TUT came back to draw 1-1 in regulation time before winning the penalty shootout 4-1 and in the process rewriting history to become the only team in the competition to have won six Varsity Women’s Football titles in a row.
The team’s winning streak continued on Sunday 29 September in the South African Football Association (SAFA) National Women’s League in Tsakane, where they brushed of the Kimberley based Richmond Ladies with a humbling 2-0 score. Speaking to e-TUTor, team coach Sipho Mabuza commended the women’s performance in the Varsity Football and SAFA competitions. He said although he could pick up signs of fatigue, the women have shown great signs of maturity in terms of them dealing with their tiredness.
The team is currently second on the log with 12 points trailing Mamelodi Sundowns Women who are also on 12 points, but ahead of TUT with four goals. On Sunday 6 October, the women will face the Bloemfontein squad at the TUT Stadium, in a live broadcast match on SABC 1 at 15:00.
Two red cards end men’s Varsity Cup hopes
Two red cards issued against the Men’s team during the crucial stages of their final match against the North West University (NWU), signalled the end of their hopes to defending their title this year following two red cards that were issued against them.
The absence of anchor Thuso Mlamla and right back Captain Rorisang Rapelang, forced TUT to stretch at the back and in the heart of the middle field. This gave NWU an opportunity to score a goal through a tactical blunder in the clearing lines, 10 minutes before the end of the match. Although TUT showed character and seemed lethal in their attack, their attempts were not enough to guarantee a victory on the day.
In a post-match discussion, a disappointed coach, Bushy Moloi, thanked the players for bowing out like champions. It was not the result they wished for, but Bushy said he was proud of how they carried themselves on the final day and in encounters leading to the final. “To me you are champions, your sacrifices and hard work will be rewarded by the Lord who gave us grace until this very day,” Bushy said.
In another image booster for the Men’s team, their star player Thabiso Lebitso, who captained the Nedbank Cup ke yona team, has been selected to be on trial with Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit, Chippa United, a move that that is widely believed to get him his long awaited PSL break.