It won’t be an easy road for the Pukke women’s football team but the home ground advantage can see them put up a great fight.
Although the team is still relatively inexperienced, Belinda Nkosi, the head coach, and her team have put in the hard yards for a great showing in the Varsity Football tournament that kicks off at 16:00 today.
The first match-up sees the University of the Free State take on Central University of Technology (CUT) in a classic Free State derby, although all the matches will be played at the Fanie du Toit sports grounds.
Pukke’s first match, against the University of the Western Cape (UWC), will also take place today, at 18:15.
According to Nkosi, it is important to get off to a winning start to build confidence for the rest of the tournament.
‘Playing on a pitch that we are used to will help us adjust quicker than our opponents. But, at the end of the day, it will come down to who applies their tactics better,’ she says.
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) seems to be the favourite to win the tournament for a record fourth time. TUT has won every Varsity football title since the women started taking part in the tournament.
Nkosi hopes that her holding midfield partnership can take the lead and control the game.
‘Mbali and Tsholo have developed a good partnership in the midfield. They will be instrumental in linking the defence and attack,’ she says.
Nkosi is known for her exciting attacking brand of play. Pukke will look to press hard so as to disrupt their opponents and limit their freedom on the ball.
The women’s Varsity Football tournament that starts today will wrap up the group stages and the first round of knockouts on Saturday, 23 September. Check out the Potchefstroom Herald website for the latest results of the tournament.