Tomorrow will be a must-win game for Tuks’s footballers when they take on the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) in the Varsity Tournament.

On paper, it might seem to be a done deal. UKZN is at the bottom of the log, not having won a game. Tuks’s coach, Nicholas Stothard, is, however, not one to take anything for granted. He knows that on a good day, in football, any team can win at any time.

“We need to be professional on the field and make sure we take the three points against UKZN. Then on Sunday, we just got to ensure that we play to a draw against Northwest. If we do, we will have a realistic chance to qualify for the playoffs. I think 11 points ought to do it. If we can win both games, it would be even better because we will have 14 points. Things are going to go down to the wire in this tournament because the teams are so evenly matched,” Stothard explained a day before the game.

Stothard is not wrong in his assumption. After five games, there are still six teams in contention to play the Varsity Tournament semi-finals. UJ tops the log with 11 points. Northwest, Kovsies and Tuks are on eight points, while Wits and VUT have seven points.

Tuks played to a 1-all draw against UJ yesterday. Tuks’s captain, Blessing Mabasa, is not too unhappy with the result.

“We knew if you allow good players time and space, they become ‘world class’. So, we tried to deny UJ as much as possible as we knew not all players can thrive under pressure. I think we were quite effective as a team,” Mabasa remarked.

To Stothard, it was a hard game to gauge.

“I was disappointed with the lethargic nature in which started the game. As the game progressed, we had our opportunities to score goals. I am impressed with the way we defended being under pressure.

“Being totally honest, I am aggrieved that we did win. UJ had one clear chance to score a goal, while we had two definite opportunities. It is a pity that Alex Stothard ‘fluffed’ a near-certain scoring goal.

“In the end, I don’t think I should complain. I always said that we should not lose against UJ, and we did not.”

Alex Stothard agreed with his brother-coach that he missed scoring a near sitter in the game’s dying minutes.

“But to keep on blaming myself is not helping. I got to forget what happened and focus on being at my best for tomorrow’s game against UKZN,” said Stothard junior.

Tuks’ goalkeeper, Siyabonga Gumede, was the player of the match.

The kick-off for the game against UKZN is at 18:00 at the Tuks Stadium.

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