as a team we think we play better away,” said Madela

“I am scoring goals this season, no injuries just a minor knock but I am not too focused on that as I am very happy to be contributing to the team’s success. Believe it or not I look forward to every Friday now, I want to play and keep scoring for the team.

“I feel over the moon, I felt sad last season that I did not score any goals. But I had confidence that this season I was gonna score looking at the friendly matches we played building up to the campaign. I hope to score more.”

Tuks are on a nine-year silverware drought having last clinched the coveted Varsity Football trophy in 2017 in a controversial Tshwane derby that finished 2-0 in favour of the Stripe Generation.

The KZN born talisman retaliated that they should not get ahead of themselves and will take it one game at a time with Wits as the next hurdle.

“The next game will be tough against Wits as we both on seven points and a winner is going to go on top of the other. This is a crucial game, we are high in confidence as we won, and they recently lost to UJ. It will be tough as we both want maximum points,” he said.

“There is no time to drop points, it will be vital for us to take all points and push them down. We will take it one game at a time we do not want to look too far ahead. After Wits we will look at UL and the last game against UJ. Hopefully we end up in the knockouts.”

This is Madela’s last season with Tuks, and he is looking to end things in fine fashion.

“Winning the title will mean the world to me, having won the USSA’s twice I think the only trophy left for me to win is varsity football. It is my last year with the team and there is nothing more I would want with this prestigious institution and the last we won it was about 10 years ago. Looking forward to it.”

Fixtures: HERE

Tickets: HERE

By: Lehlogonolo Ditshego