If there was any doubt whether TUT would be able to deal with the weight of expectation during Varsity Football 2019, then they put that to bed in Round 1. Lakhe Thwala reports.
TUT have played in four consecutive Varsity Football finals since 2015, winning in 2016 and 2018. Few will bet against the Red Machine making it three titles in 2019 after their statement-making 1-0 win over UP-Tuks on Thursday evening.
Their captain Rorisang Rapelang [who is hoping to match former captain Elliot Seema by lifting the trophy] is confident that they can perform week-in and week-out to match the expectations on them.
“We are aware that we are the team to beat this year as we won the competition last year; but we have had a bull’s eye on our backs for the past four seasons, so we’ve been in this situation before,” the 24-year-old says.
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With that in mind, Rapelang and his teammates knew that they had to lay down a marker against their Tshwane rivals – who they have been neck-and-neck with on the All-Time Points Table – in the derby. Something they have now done three times (with two draws) in the five First Round clashes the two teams have had.
“Our objective remains the same, we wanted to win the match and we’re happy with the result. If we win that match, it is difficult to stop us,” Rapelang states.
As it happens, TUT have been fortunate to have consistency. With Seema and last year’s top-scorer Godfrey Mahlale reaching the eligibility age of 25 and moving on, TUT supporters may have feared being without their inspirational coach Bushy Moloi and star goalkeeper Sikhumbuzo Ncube too. The pair ‘graduated’ to professional club Baroka last year (along with Vusi Sibiya), but have been ‘seconded’ back to TUT this campaign.
They will be key to the team’s expected dominance in 2019, alongside Rapelang, Mogau Mphahlele and Brian Tshoba (match-winning scorer the FNB Player of the Match against UP-Tuks respectively). In truth, TUT boast better strength in depth than any other team which presents Moloi and his assistants (who showed their mischievousness by fielding a much-changed team to what they named) with the headache of keeping his squad happy every week.
That will again be tested when they travel to Soweto next Thursday to face UJ, who topped the table in 2018 and will be ever-determined to show that they too will be among the title contenders.
TUT’s Varsity Football squad: 1. Mpho Nhlapo (goalkeeper), 2. Tumelo Mphela, 3. Rorisang Rapelang (captain), *4. Wisdom Mathebula, 5. Mogau Mphahlele, 6. Thuso Mlamla, 7. Saul Lekala, 8. Tebogo Lekaba, *9. Tumelo Mowa, 10. Thabiso Lebitso, 11. Moses Lehlomela, 12. Loatile Tlholoe, 13. Lebogang Phatlane, 14. Paul Mnisi, *15. Ronald Mabasa, 16. Boipelo Molale, 17. Brian Tshoba, 18. Emmanuel Mahlangu, 19. Steven Mvenya, 20. Sikhumbuzo Ncube (goalkeeper), *21. Tlotlo Afrika, 22. Ogorositswe Tabane, *23. Tshepiso Mnisi, *24. Jim Naselele, 25. Kgaratlo Phatsoane (goalkeeper), 26. Letlhogonolo Letshwene, *27. Hendrick Xaba, *28. Tiego Mathebe [*new for 2019]
