The 2024 edition of Women's Varsity Football kicks-off earlier this year on 26 July and in the build-up we revisit last year's tournament to see how it unfolded and how UWC had an unforgettable season to be crowned champions.
The opening round saw defending champions UJ come back from 0-1 down at halftime to move past UWC. A fiercely contested battle that saw Boipelo Tladinyana score a brace and collect the FNB Player of Match award. There were also runaway victories for UP-Tuks over Wits and TUT over DUT. UFH and UKZN played to a goalless draw.
In round 2 the UJ Orange Army continued their winning ways when they beat TUT on the second day of competition in the 2023 Women’s Varsity Football tournament with Lusanda Mavundla punishing the red army with a brace including a great free kick. UP-Tuks and UWC also moved past UKZN and DUT without any trouble.
UJ maintained their unbeaten record in round 3 with a 4-0 victory over DUT. In a do-or-die group clash, UWC delivered a dazzling performance when they beat TUT 5-1 as Nabeelah Galant scored a brace while UP-Tuks secured their semi-final spot with a 2-0 win over a struggling UFH.
The play-offs saw UWC maneuvere passed UP-Tuks to advance and set up a repeat of the 2022 final while the Orange Army comprehensively beat Wits as the tournament’s top scorer Lusanda Mavundla added to her tally with another brace.
In the final, UWC drew first blood inside the opening 10 minutes courtesy of a Lonthemba Mhlongo goal and the star-studded UWC team remained in control throughout most of the game with the combination of Banyana Banyana’s Bongeka Gamede and Snegugu Zondi keeping things solid at the middle of the park. The Cape side doubled their lead 13 minutes after the break and held onto the lead to be crowned 2023 champions.
Lusanda Mavundla's outstanding perfromances for UJ were rewarded as she won both the FNB Player of the Tournament award as well as the Suzuki Golden Boot award for the scoring the most goals in the competition. UWC keeper Siphesihle Dlamini as well as UJ shotstopper Matshidiso Masebe both won the Cashbuild Golden Glove award for their efforts in goal.
The women's tournament continues to grow rapidly and several players were scouted to represent the national team. Ayesha Moosa (UJ), Tshogofatso Motlogelwa (TUT) and Chelsea Daniels (UWC) were all selected to represent Banyana Banyana after the Varsity Football season ended.
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