Final preparations have been made for the 2018 Varsity Football tournament and all UP- Tuks can do is show up and play the brand of football that made them champions last season.
Their first opportunity to do will be against last year’s runner-up, the Tshwane University of Technology, former champions themselves and all is set for a massive opening meeting between these two giants of university football.
Centre-back, Simbongile Njokwe, returns to wear the captain’s armband after taking 2017 off to focus on his playing abilities which paid dividends as he was one of the goal scorers for Tuks in final.
Njokwe has clear goals for his team and for himself as UP-Tuks look to secure their fourth Varsity Football title this year.
“We want to maintain clean sheets and tighten up at the back. Up front, we’ve got two new exciting strikers who are itching to sink goals so overall we’re in a good space to start this tournament off the way we want to,” said Njokwe.
The squad, as is typical of university sport, boasts several old shoulders with the rest of the squad yet to stamp their mark on the Varsity Football tournament.
“Personally, I want to play from the front and give it my all. I want the youngsters to learn from my example and I want us to win!” he added.
UP-Tuks host TUT in the opening round of the 2018 Varsity Football at the Tuks Football Stadium on Thursday, 26 July. Kick-off 18:15 and is live on SuperSport Select.
Here’s what happened last time the two teams met:
FNB Tuks 2018 Varsity Football squad: Yurie Mortimer (GK), Giovanni Idi (GK), Athenkosi Jojo (GK), Siphesihle Sosibo, Sabelo Tsambo, Kagiso Mabusela, Simbongile Njokwe (C), Leandro Mendes, Jurgen Booysen, Tojotiana Andriamialy, Wandile Dlamini, Jeremiah Nkwana, Richard Moremi, Simthembile Ndimande, Sean Mojapelo, Nhlanhla Mabaso, Claudio De Almeida (VC), Inkanyezi Pascal, Lebohang Montueli, Nhlanhla Tsomele, Katlego Motlhatsang, Dylan Murchie, Chinedu Okolo, Tshimologo Huma, Sive Mfala.
By Dan Lombard
