Varsity Football content contributor Charles Baloyi selects the standout players from Friday’s matches at the University of Pretoria.
CONOR KEYLOCK (TUKS)
Having scored a late winner for Tuks against VUT, Keylock did it again with an 85th-minute goal against UKZN.
Keylock is more effective when coming off the bench and on Friday he was brought on as a last throw of the dice from Tuks coach Nic Stothard when the match looked to be heading for a stalemate.
Keylock was at the right place at the right time to score the decisive goal.
WELCOME MASEMOLA (WITS)
Masemola was a thorn in the side of NWU’s defence and won his battle with fullback Lesego Motsepe to inspire his team to a vital league-stage win.
Masemola slipped away from Motsepe to score the opening goal in their 2-0 win – his fourth goal of the tournament.
Wits’ target man could have scored more than one goal had he not squandered a few other chances that came his way.
Masemola is closing in on the Golden Boot award – he trails Kovsies’ Sello Diphoko by just one goal.
MATCHDAY WRAP: Wits stun champions, TUT end UJ’s unbeaten run
TSHEPISO MNISI (TUT)
Mnisi had been quiet during this tournament but when TUT needed him the most, against UJ, he stepped up to the challenge.
He played a vital role in the winning goal and hardly put a foot wrong in a polished display.
A defeat or a draw would have spelled the end of TUT’s semi-final hopes and they needed their big players to step up. Mnisi did, delivering the performance of a lifetime.
He was cool under pressure, covered a lot of ground and stood out in a tight match that had few goal-scoring opportunities.
CHARLES SIKHOSANA (VUT)
Having won two FNB Player of the Match awards, Sikhosana did not rest on his laurels against Kovsies.
VUT were seemingly dead and buried when they trailed 2-0 at half-time, but they were a different side in the second half.
Sikhosana pounced on a long ball to score the equaliser and he also defended well.
Photos: Christiaan Kotze/Catherine Kotze/Varsity Sports
