Wits will play in their first Varsity Football semifinals after winning a thrilling encounter against WSU at Bidvest Stadium on Monday.
An elated Wits coach Karabo Mogudi expressed that while he was happy for the team, it is quite a stressful week for them.
“Every coach and team wants to win matches, and we are peaking at the right time, but this week was the worst for the players because its test week, I can see a lot of them didn’t sleep. This was evident with the start of the match, we were very poor,” he said.
Mogudi added that the week’s break-from varsity that was coming up for the team would benefit them because they’d be able to focus a bit more on football.
“I’m proud that they listened to instructions in the second half. I told them that we have nothing to lose here, no one expects anything from Wits, you can make history for yourselves and here they are,” he said.
The match began on equal footing, with WSU giving Wits a real run for their money. By the 25th minute mark, both teams had not found the back of the net, but not without frantically attempting to do so.
When the 33rd minute came along, WSU’s Bonke Mbadlanyana played brilliantly with Siboniso Shezi and the ball lands at the feet of Benathi Ngaka who scored a banger of a goal that left both the defense of Wits and the supporters momentarily stunned. It seemed at this point that the dream of a semifinal was a little further away for the home side.
Ngaka, who walked away with Supa Striker of the match accolade, said he didn’t expect to score that goal.
“I wasn’t sure that I was going to score, but I am happy I did,” Ngaka said.
Wits spent the rest of the first half frantically trying to score an equalizer but the half time mark came with WSU firmly in control and with Wits still trailing behind 1-0.
The second half also kicked off with both teams trying very hard to break through each other’s defenses. By the time the 55th minute came along, Wits began frantically trying to find the back of the net-again.
Attack after attack went past with opportunities not being converted to goals, much to the annoyance of the fans. In the 63rd minute, Aleksandar Kocic was substituted for Graem Dor, who immediately had an impact on the Wits side.
Eight minutes after being put into the game, Dor found the back of the net with a goal that lit up the Wits stadium. The Wits side slowly found their feet after this equaliser, and put pressure on the WSU defense.
Four minutes after Wits’ equaliser goal, Saluleko Mathonsi scored the goal that sealed the fate of WSU, and ensured that Wits get to play another day in the semis.
Commenting on WSU’s performance, Ngaka said: “I am happy about how we performed tonight”.
Ngaka also said that they were happy for Wits who would get to play in the next round.
Wits Captain Hope Munyai said: “I am happy for the team, we came here knowing that they would come at us hard, wanting to knock us out for some reason, I think it’s from last year in USSA Nationals.” Munyai added, “I’m happy that the guys managed to get a win and we’re through to the semi-finals so I am hoping that we win the semis too but we’ll take it one game at a time.”
It is evident that this win means everything for the Wits side and hopefully they’ll be able to play their best game in the semis coming up next week.
By Masego Panyane
