The Tuks men’s football team will this week try and do what only a few of their predecessors in the Stripe jersey had been able to do – to defend the USSA title they won last year.

The team’s captain, Tshiamo Mokoena, believes it can be done if they play with the same mindset as last year.

“Every time we ran onto the pitch, we knew we had each other’s backs. It was a case of one for all and all for one. It helped that we had a point to prove,” Mokoena said before the team’s departure to Kimberley in the Northern Cape.

This time around, the Tuks team again has a point to prove. Especially after the way their Varsity Tournament campaign fizzled out. Tuks was brilliant during the pool stages, winning five of their seven games and losing only once. It led to them topping the log. Unfortunately, then, they lost the game that mattered. In the semifinals, UWC got the better of Tuks, beating them on their home turf.

As a captain, Mokoena believes the glass is always half full and not half empty.

“Losing in the semifinals did hurt, but there are still a lot of positives we can take from our varsity campaign. We can take pride in the way we defended. We only conceded four goals. We were also more aggressive on the attack. Being more direct meant that we were able to create goal-scoring opportunities,” he explained.

During the tournament’s pool stages, Tuks will play Fort Hare University, CUT and CPUT. Despite CUT being the only other team to have played in the Varsity Tournament, Mokoena is not taking anything for granted.

“Experience has taught me that there is no such thing as an easy game at USSA’s. Last year, Fort Hare forced us to a draw. My teammates and I must be at our best in each game,” said the third-year education student, who was recently told he had passed all his subjects.

As a midfielder, Mokoena views himself as the team’s on-field conductor.

“My best trait as a footballer is the ability to take control of the game when it is intense. I understand the game and can adapt my play, at an instance, to what is happening on the field,” he remarked.

Mokoena believes being captain boils down to more than just leading by example.

“I see myself as a mentor and motivator because I want Tuks to be a cohesive team. One in which everyone is willing to give their all. A good captain is someone who knows his teammates. Who can immediately pick up when something is wrong and know how to handle the situation. I would generally remind a player of the good things he has done in the past and let him know it is OK for a player to have an off day. It happens to the best,” Mokoena concluded.

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