In our weekly wrap of Varsity Football action, we look at five of the hottest moments in this week’s round of matches. Embracing the Iyachesa hashtag, celebrating the biggest, match-defining moments and celebrating uniquely South African football flair, here are the five hottest moments of Round One – the Iyachesa Big Five:
Ngwenya heads home the opening goal of the 2016 season
NWU-Mafikeng’s lanky defender David Ngwenya had the honour of scoring the first goal of the 2016 edition of Varsity Football on Monday when he surged in front of two UJ defenders to head home the opener from a corner kick. Not only did that goal set light to huge celebrations, but it opened the floodgates to more goals. Unfortunately Ngwenya’s goal could not inspire NWU-Mafikeng to victory as 2014 finalists UJ cruised to an emphatic 6-2 win away from home.
Ligunya keeps the week’s only clean sheet
CUT goalkeeper Zolani Ligunya had very little to do against UFH when the two debutants met in Alice, but the save he pulled off in the 53rd minute to deny Siphelele Qumba was brilliant and showed he was alert throughout the time. He tipped the ball over the bar, keeping his side in the lead. Five minutes after the save, CUT extended their lead to 2-0 and that’s how it ended.
Goal celebrations heat up at NWU-Mafikeng
Celebrating goals has become such a big thing for football players. And it seems they also put a lot of practice into making sure that the dance moves they perform at the corner flag are well choreographed. When UJ scored their third goal against NWU-Mafikeng, the players ran to the corner with goalscorer Tshepo Tolo to perform the famous “nae nae” dance. This was after the NWU-Mafikeng players did the “dab” – which Juventus and France star Paul Pogba usually does – when Thapelo Tlabakwe scored their second goal before half time.
A birthday gift for Ndu
UJ’s birthday boy Emmanuel Ndu celebrated his big day on Monday in fine style. The attacking player from Nigeria, who turned 24, rubbed salt into the wounds of NWU-Mafikeng when he scored UJ’s fifth goal in their 6-2 victory in the competition’s opening match. Samuel Warder’s shot hit the crossbar and fell to Ndu, who calmly finished and put the matter beyond doubt. It was a great way to celebrate his birthday, on Mandela Day.
Sibiya keeps it cool in a fiery battle at TUT
If you watched the European Championships in France recently, then you’d know that late goals were quite the thing. It was a late goal that handed TUT a 2-1 victory over Wits at TUT Stadium, as defender Sipho Sibiya scored the home side’s winning goal in the 90th minute. He had nerves of steel to step up and take the penalty kick after substitute Thatohatsi Santos was brought down in the box.
By Tshepang Mailwane, football writer for the Sowetan
