The attendances at the newly launched Varsity Football tournament have put the Premier Soccer League matches to shame.

Except for the big guns Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates matches, the crowed attendance at the popular varsity competition has seen more people flock into the stadiums on Monday nights.

We have seen average attendance at the PSL matches this season and it has been a tall order for the organisers to get bums on the seats.

But the Varsity Football two semifinals between TUT and NMMU and Tuks and NWU produced record crowd attendance.

There was no space to spit or step on at TUT’s match as the who’s who of the game were there. The atmosphere at the matches was electric and players couldn’t even hear themselves at the matches.

We usually see a man and a dog at some of the professional football matches, but there has never been a shortage of attendance at the varsity football matches.

In my genuine feeling, the biggest winner of the competition has been the fans. Their unwavering support is the corner stone upon which the tournament is built.

In the past week we have seen football figures such as legend Themba Mnguni, Orlando Pirates star Tlou Segolela, SuperSport United assistant coach Kwanele Kopo, AmaTuks coach Steve Barker all singing the fans praises.

Tears were shed in the semifinals as a result of joy and sadness by the thousands of fans that made their way to fill the stadiums. On-the-pitch, men were separated from the boys and the level of competition was amazing to watch.

NWU were left wondering what on earth they must do to break their hoodoo over Tuks. Well I suggest that they go to their nearest Sangoma to end their bogey run. Only Lady Luck denied them a deserved place in the final. But there is always next year.

The tournament’s leading goal scorer with seven goals, Thabo Mnyamane, was nearly in tears after his team lost the crucial semifinal. But who is really the biggest winner on the pitch? Mnyamane is walked out of the tournament with a lucrative contract with AmaTuks which commences in January 2014. He is by far the biggest winner at the tournament.

A few players could soon follow in his footsteps to secure contracts with National First Division clubs.

I also had the pleasure of being surrounded by the Tuks players, who told me to talk after I dismissed their chances of reaching the final.

Skipper Kabelo Ramongane came towards me and said ‘bua’ which means talk. And Tuks coach Evangelos Vellios said I seem to bring the lucky charm to his team as each time I say they won’t make it they seem to be fired up.

This is what he had to said to me: “Charles I think that you’re one of the guys, who is helping us to go all the way here. The more you say that we huff and puff the more we will fight and the more we will go out there and give it a 110%.”

It was far from pretty but effective as Tuks booked their passage to the final. But haven’t they forgotten the famous saying ” He who laugh last, laughs the longest”. Tuks seems to be counting their chickens before they are hatched here. Well it’s not done and dusted yet, not by a long short.

But I’m still not impressed with their run leading to the final, if anything they were lucky to even get to the final they were saved by goalkeeper Tristyn Coetsee, who shouldn’t be playing in the first place.

Coetsee plays for AmaTuks first team in the PSL and this tournament was supposed to be about showcasing new talent  and not fielding post-graduates.

But nonetheless I congratulate Tuks for securing a home final. And I also congratulate my friend Coetsee for his man-of-the-match performance that helped to secure Tuks home final. I have known Tristyn for many years, he is a humble individual who takes his job seriously and he is always available for a chat about his career or anything related to football. And I will be among the first people to congratulate him and Tuks if they win the final.

But I have a feeling that won’t happen as NMMU are capable of causing an upset. Past reputations don’t count for anything, this is the final and it’s a once-off match. It can go either way. This game has the potential to put the cat among the pigeons. Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a rough ride in this final. It’s going to be an end-to-end stuff and it’s definitely not for the feint hearted.

Final prediction:  NMMU will lift the inaugural trophy against all odds.

By Charles Baloyi – Sports writer Daily Sun and Sunday Sun