UP-Tuks head coach Evangelos Vellios has named a preliminary squad of 40 players for the upcoming Varsity Football competition which is just ten weeks away. The players were selected from a pool of 55 players that were carefully chosen in the beginning of the year through various trials.

Preparations for the massive tournament have been underway for three and a half months and the players have been evaluated through the different leagues that the institution is involved in such as the Super League, the SAB league and Promo league to name a few. Most pundits maintain that a winning team should not be changed but the UP-Tuks technical staff will have a hard time selecting the final squad to represent the team at the tournament due to the exciting new players that have been brought in to reinforce the team.

Without doubt the two-time defending champions will have some pressure to deal with as most teams will be watching them closely as they look to dethrone the defending champions. Head Coach Evangelos Vellios expressed the difficulty that he and his technical team had to deal with to cut down the squad to 40 players and what the teams plans are, “The purpose is to give these 40 players that have been playing for their various teams and being monitored the opportunity to show their development and growth through the year and fight for a position in the final squad of 30 that will be announced on the completion of the 2 week camp”.

The provisional squad of 40 will train as a group for a fortnight then the final 25 players plus 5 back up players will be submitted to Varsity Sports.

Preliminary squad of 40 players:

 GOAL KEEPERS:

1. Dylan Patterson
2. Jason Stanton
3. Hasintiana Andriamialy
4. James Smith
5. Dave Ribeiro
6. Mike Faasen

  DEFENDERS:

7. Siphesihle Sosibo
8. Tyrone Bruchhausen
9. Lindsay Stowman
10. Puthego Mabitsela
11. Pfanu Nevhutalu
12. Wonga Denga
13. Nicholas Killas
14. Simbongile Njokwe
15. Lawrence Ntswane
16. Gareth Hudson
17. Leonel De Mendoca
18. Simphiwe Sihlangu

MIDFIELDERS:

19. Katlego Mothlatsang
20. Jarryd Van Den Berg
21. Robin Swartz
22. Clement Malemone
23. Khumbulani Siluma
24. Thabo Ndlovu
25. Claudio De Almeida
26. Kabelo Mphake
27. Frank Mpedi
28. Jeremiah Nkwana
29. Dean Wilkinson
30. Wandile Fakudze

ATTACKERS:

31. Vuse-Umuze Khoza
32. Luke Steyl
33. Jurgen Booysen
34. Richard Moremi
35. Odwa Makha
36. Mbongeni Masilela
37. Lucky Mathosi
38. Botshelo Mfulwane
39. Tebogo Galane
40. Michael Forbes