NWU Pukke can hold their heads high

When the final whistle blew at the Fanie du Toit football field on Saturday afternoon, the NWU women’s football team ended their Varsity Football campaign with a 3-0 loss to TUT. Their heads   were bowed, some searched for answers between the bent blades of the pitch that was, only moments before, a battlefield. Even for the beautiful    game, such are the woes that befall the slain. Damned if the girls didn’t give their best, though. TUT will now play host to UWC in Tshwane on Thursday 22 September (today).

The Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University played host to the tournament that started on 15 September. Their campaign did not get off to the most promising of starts, however, as they lost their first game 2-1 to UWC. They then rebounded with a     resounding 2-0 win over UJ and followed that by thumping CUT 2-1. Played four, won two.

‘The players were a bit nervous  before the start of the first game. The fact that it was a television game really  played on their minds. They were thinking: “The nation is watching us.” They failed to execute what the learnt on the field and it showed. It must also be said that luck was not on our side, but we didn’t use our chances,’ Michael Seleka, coach and the campus’ football manager, explains. ‘In the second game, we were a lot more comfortable and we found our feet. It was a massive morale boost for the side to beat a big team like UJ and later that day, against CUT, we simply had a great game.’

Then came their litmus test.

‘We have a huge rivalry with TUT. When we last met at the USSAs we lost on penalties. On Saturday, they took their chances as early as possible and, once we were behind on goals, it was always going to be difficult to catch up. Tactically, they were also more aware than we were. That being said, I am very proud of the girls. They showed a lot of character throughout the tournament and it says something that the two teams we lost to are competing in the final,’ says Seleka.

The 2016 Varsity Football cup may not reside in the trophy cabinet of the NWU, but the stands were full and the atmosphere was thick with excitement. And it was fun. It was so much fun.

Seleka: ‘It was such a privilege to host the event. I want to thank each and everyone involved in making the tournament a success. There was no small part played. Thank you all.’

Photos: Wouter Pienaar