Wits might have the homeground advantage when they take on UWC in a Varsity Football match at Wits Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday the 25th of July 2016, but the reigning champions are not in any way intimidated.
The Bellville-based UWC go into the game brimming with confidence in the back of their hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to Tuks in their opening fixture. Wits, on the other hand, are wounded after they lost 2-1 to TUT in their first match.
The game is likely to be a thriller as Wits have a score to settle, after they were knocked out of the semi-finals last year by UWC. And both teams need to accumulate points to increase their odds of finishing in the top four during the round-robin stages, thus secure a semi-final spot.
Having been given the captains armband, Akhona Bonga has a responsibility to lead the UWC team to victory and understands that playing an away game is never easy. The game against Wits, like any other in Gauteng, will be more difficult because of the altitude up north.
The third-year BComm Accounting student believes his new role is not that different from his previous position in the team, when he was a vice-captain last season.
“I don’t think there is much difference between the vice-captain and the captain position,” Bonga said. “I’m one of the senior members of the team and have always been one of those players who is vocal. I like to motivate and drive other players.”
Bonga’s ability to lead will also be tested as the UWC team is in a rebuilding phase, aiming to create a unified team since it lost a number of key players who either graduated or were left out due to the new rule that requires all players to meet 60 credits academically, in order to qualify for the tournament.
“Since I started playing football I have always tried to be flexible and adopt new ways of doing things. I am that kind of a person who is willing to adapt to any situation and I am willing to go with the flow sometimes but always stick to principles,” added Bonga.
His ability to adjust while sticking to principles will come in handy as the team rebuilds to accommodate the new players who joined the squad.
“During preseason training, coaches tried to get us build the brotherhood we had last year. And that brotherhood started when we took part in the USSA (University Sport South Africa) Club Championships in March, when we tried to build a concrete bond.
“However, there were players who were not part of the team then, so in preparation for Varsity Football it became important for the coaching staff and senior players to work extra hard to unify the team and instil the UWC culture of togetherness. We’re still in that process,” concluded the captain.
For the Wits game, UWC has made three changes to the team that did battle against Tuks, bringing on Keenan Davis in the left back to replace Aghmat Ceres, Lukho Phikela for Chad Smith and Phiwokuhle Mphalala for Kwanele Nocanda.
UWC face Wits away at Wits Stadium on Monday 25 July. The match kicks off at 16:30 and will be live on SuperSport 4.
UWC Starting XI: Brent Layman, Keenan Davis, Clinton Herwel, Akhona Bonga, Masibulele Maseti, Eathon Swart, Ryan Steer, Suhayl Allie, Lukho Phikela, Josh Silent, Phiwokuhle Mphalala.
Subs: Renald Leaner, Aghmat Ceres, John-Nathan Oppelt, Giovani Gaffoor, Andile Phango, Ayanda Nkukwana, Kwanele Nocanda.
By Zandile Bangani
