The countdown to the eagerly awaited Varsity Football’s fifth edition has already begun. Even before a ball has been kicked, the pressure to lift university football’s most precious crown is already weighing heavily on the teams’ young shoulders. Will TUT follow in the footsteps of their illustrious neighbours, to become the second team to win back-to-back titles? Will a new champion be crowned? Is this the season of the underdogs?
Will UP-Tuks complete a hat-trick of titles? There are many questions in need of answers, but those answers will be provided in the next 10 weeks of what should be football feast. Here are the reasons why your team will not win the competition this year, or will.
But one thing for sure is that Varsity Football is not a sprint; it’s a marathon.
See how accurate Baloyi’s predictions were in 2016:
8 UFH – Wooden spoon holders
The University of Fort Hare is known for its rich history when it comes to education. But football is not among their long list of successes. UFH will be targeted for easy points and it’s going to be a long tournament for them. The lack of quality in their team will expose them dearly. Winning one game will be a bonus. They are this year’s charity case – expect them to donate points.
7. UWC – A shadow of their former selves
Since winning the title two years ago, UWC’s performance in Varsity Football is taking a nosedive. Part of the reasons why they will not crack it this year is their bad away record. They are just not good travellers. They have not done enough to win over the neutrals. Expect another below-par showing.
6. CUT – A one-season wonder
The Free State outfit were the surprise package last season. But it would be asking too much of them to repeat their feat. It’s only their second appearance and they are still on a learning curve. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. A top four finish will be a bonus, but it will take some doing for them to get there. It’s not fair to ask too much of them.
5. Wits – A missed semi-final spot
They are simply not good enough to make the knockout stages. Every season they promise so much but deliver little. Despite the change of coaches they will continue to struggle and they find the going tough. They have a solid defense but will fall short when it comes to match winners. They also don’t have the big match temperament in them. Football is all about teamwork but individual brilliance is sometimes needed to carry a team through in such a tough competition. There is no ‘wow’ factor in their team this year.
4. UJ – No podium for the men in orange
The team in orange has an unwanted record of losing the final contest, not once but twice. Will they have a better round robin stage? Yes, but will they finish their campaign on the podium? No. No disrespect to UJ, but their average team will see them finish the competition empty handed. There will be no fairytale this year. Better luck next time.
3. NWU – Mafikeng
Without a doubt they are the best team not to win this tournament in the past five years. It’s the same story for NWU every year as they go into the tournament as the favourites only to disappoint. Unfortunately, they will have to wait for another year to have a crack at achieving varsity’s biggest accolade. By the way, they are still the pre-tournament favourites, but nothing will come of it. It’s going to be another year of ‘eish’ and misses.
Don’t get carried away by their good start, it’s nothing new. They start the competition like a house on fire only for the wheels to come off during the crucial stages of the competition. If you are a betting man, save, don’t bother wasting your hard-earned cash on them. They will choke, that’s what they’re good at. They specialise in failure in this competition.
2. TUT – Runners-up
Coach Bushy Moloi is still at the helm and he has been doing a great job in the hot seat. But the going will get tough for him and his team. Some of the members of the team that went through the entire tournament unbeaten on their way to winning their maiden title in 2016 will not play a part this year. TUT has couple of new faces this season. The Red Machine, as they were known at some stage last season doesn’t possess the same quality that they had in 2016. This season will end in tears for them.
1. UP Tuks – Champions
They are slow to get out of the blocks, but once they find their top gear to they are not easy to stop. After a disappointing campaign in 2016, Tuks will come out guns blazing. They have the experience and pedigree to go all the way. This is the year of a comeback from the most successful football development academy in the country. The only team standing in UP-Tuks’ way of bagging a historic third title is themselves. They have an abundance of talent to reclaim their glory days in this competition. They are not the tournament’s most successful team for nothing, trust me.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun sports reporter
