Another derby beckons for Wits University on Monday evening, when they host the University of Pretoria at the Wits Stadium. This fixture, which is also known as a Juskei derby, has always been a highly competitive one, which last season saw the two sides play out to a stalemate, after Wits had led away in Pretoria.
This season will surely be no different, with visitors Tuks standing a better chance to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament this time around, should they snatch a win over the hosts. However, Wits will be determined to get themselves off the foot of the table and try finish the season well with only a few games left to play in the group phase.
This will be Wits’ second home game of the season so far, so they’ll be hoping for improved fortunes when they entertain the men from Pretoria. The last game the Witsies played at home was against UWC, where they managed to produce a moderate performance that earned them their only point they’ve bagged in their 2016 Varsity Football campaign so far.
The Wits team has been fortunate this time around, in that no one returned to training injured over the past week, which meant the coaching staff had a fairly good pool of players to choose from for their titanic battle with Tuks.
Coach Karabo of Wits, has chosen to stick with the same match day squad from the derby against city rivals UJ. The starting 11 will remain exactly the same and as will the bench. This may be of great benefit to the team as the players on the park will feel the coaching staff’s backing even after the loss, which may give them confidence to try finish their season on a high with only a few games remaining.
The game will take place on Monday 29 August 2016, with kick off at 18:30 at the Bidvest Stadium in Milpark, Johannesburg. This clash will be one that all football-loving spectators will not want to miss, as both sides will be looking to grab the maximum points on offer in the quest for knockout qualification, which is still possible for the men from Tshwane.
Wits starting XI:
Brylon Peterson, Snethemba Msane, Keamogetswe Molalake, Tristan Gatter, Obert Rukato, Saluleko Mathonsi, Koketso Sefako, Mahle Mtabane, Lyndon Crouch, Greame Dor
Subs: Sthembiso Zuke, Abram Mahate, Tumisang Manamela, Iacovos Ioannides, Shaun Mantintela, Keitumetse Maloka, Motsogi Tshireletso
By Sifiso Nyawo
