You either love him or hate him. Charles Baloyi ruffles feathers and he’s surely done it again here. These are his 2018 Varsity Football predictions:
Wooden spoon winners: Limpopo
Don’t get me wrong I’m from Limpopo and I have nothing against my own province. But they are in the tournament just to make up numbers. While there are three professional football teams in the province Black Leopards, Baroka FC and Polokwane City, a lot still needs to be done to lift the beautiful game. Even the professional teams survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last season. So don’t expect anything special from this Limpopo team if the big guns can’t even get it right in the professional set-up. It will be great to get so much needed experience but I don’t see Limpopo posing any serious threat at this year’s tournament. They are here to make up numbers.
7th: UWC
Don’t expect to see them in the semi-final despite being former winners. UWC have an outstanding home record but are poor travellers and that could work against them. It’s a factor that they have to consider if they are to reach the knockout stages. There is a feeling that this will be an unpredictable tournament and that the usual faces will miss out in the last four and UWC has to be one of them. They are strong at their Operation Room – their base – but don’t seem to cut it on the road.
6th: Wits
Wits have been disappointing and are dismal failures when it comes to reaching the last four. They make all the right noises before the start of each tournament, but flop when the ball is kicked. Unfortunately they will once again fall short of reaching their target. They have an ordinary squad and pose no real threat to the likes of Tuks and TUT.
5th: UJ
There is a strong feeling that UJ blew their chances of winning the tournament when they lost those two cup finals. They are difficult team to beat on their day but the stakes are high at this year’s tournament. UJ are good starters but poor finishers. As usual they will start their campaign like a house on fire only to suffer a major dramatic collapse during the half way stages. It’s not how you start but how you finish that counts.
4th: UKZN
They are a team on a serious mission and they will make it into the knockout stages. They bring a surprising element to the tournament and they will stun a couple of big guns on their way to the last four. Most of their games in the group stages will be played in KZN and that could well work in their favour. Besides their home ground advantage, what makes them dangerous is that they have nothing to lose but everything to gain. A team that is not expected to win the competition can be dangerous. It will be a good fairy-tale run for them.
3rd: NWU
When will they step up and be countered? It boggles the mind why NWU have never reached a Varsity Football final? They are a team with potential the but somehow they don’t cut it. Without a doubt this is a big year for them to finally step up and be counted and we expect them to rise to the occasion. But they have to do it the hard way as they will not have a home semi-final.
2nd: TUT
The mean red machine is back, but there are question marks surrounding their participation at this year’s tournament. But how will not playing in front of their home fans have an effect in their performance? Will they cope without their exciting brand of fans? As part of their punishment for causing violence during last year’s final, they will play all their matches away from home. If they can adopt without their home ground advantage they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Champions: Tuks
They are bidding for a record-extending fourth title and few can bet against them winning it. Tuks are known for being slow starters, but one gets a feeling that this year they will be the quickest off their starting blocks. They have lost just five players but they should have enough to top the log. They have experience and know how to handle pressure.
Check out Charles’ 2017 predictions (he predicted both finalists and the winner before the season began):
Varsity Football 2017 predictions – Who will be crowned champions?
By Charles Baloyi
