Kovsies coach Tebogo Motsamai is happy for his team to carry the underdogs’ tag into this year’s Varsity Football tournament.
The soft-spoken 41-year-old tactician believes it will take the pressure off his young team and that they could surprise some of their more fancied opponents.
‘We do not have individual flair but play as a unit, so the other teams will not know which player of ours to target.’
The furthest Kovsies have progressed in this competition is the semi-finals, which they reached in 2015.
Motsamai, who holds a Caf C coaching license, served as an assistant coach for six years before being promoted to the head coach position in 2020. But following the cancellation of last year’s Varsity Football tournament due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he has had to wait a year before getting an opportunity to lead his team.
Motsamai cannot wait to enter the bio-bubble at the University of Pretoria with his boys and test his coaching methods against the best university teams in the country.
‘I am a little bit nervous, as I will be occupying the hot seat for the first time,’ he admits.
‘I am strict when it comes to discipline, so expect a disciplined team. We will display a solid defensive unity and expose a lot of teams on the counterattack.’
Kovsies have been in quarantine for 14 days and done their best to avoid Covid-19.
‘We were tested in Bloemfontein and will do another round of testing before the tournament,’ says Motsamai. ‘We played two friendly games and did not want to mix with too many players from other teams. We have trained in two separate groups as part of our precautions.’
Kovsies will kick off their Varsity Football campaign against UKZN at the Tuks B Field on Wednesday, 8 September (15:00).
‘UKZN have a strong squad and are well-coached, but we are ready for them,’ says Motsamai. ‘We have a young, hungry squad with nothing to lose and everything to gain.’
PLAYER TO WATCH
Ntobeko Mhlongo, who wears jersey No 1, is an acrobatic shot-stopper. The young KwaZulu-Natal-born goalie is not one to mess around with between the sticks.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Themba Zimo (2014) and Gauta Mokati (2019) both wore the No 15 jersey while captaining Kovsies and graduated with LLB law degrees at the University of the Free State.
- Head coach Tebogo Motsamai is a former Kovsies player.
- Captain Thabo Lesibe led the Kovsies squad that played in the 2018 USSA tournament.
TEAM FACT FILE
Nickname: Kovsies
Province: Free State
Appearances: Three (2013, 2014, 2019)
Titles: 0
Biggest win: 3-2 against UWC (2019)
Biggest loss: 1-6 against NWU (2013)
Most goals scored: 9 (2014)
Most goals conceded: 7 (2019)
2021 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ntobeko Mhlongo, Gavin Roux, Obakeng Moabi
Defenders: Obakeng Seekoei, Aphiwe Zulu, Lungisani Mabaso, Thapello Madrati, Makhaola Mohale, Thato Skhosana, Katleho Phutheho, Rethabile Nthapo
Midfielders: Teboho Hoye, Thembinkosi Gwala, Thabo Lesibe (captain), Thandolwethu Khoza, Arlonso Diedericks, Sipho Malewa, Vincent Rantsoti, Otsile Ngwako, Paballo Mnqwazana
Strikers: Lebogang Ngamlani, Sello Diphoko
TECHNICAL TEAM
Head coach: Tebogo Motsamai
Technical director: Godfrey Tenoff
Goalkeeper coach: Malefane Mokhachane
Sports scientist and first aid: Ntele Mashiloane
Strength and conditioning coach: Yanelisa Nyalambisa
Compliance and team manager: Katleho Lechoo
2021 Varsity Football fixtures
By Charles Baloyi
