The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have booked their seventh ticket in the semi-finals and will attempt to reach the final for the sixth time when they will face the University of Free State (UFS) later today.
Both teams met in the final round-robin fixture when TUT beat Kovsies 1-0 to move above them on the log and secure a “home” semi-final. Today’s clash will take place at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
TUT started the campaign by shocking the defending champions University of Johannesburg 2-0 and were unbeaten until round five when they tasted defeat to the University of Pretoria in the dying minutes of the game.
However, they recovered from the result and collected two more important wins over the North-West University and Kovsies; results which are all the more impressive because both also made the semi-finals.
The Red Army finished the round-robin stage with the clean sheets with five and conceded the least goals with just three, while scoring eight times themselves, with Tshepiso Mnisi netting three of them.
They will face a Kovsies side who will be out for revenge after losing last week’s match 1-0. UFS’ campaign had more ups than downs, starting with a 3-0 win over record champions Tuks.
However, the opening win was followed by a 2-0 defeat to NWU before they went on a four-game unbeaten run, which ensured them a place in the semi-final before their final round-robin game.
Last year’s Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner, Sello Diphoko is Kovsies’ top goalscorer again this year with three goals, but he left the team for a move to the United States and his absence will surely be felt.
Overall, UFS scored nine goals and conceded six, keeping three clean sheets along the way. Out of the four semi-finalists, Kovsies have the least experience at this stage, with this being only their third last-four appearance.
They are the only of the four semi-finalists yet to lift the Varsity Football title, but maybe this year is their year. First, though, they will have to overcome a TUT side, who progressed to the final in five out of their six semi-finals so far.
The highly-anticipated clash will kick off at 17:15 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium today. It will also be broadcast on SuperSport 4. You can get information on how to get tickets here.
