Reza Zain Dramat has seen little game time for the UWC team in Varsity Football this season, but whenever he takes to the field he has made his presence felt.
The first-year sports science student has scored decisive goals in both UWC’s 2-1 victories over champions UP-Tuks at home on Monday and away at last year’s finalists NMMU in Port Elizabeth a fortnight ago.
In both matches Dramat came off the bench late in the game to score the winning goals, and both matches had some significant moments as NMMU lost at home for the first time in the competition while UWC won for the first time in their back yard.
“I’m seen as an impact player in the team,” the Bonteheuwel-born Dramat comments. “I play better under pressure, and I always know that I’m going to score. I have that feeling in me and I even told my teammates while I was on the bench on Monday that God has something planned for us,” he said.
Dramat is, however, not much worried about personal praise – he’s more interested in helping his team win as “those personal praises will be meaningless if we lose”.
A versatile player who can play as either an attacking midfielder on the wings and centre or as a striker, Dramat has seen little game time because of a tight competition in the UWC team as there are many players fighting for the same positions.
Inspired by his father and grandfather – both footballers themselves – Dramat always kicked the soccer ball with friends whenever he had time.
He joined Benoni United FC when he moved to Pretoria in Grade 9, and was part of the club’s Under 15 team which went to participate in the Mediterranean International Cup in Barcelona, Spain, and took part in the Skills Challenge at the Bobby Charlton Academy in England.
He he joined UWC specifically to play Varsity Football, another testimony of the tournament attracting youngsters to the university.
“I know people always say you must balance football with your studies, but it was my dream to play in the Varsity Football tournament. I don’t know whether it is my abilities or my confidence, but I have given my all in all the games that I’ve played because I have plans for my future. I have a vision and aspirations of playing for a national team, whether junior or senior – and I want to be seen as one of the best players in that squad,” he said.
Like any young footballer, Dramat has set his sights on the Premier Soccer League, and does not need any motivation as two of his friends have already made it into the highest league in the land – Travis Graham for Ajax Cape Town and Keegan Buchanan for Bloemfontein Celtics.
“They have inspired me and lifted me whenever I’m down. Both were injured and came back stronger than before. They don’t give up,” he said.
Is he under any pressure to follow suit? “Part of me says I have time on my side because both my friends are 21 and I’m still 18. Another part says I want to make it while I’m still young.”
While in Pretoria, Dramat trained with the Tuks Under-19 side, and says some of the players he was on par with have made it to the professional team. He regrets not joining a football academy at an early age. “But I’m confident If I’m given a chance by a professional team I will not disappoint.”
That is his dream, but now he is more focused on the task at hand – to help UWC win their last Varsity Football round robin game at neighbours UCT, an encounter Dramat believes will be the toughest in the campaign.
“UCT are our friends; we always support them and they always support us,” he reveals. “But come Monday it is going to be a battle. We will be fighting for a place in the semi-finals and they will be fighting to regain respect.
“Although they have lost 6-0 twice [against North West University and University of Johannesburg], they are not going to be easy opponents. But we have also learnt from our mistakes of underestimating teams that are not doing well as it was the case against the University of Limpopo, following our win at NMMU. Now that we beat Tuks, that doesn’t mean we can take UCT for granted. We will take it as a final,” he added.
By Myolisi Gophe
