TUT are on a big mission to complete three Varsity Football titles in a row in women’s football. In 2014 TUT defeated neighbors UP-Tuks 5-0 to win the inaugural competition. Last year they successfully defended their title with a hard fought 2-1 victory over UWC in the Mother City. That match was played as part of a curtain raiser to the TUT men’s team against UWC in Cape Town.
The small margin victory against UWC last year suggests that the gap is narrowing between TUT and the other teams in this popular Varsity Women’s Football competition. TUT are still the team to beat at this year’s tournament, but it won’t be a walk in the park as the other teams are determined to wrestle the title away from them. It is safe to say that we won’t be seeing tennis scores at this year’s competition.
On Thursday the eagerly awaited women’s football competition finally kicks off. TUT’s men’s team have already booked a home final against UJ on 22 September and the plan is to reach the final to feature in another curtain raiser with their men’s team for the TUT ladies.
TUT’s clubhouse is full of the trophies won by the ladies team in recent years and this is a clear indication of how dominant they are in women’s football. Coach Tebogo Mokae said TUT will leave no stone unturned in their quest to win and keep the trophy for a third record time. He has prepared a space for the trophy in their already full trophy cabinet. The vastly experienced Mokae has been coaching the ladies team since 2008.
TUT open their campaign against UP-Tuks on Thursday at 15.30pm at the North West University of Potchefstroom. On Friday the defending champions will be involved in two games. Their first game will be played against Free State at 10am and at 3pm they will take on UCT in a hectic schedule. The three round robin matches will be concluded on Friday evening and the semi-final is set for Saturday.
The winners of the two semi-finals will then advance to the final on 22 September to feature in a curtain raiser with the men’s final at TUT. “I’m not hoping that it will be a double celebration for TUT soccer teams in the final, I’m certain that we will lift the trophy for the third time in a row,” said Mokae. “The men’s team will also win the tournament. Both TUT teams will be celebrating and we can’t wait to show our fans what we are capable off next week.”
Women’s football is still not marketed and is not well known throughout the country. Banyana Banyana participated at the Rio Olympics in Brazil last month. But they failed to score a goal and were eliminated from the group stages. Banyana and the technical team lamented the lack of a professional women’s football league in South Africa as the main reason why women’s football is still lacking behind.
Mokae said Varsity Football is offering these girls a platform to showcase their talent and he too hopes that a professional league would help them to grow the game.
“Ever since the inception of Varsity Football, women are starting to get some much needed recognition,” Mokae said. “The Premier Soccer League chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has promised to help the women’s league to get off the ground and Varsity Football has played a crucial part with these developments that could change women’s football for the better.”
Women’s football is growing slowly and Mokae is optimistic that they will get there one day. TUT ladies team still has the majority of players that defended their title last season. Mokae also wished all the teams that are participating at this year tournament to go out there and enjoy themselves.
“It’s not just about TUT women’s football being the winner at the end of the competition,” Mokae added. “Good luck to all the ladies.”
By Charles Baloyi, Daily Sun and Sunday Sun Sports writer
