Winning is one of the best habits to get addicted to in any sport. Winners get remembered, their achievements are heralded in history and they set the platform to inspire those around them.

NWU Pukke has always been categorised in this group as a winning sporting institution that produces trophy-grabbing teams.

Thanks to the hard work of Michael Seleka, NWU Pukke men’s first team football coach, the campus can now finally boast with a competitive team that will represent it in the prestigious Varsity Football tournament.

Before Seleka arrived on the scene, a competitive football team at Pukke was only a dream as their Mafikeng siblings ruled the roost and flew the flag for the NWU.

Last year, they beat Mafikeng in the Varsity Football playoff and the rest is history, with a bright future ahead.

“It was a dream that finally came to fruition. Now, the hard work will really start. It is a very exciting time for football in Potchefstroom,” says Seleka who, himself, is part of a winning football legacy in the town.

Seleka grew up in Potchefstroom and got his first taste of the beautiful game, playing soccer in the street. He started to fuel his passion on local soccer fields for various teams.   “Winning for me started at an early age when I was appointed as captain for the Potchefstroom Agricultural College in 2001.

In those days, we had a very strong team that was one of the best in the country,” he added.   Seleka primarily played as a striker, but also played fullback as he had gas to burn with his pace.   “I was chosen as player of the year in 2002, and this helped me to be part of the SASSU provincial team in the same year.

In 2004, we eventually also won the Agricultural College national championship which was a massive achievement,” he said.   After a short spell away from the game, Seleka returned to his hometown, in a coaching role at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College in 2007.

“I coached our team to a third place in the national championship and then got my first coaching job at NWU Pukke, where I was put in charge of the women’s team. It something neand I had to alter my coaching methods.

You really have to be a lot softer when speaking to the ladies. It calls for a different approach.”  This approach seemed to pay dividends as they won the national championships in his first year as coach.

The team was also the best team at the USSA’s for three years in a row, from 2009 to 2011. This prompted a new venture for Seleka, who got the challenging position of resurrecting and building a competitive male football team.

“When there is enough motivation to play for one another and to give one’s best, then anything can be achieved,” he said with a confident smile on his face.  It will now only be a matter of time before Seleka and his boys will taste their first Varsity Football win.

A quick one-on-one:

Favourite local club: Kaizer Chiefs.

Favourite international club: Manchester United

Best coach: Jose Mourinho – “He is very straightforward and always gets the best out of his players. He pulls no punches,”Team he would like to coach: Juventus in Italy.

Top 4 players he would like in his team: Gianluigi Buffon, Ron Vlaar, Andrea Pirlo and Wayne Rooney.

Inspirational players: Steve Komphela, Shoes Mosheu, Thabo Mooki and Pollen Ndlanya.