UP-Tuks achieved a first last night when they managed to beat UWC 3-0 in the Varsity-encounter in Belville.

The players managed to do what no other UP-Tuks team has been able to do since the inception of the Varsity Tournament, and that is to beat UWC on their home turf. The closest they came to it previously was in 2016 when they drew 1-1. 

More importantly is that the defending champions qualified for next week’s semi-finals. UP-Tuks will be playing TUT. It promises to be a humdinger. TUT shocked UP-Tuks in their first encounter beating the home team 2-1.

One of the most outstanding aspects year after year is the way UP-Tuks seems to peak precisely at the right time. There are a lot of similarities between the UP-Tuks Varsity campaign and the fabled race between the tortoise and hare. 

While some the team’s start of notching up one victory after another UP-Tuks seems to be always faltering at the beginning of their campaign. They managed only to win one of their first four games, but when it mattered, UP-Tuks ceaselessly seem to lift their standard of play. 

UP-Tuks won their last three games easily scoring seven goals and not conceding one which led to them being combined log leaders with UJ.

“Very proud of my ‘boys’,” was Tlisane Motaung (UP-Tuks head coach) words last night after his team’s brilliant victory.

According to Motaung beating UWC is the confidence booster his team needs before taking on TUT in the semi-finals.

Nhanhla Mabaso credits Motaung for the team success.

“Our coach can be very strict at times. There are times when he will resort to shouting, but that is because he is so passionate about the game and he wants us to make everyone at the university proud when we don the ‘striped jersey’.  He expects a 100% commitment from each of us. If you fail to do so, he is going to ask hard questions. For him, it will always be about each of us bring our best game to the pitch when we play.”

An elated Simbongile Njokwe (UP-Tuks captain) ascribed his team’s performance to pure passion and guts. 

“The fact that it did not rain and that there was no wind to speak did favour us. Before the game, I said to my teammates that records are there to be broken and that is what we did. What is equally as exciting is that we have gone five games without conceding any goals.”

Chinedu Okolo made sure he remained UP-Tuks top goalscorer when he netted his team's first goal. His tally stands at three so far.

If ever there was a player who deserved to score it is Dylan Murchie. He has been in the thick of things during the last three games taking so hard knocks, and now at long last, he succeeded in putting one away.

Jerry Nkwana is a self-admitted forever a student of the game. Whenever time allows for it, he will be studying videos of how the world’s best players execute their kicks from corners and penalties. Last night his dedication paid off when he scored a blinder.

Good . . . better . . . Giovani Idi. This is an easy comparison to make for anyone who has been following Varsity football. Idi might not have had the best of starts as a goalkeeper, but he is certainly improving with each game. So it should be no surprise that he received his third successive Real Deal Save-award.