More will be better when UP-Tuks take to the field to play the University of Limpopo on Thursday on their home turf during the Varsity Football Tournament.
Judging by what happened in the first four rounds it will be a surprise if UP-Tuks does not win, but then again in sports nothing can ever be taken for granted until the final whistle blows.
It indeed is not just about winning for the defending Varsity Champions who is currently lagging in fifth place on the log. They need to up their goal difference to better their chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. At the moment the difference between goals scored and conceded is only one.
Limpopo is currently second last on the log with one draw in four games being their best result.
The UP-Tuks goalkeeper, Giovanni Idi, who is playing with more confidence each game said there is not such a thing as an easy Varsity encounter. As far as he is concerned past results count for absolutely nothing. All that matters is how you play during the game.
“We expect Limpopo to come hard at us as they got something to prove. There is no doubt that a win against UP-Tuks will give a lot of credibility to their Varsity Campaign.”
Idi relishes the challenge of being a goalkeeper.
“I started out playing centre back. One day we needed a goalkeeper. I decided to give it a go. If I knew beforehand about the stress and responsibility that goes with playing goalkeeper, I might have had second thoughts about donning the gloves. By the time I realised what goalkeeping is about it was too late to change positions again. Not that I wanted to do so. I love the specific challenge that comes with playing goalkeeper.”
According to Idi being a good goalkeeper is all about being utterly focussed for the 90 or so minutes.
“I have played games in which I had not much to do and then in that last minute suddenly there is that do or die moment that can change the outcome of the game. That is when you as goalkeeper don’t want to be caught napping.”
As a goalkeeper, Idi admires the way the Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, goes about things.
Idi is also playing goalkeeper for the South African under-20 team that has qualified for next year’s Afcon Tournament. There will be a lot at stake. The top four teams will be eligible to play the World Cup in Poland.
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