NWU’s Thabo Mnyamane ensured that Varsity Football got off to a roaring start on Monday, when he scored a brace in his side’s 4-0 demolition of Wits University.
The match between Wits and NWU was the first of four on a blockbuster night of university soccer, which also delivered a convincing victory for the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) over UP-Tuks and close encounters in the other matches, between UWC and NMMU, and UFS and UCT.
NWU striker Mnyamane got his side on the front foot quickly at the Wits-NWU battle in Johannesburg, scoring the first goal of the inaugural series from the penalty spot in the ninth minute.
Forty-six minutes later the striker delivered another moment for the highlights reel with a perfect lob over Wits goalkeeper Kgabisi Mohale’s head.
Shortly after Mnyamane almost added a third goal to his tally, but this time Mohale was wide awake and produced a great save. Mnyamane wasn’t put off, though, playing an instrumental role in Sandile Mbatha’s goal in the 84th minute.
That goal shut Wits out completely, but NWU weren’t done yet. Sylvester Moses drove the final nail into the coffin with a wonderful long-range effort for the fourth goal in the ninetieth minute.
Mnyamane was the well-deserved recipient of the Man of the Match award, after a match in which his team dominated all aspects.
The Tshwane derby was equally one-sided, with TUT winning 4-1.
The visitors completed the rout within 70 minutes and then took the foot off the pedal, allowing Tuks a consolation goal in the 93rd minute.
Before then, the lads from Tuks never really threatened the back of the TUT net and were equally toothless on defense.
TUT scored their first goal in the second minute, when Botshelo Mfulwane got his head to an early free kick. Katlego Mokoena soon added a second, and after Sizwe Khumalo capitalised on a defensive error shortly before halftime, TUT went into the locker room with their tails firmly up. Mfulwane’s second goal of the night in the 70th minute settled the result.
The match in Belville ended in another home team defeat, with NMMU beating UCT 2-0. The teams were deadlocked at 0-0 at halftime, but a header from Niven Kops and a goal by Leroy van Rensburg in the second half ensured victory for the Port Elizabeth side.
UFS were the only home side to earn log points on Monday, with a 1-1 draw against UCT.
The Bloem boys took the lead when Unathi Mabandla scored from the penalty spot, following a handball by UCT. But the Cape side refused to lie down, and reaped the rewards when Wisy Namaseb latched onto a long pass and chipped the ball over the ’keeper.
The next round of Varsity Football matches takes place next Monday, with matches in Pretoria, Mahikeng and Cape Town.
29 July: 16:30: UP Tuks vs Wits (TV); 19:00: NWU vs UFS (TV); 19:00: UWC vs TUT; 19:00: UCT vs NMMU.
