While the four Varsity Football Round 1 games didn’t produce any red cards, it doesn’t mean that they took place without any ‘feeling’ to them.
It goes without saying that there was much to play for during Thursday’s matches. For UFS and CUT, there was the fact that they were making returns to Varsity Football. They were also among the four home teams, including UP-Tuks and NWU, determined to impress their supporters. Meanwhile, the likes of UWC, UJ, TUT and UKZN had their own causes to ‘fight’ for.
All told, 15 players were cautioned by referees while trying to help their teams achieve their ambitions during Thursday’s matches.
OPENER PRODUCES THREE YELLOWS
The tournament opener, between UFS and UWC, saw three players enter the referee Tshidiso Maruping’s book. UFS’s Angelo Arendse had the ‘honour’ of being the first player yellow carded during the 2019 season. At least he and Thapelo Madrati (also cautioned), had victory to celebrate – despite their misdemeanors. That was not the case for Luke Vester, who had an eventful game of being cautioned, taking over the UWC captain’s armband, giving away a penalty and scoring a penalty himself. Of course, he would have give all that up to be on the right side of the 3-2 result.
TWO IN THE BOOK IN TSHWANE DERBY
Things were much quieter for referee Innocent Mahlobo during the game between UP-Tuks and TUT. Despite it being the Derby between the two most successful teams in Varsity Football history only the hosts’ Nhlanhla Mabaso and Thuso Mlamla from the 1-0 victors, TUT, saw yellow.
FOUR MORE BACK IN BLOEM
Back in Bloemfontein, during the CUT-UJ clash, four players were cautioned. Mpho Molwatse, who claimed the FNB Player of the Match award, was the only player from CUT.
UJ, on the other hand, arguably showed more determination to win 1-0 and thus earned three yellow cards (with their three points) for Aidan Basiak, Sihle Mbele and Kamohelo Molatlhegi.
CAUTIONS ALL THE RAGE IN MAFIKENG
If the referee in that match thought he was busy, then he had nothing on Buhle Jobela at NWU-Mafikeng Stadium for the NWU-UKZN fixture.
There, fans witnessed six players earn Jobela’s ire. Two of them were from UKZN (who suffered a demoralising 1-2 loss), namely their captain Lungani Nhlengethwa and Ziyanda Ndlovu.
Lindani Nkabinde and Banele Hlophe were the first two NWU players to risk an early shower while Israel Matshane and Luzuko Jevuka earned their yellow cards thanks to the dramatic winning goal. Matshane, the scorer, was too excessive in his celebrations while Jevuka’s over-exuberance earned him his for entering the field to celebrate while being an unused substitute – an indication of the lengths players will go to when a Varsity Football win is on the cards.
DISCIPLINARY RECORD AFTER ROUND 1 (all yellow cards)
UFS: Angelo Arendse, Thapelo Madrati
UWC: Luke Vester
UP-Tuks: Nhlanhla Mabaso
TUT: Thuso Mlamla
CUT: Mpho Molwatse
UJ: Aidan Basiak, Sihle Mbele, Kamohelo Molatlhegi
NWU: Lindani Nkabinde, Banele Hlophe, Israel Matshane, Luzuko Jevuka
UKZN: Lungani Nhlengethwa, Ziyanda Ndlovu
by Carlo Jonkerman
