Khumalo ready to lift the Varsity Women's Football trophy with Tuks

The 2024 Varsity Women’s Football edition once again heads to TUT with eight elite sides competing for the showpiece and UP-Tuks coach Maude Khumalo is confident that they can finally accomplish their biggest hurdle which is winning the title. The Pretoria based side have never won a women’s title since the tournament’s inception and last year they finished in the semi-finals.

“Our preparations are going well looking at the group I have, the majority of the players I’m using for the Hollywoodbets Super League are also part of Varsity Football and there are players returning from last year’s edition,” said Khumalo.

“The only box we haven’t ticked is winning the Varsity Football, we are currently the USSA champions. We lost in the semis last year and I think we are getting there. I am patient and trusting the process.”

Khumalo added that their experience is rich enough for them to be labelled as contenders.

“To overcome the hurdle of us losing to UWC, when I started coaching this side during the Covid-19 bubble we lost on penalties in the final and the following year we lost again to the same side in the semi-finals. We managed to pass that hurdle when we beat the USSA,” she said.

Khumalo is confident that her troops will come out victorious. “Varsity is a different ball-game, you have a lot of new players, some do not have Varsity Football experience. The ones you hope to return might not do well in their academics and some because of age,” she adds.

“We are gunning for the title like everyone else, we never won the title so it will be a good thing for us and the university at large. We are capable of winning the title but it is just a matter of time.”

“It is always an interesting game to play TUT, but I believe they will not beat us. I observed the team while we were playing in the league and the mental strength of our team is good.”

Tuks Provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Kgothatso Manamela, Kgahlego Tobejane.

Defenders: Ntando Phahla, Sphesihle Khubheka, Morongwa Manamela, Zikhona Ngenelelwa, Ndivhuwo Erin Nkgedi, Tiisang Leseyane, Nhlakanipho Finland, Zikhona Mgotywa.

Midfielders: Thando Khubeka, Khunjulwa Mali, Sbahle Ndlovu, Thembelihle Malatjie, Tebogo Motale, Kwenadi Makhwela.

Forwards: Tshwarelo Setlhafuno, Thembelihle Masibi, Inge Kaba, Mbali Kweyama, Ibanathi Msindo.

Tuks kick off their campaign against TUT on Friday 26 July at TUT Stadium (19:00).

Full Fixtures: HERE

Ticket information: HERE

By: Lehlogonolo Ditshego