The head coach of the reigning Women’s Varsity Football champions, Thinasonke Mbuli admits to defending their title will be a huge challenge when she returns with a couple of her players from Banyana Banyana duty next week.
Mbuli, who’s part of the senior South Africa Women’s national team alongside Desiree Ellis, ended the curse last season to help UWC lift their first-ever title after losing five consecutive finals.
It ended the six-year streak of the dominant Tshwane University of Technology, who will be aiming to restore the order this time around and take advantage of the challenges UWC are currently facing.
“For us, it’s an advantage [to be champions but a disadvantage at the same time for us, because most of our players, even in the HollywoodBets Super League, they are students, some of them in the Sasol League,” Mbuli who lost Banyana star Noxolo Cesane to French club Reims recently admitted.
“So we don’t have a break to say, okay now we stop to play Varsity Football. We use the same players throughout the season – there will be fatigue and maybe injuries. But what worked for us last time is that we used the HollywoodBets as preparation for this.
“But this time around there’s a hectic league schedule, we play Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday. We have five days to prepare for the tournament – and the only break we’ll have is if we reach the final.
“We’ll have to rotate the squad well to make sure the players can remain fresh. So it will be a completely different tournament for us this year. Last year we used the league to prepare, this time it killed us coming into the tournament.”
Mbuli is currently with the national team who are currently en route to London where they will face the 2023 FIFA World Cup co-hosts Australia as part of their preparations for the global showpiece in Australasia next year.
Last season UWC beat UP-TUKS 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after regulation time.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Bongeka Gamede, a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champion and currently in the Banyana Banayana squad as a key member of their defence.
She didn’t compete in the title-winning campaign last season due to injury and her status as one of the best on the continent will surely rank her as one of the standout players in the tournament.
DID YOU KNOW?
UWC has played in every Varsity Football women’s final since 2015.
They have three players in the Banyana Banyana squad – Bongeka Gamede, Fikile Magama, and Amohelang Motau.
TEAM FACT FILE
Nickname: Udubs
Province: Western Cape
Appearances: Six (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Biggest win: 10-2 against UKZN (2019)
Biggest loss: 2-0 against TUT (2015)
2022 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Robin Coetzee, Sihle Dlamini
Defenders: Lindokuhle Gladile, Sinegugu Zondi, Bongeka Gamede, Fikile Magama, Daluthando Madolo, Tshegofatso Senyanya, Kaylon Pieterson, Zikhona Nogqala
Midfielders: Babalwa Mngxunya, Amogelang Motau, Siphosethu Qokama, Khanyisa Nondumiso Manangela, Akholiwe Matsotsi, Unathi Simayile
Forwards: Andiswa Mthethwa, Njabulo Mtshali, Khanya Xesi, Nabeelah Galant
TECHNICAL TEAM
Head coach: Thinasonke Mbuli
Assistant coach: Leah Masango
Goalkeeper coach: Vulindlela Biko
Physiotherapist: Kayla Richards
Compliance officer: Hassan Sobekwa
Team manager: Wendy Nomatse
Media Officer: Skhulule Nkomphela
Video Analyst: Kerchval Francke
