The 2024 Varsity Women’s Football final took center stage on Friday Women’s Day 9 August as six-time TUT Women’s Football took on the defending champions UWC Women’s Football at TUT Stadium on Friday.  UWC successfully defended their title after a 2-1 victory over the home side.   With the two teams playing a sensational, relentless attacking football, the final could not be pre scripted. UWC drew the first blood through the high flying goal scorer Ronnel Donnelly to make it 1-0 after 9 minutes, after TUT goalkeeper Glenny Mafikeng failed to save the ball from the cross as it fell on Donnelly who didn’t make any mistake.  The Red Army responded immediately as another goalkeeper blunder, this time UWC’s Thandeka Ngcobo failed to save Sibongile Ntoane ’s shot and it was captain Tshegofatso Motlogelwa who finished the ball to the back of the net to make it 1-1 19 minutes.   TUT were under immense pressure and could not hold on as UWC doubled the lead on the 44th minute through captain Tiffany Kortjie’s hot shot, again TUT keeper failed to save the ball as it went through her hands.UWC took a slender 2-1 lead at the interval.  TUT returned from the break with substitution in the goalkeeping department, as Mafikeng made way for Retshepeone Ntwayagae. Things remained intense with both teams producing threatening plays.  Motlogelwa remained a threat for UWC on the wing but her crosses couldn’t penetrate UWC defence. On the other end it was Kortjie terrorising the TUT defence on the left wing with dangerous runs and crosses.   UWC claimed their second successive title with a 2-1 victory.     Scorers:    TUT:  Tshogofatso Motlogelwa  UWC : Ronnel Donnelly, Tiffany Kortjie (UWC)     FNB Player of the Match: Tiffany Kortjie (UWC)    TUT: Glanny Mafikeng, Dineo Sharol Ramaoka, Sibongile Ntoane, Mamikgase Senyatsi, Gift Makanya, Mokgaetji Ramanna, Tshogofatso Motlogelwa (C), Ogone Motshabi, Lindiwe Nkambule, Paballo Chela, Nelly Nhlapho.  UWC:  Thandeka Ngcobo, Ember Edwards, Bongeka Gamede, Unathi Simayile, Fikile Magama, Vonisiwe Faith Maswanganyi, Kearah Gentry, Akholiwe Matsotsi, Chelsea Daniels, Tiffany Kortjie (C), Ronnel Donnelly.     By: Lehlogonolo Ditshego

The 2024 edition of Varsity Netball starts on Sunday, 1 September and once again all eyes will be on the future stars of South African netball to see who will be crowned champions. Considering that all 15 players in the Protea national squad and five of the seven training partners are current or former Varsity Netball stars, great action can be expected until Monday 7 October when the final will be contested between the top two teams. The teams who will be vying for bragging rights are defending champions UP-Tuks, 2023 runners-up UJ, Wits, UFS-Kovsies, Maties, NWU, Madibaz and TUT who is the new team, replacing UWC.     The venues for the bumper weekends are the Wits Multi-Purpose Sports Hall (Johannesburg), Madibaz Indoor Sports Centre (Gqeberha), Rembrandt Hall (Pretoria), NWU Mafikeng Great Hall (Mahikeng) and Callie Human Hall (Bloemfontein).     Head of Varsity Sports Lisa Roux says she is excited to once again see how the next generation is going to make their mark on the sport.     “Varsity Netball is the ideal foundation on which to build the future of the sport in South Africa. The talent that we have seen through the years is a testament to this. I do not doubt that it will continue, especially if you have a look at the current national squad. It is now up to the players to make use of this wonderful opportunity.”    Last year UP-Tuks, undefeated throughout the 2023 tournament, collected their third title when they beat UJ 63-61 in a pulsating final in a packed Rembrandt Hall. Coach Jenny van Dyk has since moved on to better and bigger things with her appointment earlier this year as Protea head coach. She has been joined by former maties coach Zanele Mdodana who is now the assistant coach of the national team.     