The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has signaled its intent to defend its Varsity Football title but faces up against an unpredictable North-West University on Thursday evening for a place in the final.
UJ secured their first-ever Varsity Football crown last season while succeeding NWU as the champions. And despite a nervy start to the campaign, losing 2-0 to Tshwane University of Technology, Karabo Mogudi’s side rallied back to show real championship credentials again.
Five wins and one draw, which was a goalless affair against the last season’s finalists University of the Free State was achieved by their usually resolute defence and sparked by their attacking talisman Thulani Zandamela, who’s netted four goals so far.
Having missed out on the Player of the Tournament nomination last season, the talented playmaker will be aiming to showcase to the selectors why his name should be up amongst the favourites as they are now just two games away from retaining the title.
But with NWU as opposition, it won’t be as straightforward as they hope, with Karabo Masehla holding some attacking flair of his own. Omphile Shuping has been dancing his way to plaudits this season, with four goals of his own for the 2019 champions.
The slender winger known as ‘Di Maria’ by his teammates has been their spearhead in attack this time around and a real spark when they needed to dig deep to secure results.
Quite possibly two of the most attack-minded sides in the competition, with UJ scoring 10 and NWU with 11 – it should make for a tantalising affair.
In round 5, when the two sides met at the same arena where the semi-final will take place, UJ secured a 2-1 victory but with the final on the line, nerves, expectations and the favourites tag, playing in front of their home supporters could either be a blessing or a curse.
NWU has four wins and three defeats in a solid but inconsistent campaign, but victory could be what sparks them to replicate their heroics of three years ago.
Both sides have been in the semi-final four times, but while UJ progressed thrice to the final, winning it in 2021, NWU have only made it once to the final – when they won the 2019 edition.
When the two sides kick off at 19h15 on Thursday at the UJ Stadium, they will already know whether it’s TUT or UFS Kovsies they shall meet in the final next week and this is a spectacle you do not want to miss. The game will be broadcast live on SuperSport 4.
You can get information on how to get tickets here.
