Reigning Varsity Football champions UWC opened their title defence with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against former champions UP-Tuks at UWC Sports Stadium on Monday 18 July.
Goals from Tuks’ Khwinana Mogau and his opposite number, Suhayl Allie either side of half time ensured that the two South African university football powerhouses shared the spoils on a chilly winter evening in Bellville. With both sides fielding mainly new players after some of their players had graduated, it was a game of two halves as the visitors dominated the first stanza and deservingly took an early lead when Mogou headed home from a Simbongile Njokwe corner on the 8th minute.
The visitors could have doubled the lead before the break as they were in control of the game with their neat touches but were let down by either woeful shooting or brilliant defence from the UWC side. The home side resorted to long balls and could have found the equaliser from the few chances they created. Tuks led 1-0 at half time.
In the second stanza UWC came out guns blazing and forced their opponents to commit a number of fouls. From one of those fouls Aghmat Ceres delivered a curling free-kick from the right side and Allie was on hand to head home.
From then onwards UWC pushed more players upfront in search of a win, but a resolute Tuks defence ensured that the game ended 1-1.
FNB Man of the Match: Claudio de Almeida (Tuks)
Scorers:
UWC:
Suhayl Allie
Tuks:
Khwinana Mogau
Teams:
UWC: Brent Layman, Aghmat Ceres, Clinton Herwel, Akhona Bonga, Masibulele Maseti, Eathon Swart, Ryan Steer, Suhayl Allie, Chad Smith, Josh Silent, Kwanele Nocanda.
Subs: Renald Leaner, Keenan Davis, Jason Britz, Giovani Gaffoor, Lukho Phikela, Ayanda Nkukwana, Phiwokuhle Mphalala.
Tuks: David Ribeiro, Simbongile Njokwe, Nicholas Killas, Richard Moremi, Jurgen Booysen, Khumbulani Siluma, Claudio de Almeida, Qongo Musa, Tsambo Sabelo, Ndlovu Thungulethu, Odwa Makha
Subs: Deodart Kritzinger, Tiago da Serra, Mogau Khwinana, Siphesihle Sosibo, Wandile Makhanya, Mbongeni Masilela, Frank Mpedi
By Zandile Bangani