New Tuks coach and former national player Erin Burger says her team are ready to continue on their winning ways.     “We are really looking forward to competing. We know that after winning last year, we’re going to have to work even harder now to win again and to fix areas that need improvement. We have new management and new players but that is an exciting challenge, and we can’t wait to start playing. We learnt a lot last season and will take everything that we could use from the knowledge coach Jenny shared with us and will use that as our foundation going forward.”    Tuks will start their title defence on 1 September against newcomers TUT in the first bumper weekend at the Wits Multi-Purpose Sports Hall. The rest of the first-round fixtures are:    Sunday 1 September  Wits vs Kovsies - 13:00   UJ vs Maties - 15:00   UP-Tuks vs TUT - 17:00   NWU vs Madibaz - 19:00     Monday 2 September   Kovsies vs NWU - 13:00   TUT vs Maties - 15:00   UJ vs Madibaz - 17:00   Wits vs UP-Tuks - 19:00     For a full fixture list, click HERE.      As an exciting bonus, fans will have the opportunity to catch the action live as all the matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport. Whether you're in the stands or cheering from home, you won't miss a moment of the intense gameplay and thrilling moments that make Varsity Netball a must-watch event.    #ShowYourColours

UPDATE: Voting for the FNB Player of the Tournament has closed as of 8am on Friday 9 August. Winner will be announced after the final. The Varsity Football Women's 2024 final takes place this Friday, 9 August, between six time former champions TUT and defending champions UWC, but before we find out who lifts the trophy it's time to vote for the FNB Player Of The Tournament 2024 and acknowledge this year's most outstanding performers. We asked all eight head coaches of the women's competition to nominate three players who impressed them the most and they were not allowed to nominate a player from their own university team. The nomination process is weighted with first position worth three points, second position two points and third position one point. The nominations were then added up and these are the three players with the most points. Voting is now open to the public whose votes will determine the overall winner. The public can cast their votes below from Tuesday, 6 August until 8am on Friday 9 August. The winner will be the player with the most votes at the deadline and will be announced after the final on the same day. UPDATE: Voting for the FNB Player of the Tournament has closed as of 8am on Friday 9 August. Winner will be announced after the final. The nominees: Zanile Khosa:  The NWU winger and striker kicked off the Eagles campaign by scoring the fastest goal ever in under 20 seconds to earn the FNB Player of the Match award. She followed that up with the winning goal in their game against Tuks. Her favourite player and role model is Jermaine Seoposenwe. Gugu Dhlamini:  The enigmatic UJ forward was instrumental in the Orange Army's opening game victory over defending champions UWC and duly picked up the FNB Player of the Match award for her efforts. She came close to scoring again in the semi-final against TUT with an impressive strike from distance that hit the crossbar. Ronnel Donnelly:  Tied as the tournaments top scorer with 4 goals so far, Donnelly has been a key part of UWC's success. She scored a brace in their demolition of CUT and followed that up with a goal against CPUT to collect back-to-back FNB Player of the Match awards. She also scored in the semi-finals against NWU to send UWC into the final. Book your tickets the women's football final on Friday 9 August at 7.30pm HERE .

