The 2019 Varsity Women’s Football gets underway on Thursday, and it’s set to be another intriguing three days of action in Potchefstroom.
TUT come into the tournament as five-time defending champions, CUT return after not qualifying last year and a final awaits in Mafikeng – for the first-time – for the best two teams after the three days.
There will potential talking points aplenty, but here’s four which will emerge in Potchefstroom as the matches unfold between Thursday and Saturday:
Will the ‘pro’ teams dominate?
When SAFA launched the inaugural National Women’s League in August, three varsity teams were included among the 12. As a result, TUT, UWC and UJ are ‘battle-hardened’ coming into the Varsity Women’s Football tournament in Potchefstroom.
At the same time, however, the eligibility rules are different between the two competitions and so it remains to be seen which of the favourites will ‘suffer’ the most. At the same time, only two spots are available for the grand finale at NWU-Mafikeng Stadium on Thursday, 26 September. Three doesn’t go into two, so the opening clash between UJ and UWC takes on extra significance.
ALSO READ: The who’s who of Varsity Women’s Football 2019
Can UP-Tuks surprise?
A week back TUT and UP-Tuks met in the men’s semi-finals and TUT beat their neighbours for the fourth straight time to secure a fifth straight final. Those numbers are much the same in the Varsity Women’s Football Tournament too, and the two teams meet on the opening evening in Potchefstroom.
Will TUT take their cue from their male compatriots or will UP-Tuks mete out some revenge and confirm that they too should be counted among the possible winners…
Banyana players add star touch
Desiree Ellis, the national women’s team coach, has praised Varsity Women’s Football for the launch pad it has given players into the Banyana Banyana set-up. Undoubtedly she will be keeping her eye on potential future stars in Potchefstroom, but also relying on established national team players to show their worth.
In that regard, Mapaseka Mpuru (UP-Tuks), Kholosa Biyana (UKZN) and Bongeka Gamede (UWC) will be eager to show why they travelled to the World Cup in France and what the standards are to be national team regulars.
ALSO READ: Banyana coach heaps praise on Varsity Women’s Football
A who’s who on the benches
It’s not only on the field where the intrigue lies, but just beyond the touchline too as former teammates and colleagues try to outwit each other. No more so is that the case than between UP-Tuks’ Maud Khumalo, UJ’s Jabulile Baloyi and Thinasonke Mbuli of UWC.
All three have been under the employ of the national body SAFA, with Baloyi having replaced Khumalo as under-20 national team coach and Mbuli the current senior national team assistant. Baloyi and Mbuli will try outdo each other on the opening evening already, when UJ face UWC, while a semi-final match-up between either and Baloyi looks likely.
Who will have bragging rights, and can they can dethrone TUT … ?
By Carlo Jonkerman
