Round One of Varsity Football 2015 will come to an explosive conclusion when TUT host UP-Tuks in the Tshwane derby on Thursday.
The two giants have only faced each other once in Varsity Football, with TUT taking the spoils back in 2013 before UP-Tuks went on to win two consecutive titles.
Despite dominating the competition since then, UP-Tuks coach Evangelos Vellios has not forgotten that match and has said that his team are intent on ‘setting the record straight’.
TUT have never lost a league match in Varsity Football having finished unbeaten in 2013 before crashing out in their home semifinal against NMMU and spending last season in the wilderness.
Their coach Bushy Moloi knows exactly what to expect from a settled UP-Tuks side, and is hoping that the home crowd will be able to make a big difference for his team.
“We know them and understand their system, they are good in closing spaces, distribution and in set-pieces.
“We will have a 12th player in the support of our vibrant students so hopefully we can make them proud,” he said.
Moloi is sweating over the fitness of attacking stars Thabang Motau and Itumeleng Mogotsi who are both in doubt having recently returned from Korea with the national student side.
UP-Tuks had five of their players in that national side, and although they are all available for selection, coach Vellios admitted that they haven’t trained with the squad as much as he would like.
With WSU grabbing the only win in the three games on Monday night, both teams have the chance of moving to the top of the standings if they win by more than one goal, but there will be far more than just the log points at stake when the two Tshwane giants reignite their rivalry on the Varsity Football stage.
Prediction: This one really could go either way, but home advantage could be key so we are backing TUT to sneak a victory by one goal in front of their fans.
Teams:
TUT: 20 Lloyd Morulane, 3 Khomotso Ledwaba, 12 Masonwabe Sokanyile, 13 Thabang Mahlangu, 14 Chris Seema, 16 Tshepo Simelane, 17 Thabang Motau (captain), 18 Mogau Mphahlele, 19 Lebogang Phatlane, 23 Sidney Seromo.
Substitutes: 1 King Ndlovu, 21 Phillemon Makwela, 5 Elliot Seema, 6 Sipho Sibiya, 10 Itumeleng Mogotsi, 7 Selby Madibana, 9 Themba Ndlovu, 15 Phineas Raphela.
UP-Tuks: 1 David Ribero, 4 Lawrence Ntswane, 8 Nicholas Killas, 13 Lindsay Stowman, 20 Thabo Ndlovu, 19 Frank Mpedi, 11 Richard Moremi, 5 Simbongile Njokwe, 17 Katlego Motlhatsang, 9 Mbongeni Masilela, 15 Claudio De Almeida.
Substitutes: 14 Tebogo Galane, 24 Michael Faasen, 32 Dylan Paterson, 6 Khumbulani Siluma, 12 Phuthego Mabitsela, 7 Luke Steyl, 3 Robin Swartz