It was a good day for UWC in Varsity Football round 3 as the Cape side recorded their first victory in the competition in a rainy cold UWC Stadium. A see-saw battle in Bloem saw CUT and VUT split the points with two goals a piece and UP-Tuks remain top of the log after a goalless draw against the NWU Eagles. Here’s how all the  matches played out.   CUT 2-2 VUT     CUT Men’s Football shared the spoils with the VUT Men’s Football in a home game after the game ended in a 2-2 draw at CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein.    CUT drew first blood in the 6th minute of the game through Nkonsingiphile Libubisi to make it 1-0. The home team was in control of the game but let the game loose in the dying minutes of the half-time allowing VUT to grab an equalizer courtesy of Siyabonga Nombewu to make it 1-1 at the interval.     In the second half, CUT again came out strong from the locker room and netted a second goal from a penalty spot through Pogisho Dikole. The lead gave the home team a morale booster but once again like in the first half it took its foot off the peddle. This again gave VUT a chance for a comeback in the game, the visiting team's Sibusiso Baloyi grabbed an equalizer with a nice curler outside the home team's box beating the goalie.    From there it was all VUT putting up pressure on CUT but most of the created chances were on target and some denied the goalie. In the dying minutes of the game, things got a bit rough. This after VUT was forced to replace two of its injured players. Things also got untidy for CUT as the referee showed a red card to Dikole.    The game ended in a draw with the teams sharing the spoils.    Scorers:     CUT : Nkonsingiphile Libubisi, Pogisho Dikole.  VUT:  Siyabonga Nombewu, Sibusiso Baloyi.      FNB Player of the Match: Kgahlisho Kgomoeswana (VUT)     CUT:  Kananelo Sehebeng, Pule Setsosa, Simo Ndlovu, Alwande Sibiya, Tiisetso Mpholoana, Pogisho Dikole, Mzwakhe Shabalala, Nkosingiphile Lubisi, Jeffrey Mokoena, Oratile Mothibedi, Lehakwe Phumo.     VUT: Tebogo Mosia, Gontse Kole, Perceverance Mashabane, Kgotso Nhlapo (C), Lehlohonolo Ncambe, Marumo Lekoloane, Siyabonga Nombewu, Lucky Raphala, Kgahlisho Kgomoeswana, Sibusiso Motsepa, Sibusiso Baloyi.   UWC 2-0 DUT     After an absolute nightmare start of the game and poor performance against NWU last Thursday, UWC Men’s Football temporarily redeemed themselves with an emphatic win over DUT at the UWC Stadium on Thursday.  Two quick goals by Leandro De Sousa and Asibonge Maphumulo respectively gave UWC the advantage, as they went on to win the game 2-0 and get a clean sheet. The victory is a great confidence booster for the team that lost its first game, drew the second one. This was the team’s first win which put it fourth of the log.  The DUT failed to use wind and the rain to their advantage in the first stanza. With a minute in the second half, de Sousa took an advantage of the sleeping DUT defence from a cross by Nkosindiophile Ngcobo and nodded it home to make the score one to nil. As that was not enough, DUT conceded another goal from a set piece, corner kick score by a towering Asibonge Maphumulo. After the two goals, the match seemed like a daunting task to DUT while UWC seemed to be shimmering with hope and optimism. The home tried but it was not to be especially with conditions now unplayable after a heavy second half rain. Referee blew the game after 95 minutes with a disappointed DUT leaving the field without a goal.    Scorers: Leandro De Sousa, Asibonge Maphumulo (UWC)     FNB Player of the Match: Khanya Dyani (UWC).      UWC:  Nkosingiphile Ncwane, Leandro De Sousa, Ranieri Salvini, Damian Overmeyer (C), Khanya Dyani, Vuyani Ncontsa, Relebohile Matima, Asibonge Maphumulo, Imaan January, Zamian Plaatjies, Leathan Croats.       DUT: Philasande Mthembu, Xolani Mkhonza (C), Khayelihle Ndlovu, Manqoba Shange, Mlulamisi Khowa, Awande Ngidi, Samkelo Gwala, Thobani Jwara, Nhlakanipho Ngwenya, Iviwe Sodidi, Mlamuli Hlongwa.   TUT 0-0 UFS     UFS Men’s Football and the TUT Men’s Football played to a goalless stalemate in Bloemfontein on Thursday in a game that may not have produced any goals, but certainly provided a lot of entertainment value.  UFS will lament their lack of scoring especially after the number of chances they created.  From the onset, TUT were a lot more physical than any of the teams UFS had played thus far. By the same token, that went for the visitors as well. Towards the latter stages of the first half, UFS started taking a little more control of the midfield and the scoring chances came, and this was through the hard graft by the midfielder and player of the match, Moeti Mofokeng.  