UP-Tuks are the overwhelming favourites to win the 2021 Varsity Football title.
Everything appears to be in their favour heading into the eagerly-awaited tournament.
It will take place in a bio-bubble at the University of Pretoria and their happy hunting ground of Tuks Stadium. UP-Tuks are the most successful team in the history of the competition, with three titles, and they boast five players from AmaTuks’ GladAfrica Championship team in their Varsity Football squad.
Tuks also had the ideal preparation for the tournament by taking part in the South African Breweries Regional League earlier this year, with 94% of the players who participated there in their Varsity Football squad.
Tuks’ Regional League statistics make for good reading. They lost just once in 18 matches, scoring a whopping 39 goals and conceding just nine. If that performance is anything to go by, their Varsity Football opponents are set for a torrid time trying to contain them.
However, Tuks head coach Nic Stothard does not want to dwell on that and is fully focused on the opening match of their Varsity Football campaign against TUT on 8 September (16:00, SuperSport Football, DStv channel 205).
‘We are under no illusions about playing TUT, it is going to be tough,’ says Stothard. ‘They are a team that never gives up.
‘But we have confidence in our abilities and we have five AmaTuks players, who will add quality and value to our team. They will be instrumental in attack. I believe we will score many goals during the tournament while we continue to keep it tight at the back.’
Stothard, who took charge of the team at the beginning of the year, believes their biggest strength is actually their defence.
‘I am a firm believer that if you don’t concede goals, you can’t lose,’ he says.
Last week, Stothard made his team play 90 minutes every second day to experience the pressure of a tightly contested tournament.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Mathuane Selotola, who wears jersey No 29, is a tricky winger. He has a contract with the GladAfrica Championship club AmaTuks. He is quick and can be lethal in front of goal, scoring three goals in the 2020-2021 GladAfrica Championship season.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Tuks have played in all seven editions of the Varsity Football tournament since its inception in 2013.
- Tuks have five professional players in their squad – Lebohang Montueli (AmaTuks), Yurie Mortimer (AmaTuks), captain Blessing Mabasa (AmaTuks), Mandlenkosi Nkosi (AmaTuks) and Mnqobi Mkhize (Moroka Swallows)
- Former sports minister Fikile ‘Razzmatazz’ Mbalula landed on the field with a helicopter to watch Tuks defeat UJ 1-0 in the cup final in 2014.
TEAM FACT FILE
Nickname: Tuks
Province: Gauteng
Appearances: Seven (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Titles: 3 (2013, 2014, 2017)
Biggest win: 9-1 against UL (2016)
Biggest loss: 0-4 against UJ (2014)
Most goals scored: 17 (2016)
Most goals conceded: 3 (2018)
2021 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Yurie Mortimer, Siyabonga Gumede
Defenders: Atlegang Masemola, Daniel du Plessis, Blessing Mabasa (captain), Onela Xhamlashe, Chuma Hetile, Lebohang Montueli, Edward Rankwe
Midfielders: Conor Keylock, Tshiamo Mokoena, Euan Jenneker, Mandlenkosi Nkosi, Languta Mavunda, Collin Arendse, Sonqoba Ntshembeni, Mathuane Selotola, Sylvester Sibanyoni, Lindokuhle Mthimkhulu
Strikers: Nhlanhla Mabaso, Alex Stothard, Mnqobi Mkhize, Dane Cloete
TECHNICAL TEAM
Head coach: Nicholas Stothard
Assistant coach: Khomotso Mbetse
Second assistant coach: Jason Sergel
Goalkeeper coach: Sipho Malebe
Strength and conditioning coach: Bhekumuzi Maluleke
Compliance officer: Letlhogonolo Manamela
Team manager: Nigel Mthimkhulu
2021 Varsity Football fixtures
By Charles Baloyi
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Varsity Sports
