#TuksFootball: Scoring his first Varsity Football goal in Tuks colours is something special for Marco Giuricich

Posted on September 05, 2022

Marco Giuricich might be a novice in playing Varsity Football, but from a Tuks perspective, he is slowly getting his rhythm and knowing what the tournament was all about. 

He is the one who scored the winning goal in the dying seconds against TUT in Round 5. It was undoubtedly a significant moment for Tuks as it broke the TUT ''jinx". Since 2018, TUT has been the team that would often abruptly end Tuks' title hopes. Last year, they had beaten Tuks in the semi-finals. 

Giuricich does not want to take sole credit. He ascribes scoring the winning goal as being at the right spot at the right time. It was only his third appearance for Tuks during the current tournament.

According to Giuricich, he took to the field mere minutes before TUT levelled the score in the 93rd minute.

"The moment it happened, I thought it couldn't be. Up to that moment, we were playing such a good game. We did not deserve to lose out on three points. I remember standing at the centre point, looking back at my teammates. I could see how upset everyone was. That goal had hurt everyone.

"But the expression of a teammate told me it is not over. There was still a will to fight. It was a case that is not over until it is over. As we pushed forward, I got into position. The ball was passed to me. I realised it was now or never as I kicked for a goal. 

"Scoring proved that hard work does pay off. I have been playing for a long time to get on the Tuks score sheet. Doing so was phenomenal. Especially since my family was in the stands. They are my inspiration in everything I do," said the fourth-year industrial engineering student. 

Giuricich relishes playing as a striker. According to him, there are definite do's and don'ts doing so.

"A good striker has to be clinical. You got to take the chances you get because you don't know how many there will be. A good striker also needs to create opportunities. It boils down to being at the right place at the right time. To be honest, it is all about having that urge to be on the score sheet winning games for your team."

Despite Tuks losing their first two Varsity Football encounters this season, Giuricich never doubted they would make a comeback. 

"We are a good team. We played good football throughout the preseason. So after those two losses, we had a long hard talk during a training session, telling each other that we needed to step up, knowing that we could play better."

On Thursday, 8 September, Tuks will face Wits away at 18:30. The hosting team is at the bottom of the log standings, not having won a game yet. Still, Giuricich said he and his teammates are not taking anything for granted. 

"I don't think there is such a thing as an easy game in Varsity football. If we want to remain in the top four and contest the semi-finals, we need to be the best we can each time we take to the field."

- Author Wilhelm De Swardt

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