The second half saw the home side pushing hard on the attack, especially in the earlier stages and this allowed TUT to counter hard when they managed to depose UFS of the ball. The defence was however up to the task, but they were forced to scramble.  UFS remained composed, especially considering that they were bullied physically, but in staying that, the discipline gave the team from the Free State a lot more set piece opportunities which they were sadly, for the home fans, couldn’t convert. No more so than the 73rd minute penalty miss by the captain Boy Rantsoti, where he had the goalkeeper beaten for all money.  After their drubbing at the hands of VUT last week, TUT will take the point, while for UFS it’s a tale of what could have been. Addressing the finishing will be the key focus in the week as they prepare to welcome the University of Pretoria on Thursday.    Scorers:      FNB Player of the Match: Moeti Mofokeng (UFS).     TUT:  Luyanda Mandindi, Nqubeko Ntimbane, Mnqobi Khumalo, Andile Malaka, Precious Mohale, Thuso Mlamla (C), Katlego Motlhale, Menzukuthula Ntshangase, Nare Mojapelo, Minenhle Khanyile, Lesedi Khosi.     UFS: Boy Rantsoti (C), Samkelo Nakedi, Omphemetse Matlhogonolo Athibeng, Sandile Mhlanga, Arlonso Diedricks, Obakeng Seekoei, Iviwe Dyabuza, Moeti Mofokeng, Jarome Jansen, Thandolwethu Khoza, Tisetso Daniel Seodinyane.     UP-Tuks 0-0 NWU     The two on form sides hit the ground running with Tuks looking to maintain unbeaten run and NWU looking to climb up the log.  As anticipated, it was end to end action with both teams playing high tempo football and high press. NWU played to their pacey wingers and relied on second ball counter attack which Tuks was up to task on. The Pretoria side also explored on the wings playing more direct aerial balls and crosses for the tall striker Mnqobi Mkhize.  With both teams failing to capitalize on their half chances, there was nothing to separate the two sides at the break, 0-0 at halftime.  Second half was not any short of drama as both teams looked threatening on attack. Tuks kept asking questions, causing two vital saves from NWU keeper, Kamogelo Matane. The Eagles of North West absorbed the pressure and relied on counter attack however failed to produce clear cut chances.    The thrilling tight encounter saw both sides throwing everything at each other. Tuks looked dangerous in the dying minutes of the game with Matome Rangata terrorizing NWU defense, substitute Quintin Stokes-Waller hitting it straight to the keeper.   Tuks saw their last attacks at the death of the game failing to convert, leaving the sides sharing the spoils.    Scorers:      FNB Player of the Match: Kamogelo Matane (NWU).     UP-Tuks:  Jayden Van Der Walt, Khotatso Balepile, Nkosana Shabalala, Edward Rankwe, Tshepiso Mahlangu, Paballo Mamabolo, Camagu Mdevulana, Matome Rangata, Raymond Tshwane Matlamela, Samukelo Ngodela, Mnqobi Mkhize.     NWU: Kamogelo Matane, Olebogeng Moeti, Lucky Letwaba, Sousa Mathe, Lucas Seromo, Thabang Majoro, Reatlegile Kgosithebe, Xolani Masethi, Momelezi Mngati, Pascual Tivane, Itumeleng Selemela.     Fixtures   HERE     Tickets   HERE

Throughout the history of football there has always been a saying, football doesn’t care who you are and what you’ve achieved, it is played on a pitch with 11 versus 11. That is exactly what TUT Men’s Football is going through at the moment having played two matches, drawn one and heavily lost another - uncharacteristic of the defending champions.  However, if there is any team in this tournament that can turn things around, it’s the Red Army, led by their charismatic coach Bushy Moloi and backed by the fact that they’ve lifted this prestigious trophy on four previous occasions.  Coach Moloi is still adamant that they will change the situation. “We know we have not started well, and we have ourselves to look at. But we have reflected on our mistakes and tried to correct them, we will see how our corrections went on Thursday when we play our third game.  “We are still confident that we will go to the semifinals and possibly the finals of this tournament, we are TUT after all” On Thursday, shoulder to shoulder, eyeball to eyeball, they face table-topping UFS Men’s Football, who have been perfect thus far; two wins in two, six points out of six. If anything, this encounter promises to be nothing short of spectacular in many ways than one. TUT are agonizingly missing last year’s talisman and leading goal scorer, Ronald Mabaso, who was incredibly impressive and imperative to what they did on the pitch, more so offensively. Nonetheless, this team needs a new hero who will puff out his cheeks and carry the team in this mini crisis they find themselves in, and this is the perfect game to roll up their sleeves and show courage.    Fixtures   HERE    Tickets   HERE        By: Selebalo Karabo Phasha

