With their first win away from home this season UWC secured a spot in the last four with only Tuks standing in their way of a home semi-final. UWC lock horns with the Pretoria outfit in the final round of the 2017 Varsity Football season .The is a lot riding on this encounter and fireworks should be expected at Tuks Stadium tonight.
After thrashing UJ 5-1 Varsity Sports caught up with captain fantastic, Thulani Mkosi, to reflect on how the tournament has been for his boys and their first win away from the Operation Room. The boys from Bellville have been in fine scoring form this season, netting 22 goals and only conceding seven.
”At the start of the campaign our main objective was to reach the semi-finals. We needed to get back to the knockout rounds and we’ve achieved that,” said Mkosi. “Obviously it would mean a lot more for us now to play that semi-final at home and reward the people who’ve been supporting us with yet another opportunity to witness their team in action again.”
It has been a while since the UWC faithful have been treated to some football action and the Operators will be hoping that their side can overcome the Tuks and secure a home semi-final.
When asked if his side was concerned with the fact that both their defeats this season came at the hands of fellow semi-finalists, he pointed out that: “No we’re not worried really. Both games could have gone either way and were well contested. We’ll compete against whoever we face in the semi-final and I believe we’ll do well.”
UWC have been given a tag that they don’t do well when they play away from home, but their luck changed at Auckland Park last Thursday as they hammered UJ 5-1 to make it their first away win.
“Our disappointing away record is a weakness that we’ve identified and wanted to overcome. It’s a real encouragement for us that it came at the time it did and in the manner in which it happened. It’s a real confidence booster ahead of yet another tough away encounter,” added Mkosi
UWC take on Tuks at Tuks Stadium at 18:30 tonight in the last game of the group stage. The winner of this encounter will be assured of a home semi-final.
By Dumisani Koyana
