The University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) look ahead to one of their biggest hurdles as they face fierce rivals Tshwane University of Technology (TUT Football) in round five of the Varsity Football 2022 on Thursday.
Following a shaky start, the Stripe Generation needed a ramp to enhance top-four finish hopes. With the absence of skipper and talisman Nhlanhla Mabaso due to injury, head coach Nicholas Stothard looked no further than Ntokozo Madela, who rewarded his faith with a goal and a Man of the Match performance against VUT.
Tuks, who started the 2022 Varsity Football edition with two defeats but have since collected two successive wins, look to have found their talisman as they play catch-up in their quest to turn around their goal difference and make a top-four finish with Madela finding his mojo in front of goal.
“It was very hard to see Mabaso getting injured especially because he had scored a goal against UJ. I am very grateful for this opportunity and I will try to make it hard for coach Nic to select his squad in the next coming matches,” he said.
“I think this is an opportunity for me to perform, with Mabaso being the captain of the team and we are competing for the same position.”
Being a football player is one of many kids’ dreams around the world. Madela watched his home team Tshelimnyama FC train and play in the local leagues with an unequalled desire to one day be a professional football player.
He grew up in Tshelimnyama a township outside Pinetown, where life wasn’t easy and he and his peers played in an open field not necessarily conducive to the development of burgeoning talent.
“Growing up at Tshelimnyama was great it helped me a lot as a person. As the youth team, we weren’t allowed train at the football ground as it was preserved for the local league. We had to go to the bushes and create our football field,” he explained.
“My team, White City FC coached by Njabulo Maphanga. I had to leave my team because my mother found a job far from home and it was only in 2014 when she bought a car that I could return on weekends and play and that is when I developed as a player and got to play for Claimer FC in the SAB [league] in 2015 when we also competed in Engen Knockout Challenge.”
“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we played in local tournaments and I played for Tshelimnyama FC when we played in Amanzimtoti I met Lindokuhle Mthimkhulu who is also a Tuks player – unfortunately he did not make this season’s squad – he recommended me to the team manager but because at the time applications for 2021 were closed I had to wait another year to apply.
“I went to play for the Durban University of Technology in case Tuks didn’t accept me, when I got accepted at Tuks I came to this side.”
Aspirations in disadvantaged areas are drawn from local successes, it was a similar story for Madela to push to join Tuks and the Varsity Football showpiece. Thembinkosi Gwala who also hails from Tshelimnyama played for the Kovsies in 2019 when they made a tense return to the tournament.
“Thembinkosi is the first person from Tshelimnyama to play in the Varsity Football, he motivated me to want to play in Varsity Football,” said the 21-year-old Tuks Sports Science student.
“Playing in the Varsity Football is difficult, the defenders in Varsity Football are smart, tough and quick and they are also good at positioning themselves, as a striker you get limited chances so you have to bury every chance you get.
“The matches are played in front of fans so you need to be focused to get clear instructions from the coaches.”
Tuks football got back to winning ways as they beat VUT 2-0 last week, they will now face TUT who are sitting at the summit of the standings and are yet to lose this season – something Madela is itching for.
“I am very excited for the game against TUT, I’ve heard TUT have never lost at the Tuks stadium I hope now things will change,” he concluded.
Tuks face TUT in the 19:15 kick-off on Thursday. The match at Tuks Stadium will be broadcast live on SuperSport 4. You can get information on how to get tickets here.
