If it wasn’t for Sikhumbuzo Ncube, where would TUT be at this present moment?
The fact is, that without the 22-year-old The Red Machine would not be preparing for their fifth consecutive Varsity Football final. Ncube has produced an attention-grabbing performance almost on a weekly basis this season as five Debonairs Pizza Real Deal Save of the Match awards proves. The last of those came in the semi-final, when the second year Coaching and Officiating student thwarted Tshwane rivals UP-Tuks with three penalty saves.
Ncube, who will be confident of claiming back-to-back Golden Glove awards when the final concludes, tells varsitysportssa.com how he feels ahead of next week’s Varsity Football decider at NWU in Mafikeng.
“For me, it is the third consecutive final and it is a great feeling playing in the finals. I’m so happy about what we have achieved over the past years,” Ncube says.
Of course, when TUT were 0-1 down at half-time during the semi-final against UP-Tuks the final might have looked far away. Even more so when their perennial rivals kept them at bay for much of the second half too, but Ncube and co. continued to believe – on the back of words from coach Bushy Moloi.
“He told us that that was our match and we still had enough time to win it. In the second half, we tried to get back in the match and at least we managed to equalise. After our effort to level matters, I couldn’t let the team down in the penalties.
History will go on to show that Ncube blocked penalty efforts from Mogau Khwinana, goal-scorer Jerry Tlou and Sabelo Tsambo to cue celebrations.
Now the question is whether, he’ll be doing so in what will be an unmissable final…
NWU will host TUT in the final on Thursday, 26 September at NWU–Mafikeng Stadium and kick-off is scheduled for 18:00. Tickets are available via the Varsity Sports App (for iOS and Android users) or here: https://varsitysportsa.plankton.mobi/. Alternately, watch the match live on SuperSport 204 and 210 or follow match updates on social media @VarsityDiski.
By Lakhe Thwala
