All three nominees for this year’s Varsity Football Player of the Tournament award will take part in next Monday’s final at Tuks Stadium.
Striker Sello Diphoko and midfielder Thabo Lesibe have both played a crucial role in Kovsies’ successful 2021 campaign, which saw them reach the final for the first time.
Winger Nkosinathi Sibiya will hope to carry his excellent form into the decider and help UJ win the tournament for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2013.
After Round 7 of the tournament, when all teams had played against each other, the Varsity Football head coaches each selected three nominees for the award. The coaches ranked their nominees from first to third place, with first position worth three points, second position two points and third position one point.
Unlike in previous years, the public will not vote for the overall winner due to the timeframe of a bio-bubble tournament. Instead, the player who received the most points from the coaches’ votes will be presented with the award after the final.
Player of the Tournament nominees:
Sello Diphoko (UFS)
The Kovsies striker will go into Monday’s final as the tournament’s joint-top goal-scorer (five) and be eager to get at least one more to surpass NWU’s Banele Hlophe and VUT’s Thulani Sibisi. Diphoko has been the discovery of the tournament and Kovsies’ talisman in their fairytale run to the final. The 21-year-old, who was spotted playing street football by a Kovsies scout, has an eye for goal, incredible pace and gives defenders a torrid time. He has won two FNB Player of the Match awards.
Thabo Lesibe (UFS)
Lesibe has been Captain Fantastic for Kovsies in his last Varsity Football tournament. The 25-year-old midfielder linked up well with Diphoko upfront and scored the penalty against Tuks that took Kovsies to their first Varsity Football final. He also showed his leadership qualities by staying calm under pressure and rallying his troops. Two FNB Player of the Match awards, including one after their semi-final win, were just rewards for his efforts.
Nkosinathi Sibiya (UJ)
Sibiya is the heartbeat of UJ and everything they do passes through his boot. He has scored two goals in this year’s tournament and made several assists. Sibiya can unlock defences with one intelligent pass and is a box-to-box player who runs tirelessly. UJ like a passing game and Sibiya completes it with his clear runs behind the defence. He is a player for the big occasion, extremely reliable and hardly puts a foot wrong. Without his contribution, UJ may not have reached their third Varsity Football final.
– The 2021 Varsity Football final between UJ and UFS will kick-off at 19:15 on Monday and be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv channel 209).