UFS are seeking to make the home ground advantage count in their favour as they eye a third-straight win in round 3 on Thursday. The Kovsies will be hosting the game against the defending champions TUT after the game was moved to Bloemfontein. The Red Armey suffered a shock defeat to VUT in round two and they will head to the Free State with the aim of setting the record straight and causing an upset themselves. UFS were brilliant in the first half against DUT last while, while the second 45-minute period left a lot to be desired by both teams on the park. Omphemetse Athibeng, who had a blinder for the player of the match award last week, said they have been given a massive advantage for the game against TUT and they need to cash in. “We took the lessons from the game, and I believe that we've put that in the past and we're looking forward to the next game,” said the player who scored the match-winning goal against DUT. “We are taking each game at a time, and regarding the home ground advantage, I believe it's going to be in our favour because our supporters will be there firstly and we were going away, now we're at home. “That has boosted our confidence - last year they came to us, and we drew the game. I believe this year we can do better since we've been putting in the hard work and with our confidence high and with the six points that we've gained. “I believe that our mindset is going to be very crucial regarding the TUT game and we need to put the last two wins in the past. There will be no celebrations for now.” Thursday’s match between UFS and TUT at Shimla Park is set to kick-off at 18:30.   Fixtures   HERE   Tickets   HERE

UP-Tuks looks to have returned to Varsity Men’s Football rejuvenated with an exciting form in the opening two rounds, keeping them at the top of the table. Nicholas Stothard’s charges have now won two from two games, first beating VUT 1-0 at home before bullying CUT in front of their home fans in a 4-1 victory. The last time Tuks competed in the Varsity Men’s Football, they did not make the knock stages finishing 5th on the log with only two wins from four matches. The Stripe Generation are now on six points after two rounds. Nkosana Shabalala was called to action against VUT and delivered a man of the match performance. “Playing away from home is always a challenge so getting three points away from home shows how well prepared we are. Every game is competitive and I think there is no team that is just there to add numbers.” “I believe that we are simply motivated by the goals and standards that we have set for ourselves as a team. We are willing to go all the way to achieve the goal and maintain the standard. We are gunning for gold.” Shabalala made his Varsity Football debut against UFS in 2022, besides not doing well then, the former Mamelodi Sundowns development midfielder is ready to redeem his form and maintain his regular start. Tuks’ next hurdle is 4th placed NWU. “NWU will come to compete, but just so you know I’ve never lost against NWU and I want to keep it that way. I have always wanted to play in the highest level of football. I made my debut against UFS Kovsies, I had to put in the hard work in training for coaches to trust me representing a big institute that is Tuks.” concluded the USSA 2023 winner.   Fixtures   HERE   Tickets   HERE          By Lehlogonolo Ditshego

