Let me start this blog by paying homage to all the women of our beautiful country. I would like to say happy Women’s Day South Africa let’s appreciate our women and celebrate them. It would be an injustice if I don’t give Varsity Football big thumbs up for speeding up the development of women’s football. On the day that the sixth edition of the tournament was launched at Wits, more emphasis was placed on the development of women’s football.
Thank you Varsity Football for doing your bit to take ladies football to a whole new level. While the ladies officially kick off their tournament next month, I want them to rest assured knowing that a lot is being done for them behind the scenes by the tournament organisers.
As we wait in anticipation for the women’s big kick off, we hope that they are busy putting in the hard work on the training ground. While the wait for the women’s eagerly awaited kick-off continues, the men’s hot action on the field of play, has been keeping us on our toes. It’s getting more and more interesting at the top of the log. As we slowly bid farewell to the winter season, the action is getting hotter on the pitch. You snooze you lose. This is turning out to be the year of the underdogs and the bookies are losing more money each week as there are plenty of surprises.
Who thought that Wits would be in the top four at this stage? Or that NWU would be at the summit of the log? You don’t have to consult an eye specialist; your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Yes, Wits and NWU are the early season pace setters. Wits have made the start that has surprised even themselves and the title pretenders to the throne, NWU, are riding a wave. Whether it’s a flash in the pan or a season destined for success remains to be seen though. What we do know is that the first two weeks have been full of surprises.
Things are starting to take shape and we are beginning to see signs of who will finish where at the end of the mini league competition. We are also quick to be reminded that it’s not always how you start but how you finish at any major event. As we head into the fourth round of this unpredictable and exhilarating tournament, the men will be separated from the boys.
So far only three teams UJ, TUT and NWU, are unbeaten in the tournament, but things can change in a blink of an eye. It’s a dog-eat-dog world in this tournament and only the fittest will survive and make it into the knockout stages. Although no team is out of the running for a spot in the semi-final stages, it has to be noted that UKZN and UWC have more ground to cover than the rest of the team, if they are to make it out of the round robin format.
After four games we will get a clear indication of where the tournament is heading. The nerves of the teams seem to have settled and Limpopo who leaked seven goals in the opening game when they lost 7-1 to UJ, showed some improvement as they held Tuks to a 1-1 draw and then only narrowly lost to NWU. The tournament is certainly starting to take shape, but it has thrown a curve ball to some of the big-name favourites for the title, such as Tuks.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun
