After four games of trying to find the winning combination, it was the magical header of Olwethu Bless, and the fine boot of Andile Batyi from UFH that gave the men from Alice a comfortable win over Wits. But the game was played at a very emotional campus, after the announcement of the sad passing of the Chancellor of UFH, Rev. Makhenkesi Stofile. A moment of silence was held in honour of the great leader just before the Varsity Football kick-off fixture.
“Alice is a small community, and everyone knows everyone, so when a leader of that magnitude passes, you know it will touch the community in one way or the other,” said head coach Charles Hanyani. “The game was in his honour of Reverend Stofile. The boys new that the university was celebrating its 100 years, but with sad news like this only a win can give the community something to smile about.”
The men from Alice have found faith when all seemed dark, at some point one would have thought they were out of their depth, but after their win on Monday night, showed pure class. With only two games to go in the tournament, Fort Hare could be in for a wild run. If the men from Alice still dream of their chances in the semi-final, then a win away from home in their upcoming fixture is non-negotiable.
“We have grown as players, we have grown as a team, and like everyone here in this competition, we are not here just to honour the fixtures; we are here to display our team. Nothing has been concluded, two games remain and the final four spots are still open.”
The men from Alice will be travelling to Tshwane to face University of Pretoria, on Monday night. The team has not made any changes from the winning combination that played against Wits, as they hope to keep the winning ways on a roll.
University of fort hare will take on University of Pretoria on Monday in Pretoria. The game will be the last away fixture for the men from Alice as they hope to power their way into the semi-finals.
UFH team to face Wits: Emmanuel Mashabela, Bathandwa Zondani, Masilive Nyosi, Siphamandla Zanekile, Sijongisonke Peter, Xolani Vuyani, Sindile Mlilo, Bongisa Bhomba, Andile Batyi, Siphelele Qumba, Olwethu Bless
Subs: Phakamani Mangona, Siphenkosi Ngxoko, Zwelethu Banga, Tomas Magagasa, Solomzi Nkumbesi, Banele Thompson, Siphamandla Dlela
By Kgoboko Kgoboko