Last year NWU saw the rise of star player Heaven Sereetsi, who caught the eye of Premier Soccer League (PSL) team Cape Town City. Now, in 2024, first-year student Lucky Letwaba is poised to follow in Sereetsi’s footsteps. With a spot on the NWU first team, Lucky is gearing up to make a significant impact in the 2024 Varsity Men’s Football tournament. Born and raised in Soweto, Lucky's football journey began at six years old. He started with makeshift goals and friends as teammates, spending hours perfecting his skills. Despite limited opportunities in his community, Lucky's determination remained steadfast. "Football has always been a passion of mine. Growing up in Soweto, the love for the game was a driving force,” he said. Before joining NWU, Lucky played for Sekhukhune United FC and Mike Stars Academy. His journey took a pivotal turn when he was selected to represent NWU in the CUCSA (Confederation of University and College Sports Association) tournament. This tournament showcases top university teams competing for regional dominance. Lucky made an immediate impact, playing a crucial role in South Africa's triumph. "Representing NWU and contributing to our victory was a significant milestone. It fueled my ambition to reach greater heights in varsity football." "This tournament is a chance for me to prove myself at the university level. I want to contribute to our team's success and hopefully catch the eye of professional scouts who might be watching." "I like to visualize myself making key passes, scoring goals, and helping my team win. It helps me stay focused and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead." Lucky hopes his performance in the varsity tournament will open doors beyond university football, potentially leading to professional opportunities. "Playing professionally is a dream of mine, I believe this tournament can be a stepping stone towards that goal." "I want to be an example for young athletes in my community. Hard work and dedication can help you achieve your dreams."   Fixtures   HERE   Tickets   HERE        By: Phenyo Mokgothu

UWC Men’s Football captain Damian Overmeyer believes the UWC provides the perfect environment for students who play sports to get acquainted with life after university. This is certainly not new insight as many players before the UWC Varsity Football Men's captain shared this sentiment. Overmeyer however offers a fresh perception on sports and its value in life away from the field.   Like many players in Varsity Football and similar high-performance tournaments, Overmeyer has dreams of penning a professional contract. Still, he places a high price on qualifying as a UWC graduate - he is currently completing his BA Honours specialising in Sports Recreation and Exercise Science.   "Sport not only offers the health benefits but life skills, communication skills, and building relationships with people. This is what teammates offer you because they never stay the same. Players rotate in and out of teams even and you meet new people all the time. Outside the field, they can guide and help you.   “Not everyone is as academically strong as others, but you can help each other in a team environment. Feed off the team energy and find ways to help one another."   The UWC skipper made his debut for the Caracals in the 2023 season and has been a prominent figure for the 2015 Varsity Football champions. However, it is not because of his talent that he believes he can lead his team with so much finesse and confidence. Overmeyer has learnt a lot from his predecessor, Craig Joemath who captained the side in the 2023 season.   "The work the technical team does in terms of helping individuals, on and off the field, is nothing short of amazing, Leandro [de Sousa] and Craig have been a massive influence on me during my time in a UWC jersey. Many other guys as well, seeing that last year we were quite a few new guys in the squad. We relied heavily on those who played at Varsity Football to guide us on the field."   UWC has its sights set on going one better in this year's competition and Overmeyer hopes to tap into the experience gained during his debut season to help his beloved UWC go one further.   Fixtures   HERE   Tickets   HERE        By: Lyndon Julius

CUT Men’s Football will be targeting maximum points this week when they host the VUT Men’s Football at home in round three of the Varsity Men’s Football. The Bloemfontein outfit got off to a staggered start in the tournament this year after sharing points with DUT in round one, while last week they were hammered 4-1 by the UP-Tuks at home. Exciting CUT midfielder, Lehlohonolo Nkaekae, who takes pride in his ability with set pieces, said they need the win to get back on track, and to lift the spirits in the team. “The past two games have been tough for us, and we should be winning at home,” said the nippy midfielder. The spirit and morale of the team is a little low as the confidence is not there yet after playing to a draw against DUT, and this was a game that we should have claimed maximum points, because they weren't as tough as the University of Pretoria. “We've got VUT this week and we've