Wits University just came off a Varsity Football season that they would love to forget very quickly after they were eliminated from the competition in the group stages. The season furthermore saw Wits finish second from the bottom of the log due to goal difference, with four points out of a possible 21.
The Wits team was captained by Kaizer Maphanga and coached by Karabo Mogudi. However, due to the negative results, Mogudi was sacked as coach towards the end of the group phase, which saw the team collectively being coached by the training staff which were already there.
The Witsies also had the services of DJ Cleo in the goalkeeping department, who has been better known for his music as a DJ in the South African entertainment industry. DJ Cleo served as a goalkeeper coach, whose services worked wonders for the shot stoppers as they both managed to get man of the match awards in the games.
Wits first up had to make a short trip to Tshwane to take on eventual table toppers TUT in a game that was closely contested with the Witsies falling short in the end, when TUT were awarded a penalty that they put away to snatch the game 2-1 at the death.
The second round of fixtures saw Wits play at home for the first time, where they were held to goalless draw against UWC.
The third round saw Wits’ home game against NWU-Mafikeng being postponed to later stage, which many believed may have been the breaking point of the men in yellow, because they felt gaining their first point of the campaign against UWC, gave them a slight bit of belief but the week-long break was detrimental to getting some sort of momentum going. Mafikeng would beat Wits 3-1 at the Bidvest Stadium, to secure their own spot into the knockout phase, toppling Tuks.
The trip to the Western Cape to challenge CUT for the three points, also did not go so well for Wits in the fourth round, when they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by the home side, to leave them languishing at second to last spot just above UFH.
Still without a win and with a further three games to play, Wits never gave up on their season. They were, however, shocked when they travelled to the Eastern Cape to battle it out with UFH, who were themselves also winless in their debut season. The home side provided the biggest shock when they came out 3-1 winners, in a game that saw Wits skipper Maphanga get the consolation.
Round Six finally saw the much anticipated Johannesburg derby against UJ take place in Soweto. This game was expected to be a much tighter affair but the hosts, UJ dominated the midfield in the game and took their chances better, which lead them to a 2-0 win over Wits.
In what was then supposed to be the last set of games for the group phase, Wits finally notched up their first victory of the season, when they hosted and beat Tuks 3-2. This game was also special for Wits Striker Graeme Dor, who got the first and only hat-trick for Wits this season.
Wits will look to build on this season, after a disappointing display by their standards. After the final game the Witsies played against NWU-Mafikeng, team manager Sanele Nene again stated that “This season has not been great for us but from here on we shall build for the next season instead of lying in a corner, licking our wounds”.
He further added that they were fortunate to have the core of their squad returning next season to fight for their place in Varsity Football.
By Sifiso Nyawo
