North-West University Mafikeng Campus football team makes a return to this year’s roster of competing teams in the annual Varsity Football tournament. Having not qualified last season, the team has set their sights on making a resounding comeback.
The Varsity Football tournament is one of the most anticipated football events in university sporting calendars nationally, drawing crowds of thousands of eager supporters waiting to cheer on their favourite university teams, undoubtedly among them, top crowd drawer, NWU Mafikeng.
“The preparation for this year’s tournament started a month ago with four weeks of intense training,” said Vuyo Sambo, Team Manager. “We noticed that work needed to be done on fitness in order to build their stamina when playing, and also avoid issues of fatigue which would, if left untreated would lead to a drop in the team’s performance in the tournament. The team is composed of exciting players to watch out for, who are hungry to play and are physically and mentally at the top of their game.”
The Soccer Institute has done brilliantly over the years in unearthing raw football talent that has gone on to shine in the Premier Soccer League, with the likes of Thabo Mnyamane being awarded the Player of the Tournament during the inaugural Varsity Football tournament in 2013 and going on to being the first Varsity Football player to be signed by a PSL team, AmaTuks.
NWU Mafikeng Soccer Institute has also produced many more players who have gone on to play in PSL teams, players such as Chippa United signee Xola Mlambo, SuperSport United’s Boalefa Pule and Luvolwethu Mpeta, dribbling wizard and Pirates midfielder Thabo Rakhale, and Bloemfontein Celtics players Banele Ndlovu and Shane April.
NWU Mafikeng kick off their Varsity Football campaign against UJ at the NWU-Mafikeng Stadium on Monday 18 July at 16:30.
By Pheno Mokgothu