trained hard to take the game to them because we need this win. It's a home game again and we need the win in order to be able qualify for the semi-finals later. We didn't reach the semi-finals last year and that's our goal. “We haven't started well with the draw and last week's match, but we are looking forward to getting back on track with maximum points.” CUT missed out on the semi-finals last year, and this has been one of their big goals from the outset, and for this they need a win, especially at home. More importantly, CUT need the win to boost the morale within the team as it has been deflated after missing a penalty that would have given them a victory against DUT. Thursday’s match at the CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 17:00.   Fixtures   HERE   Tickets   HERE

UWC Women’s Football will be looking to make it back-to-back titles when they meet the TUT in the final of the Varsity Women’s Football tournament on Friday, 9 August. UWC captain Tiffany Kortjie who has clinched the Varsity Football title with UWC in 2021 and 2023 recalls how the two occasions were.  “Our first game wasn’t the result that the team wanted but we didn’t let it affect or change our goal we had for the end of the tournament. We kept our heads up, kept working hard and therefore got great results in the next few games we played.”.  Her love for football started at an early age.  “At the age of 8 years old I found myself playing in the street with my cousins and my aunt sent me to a boys club called ‘Blackpool’ and they created such a welcoming and loving environment which made me fall in love with the game ever since.”  Tiffany is currently in her second year of a BA Admin qualification and juggling that with a busy footballing schedule has not been easy but the UWC maestro.    “You have to make time for everything, follow a certain schedule and stick to it. And if you want to excel in both you have to make certain sacrifices for example your social life is limited. For me praying and having a relationship with God helps me a lot to stay disciplined and on the right path.  “This is where exposure happens for young ladies. Varsity Football allows students to express their talent on a bigger stage. Therefore, playing in the Varsity Football tournament allows you to be seen as a footballer but also excel on the academic side.”  With the final just a week away, Kortjie and her teammates are keeping their feet on the ground but believe more fortune can come their way.  “We are feeling good, but we know it's not over yet, we still have a good run left, therefore we have to go out there and do our best.”     Fixtures   HERE         Tickets   HERE   By S’fiso Nyawo

All roads lead to Pretoria West for the much anticipated 2024 Varsity Women’s Football final showcase this Friday 9 August, a matchup that will see record six time  champions TUT take on the defending champions UWC.  Both sides head into this encounter as fair favourites after the teams produced fantastic runs in their campaign to make the finals. UWC demolished NWU 6-0 in the semi-finals making a clear statement as favourites. The home side TUT faced one their biggest rivals in the shape of UJ, in a thrilling encounter. It took The Red Army a 4-2 victory on penalties after a 1 all draw.   The Red Army opened the scoring through captain Tshegofatso Motlogelwa’s perfect strike inside the box before Thato Mofolo cancelled it out from a long range shot.   Motlogelwa believes her side determined and ready to give it all and dethrone the current champs.   “We are happy to be finalists, the coaches are trying to rebuild the team and bring back the glory days. We are highly motivated, this is by far the strongest team compared to the last three seasons we had. I don’t know about other teams, but we went to this tournament well prepared physically and mentally, we had more than six weeks of preparation. We want it more than anything.”    Motlogelwa alludes to the balance in the team with numerous experienced players and newcomers.   “The likes of Sbongile Msuthu and Dineo Ramaoka have experience, they play in higher competitive leagues. This had a positive impact in our campaign, because you play with players that are used to playing under pressure.”  “UWC is a well organised team, they are the defending champions they won’t just give up. They would want to defend their title, so it is going to be a tough one, it won’t be easy.”    Fixtures   HERE        Tickets   HERE        By Lehlogonolo Ditshego