UL teams off to Varsity Football tournament

Men’s and women soccer teams representing the University of Limpopo (UL) will rejoin the competitors’ ranks during this year’s Varsity Football tournament following being relegated in 2014.
The competition is set to commence on 26 July and finish on 13 September at Mafikeng Stadium.
Strada Dhlamini, UL Football Manager said: “It has been four years without varsity football action and we are excited to be back. The teams are ready, they know what is at stake and they want to make the university and the people of the province proud,” Dhlamini said.
He added that the tournament will give players an opportunity to showcase their talent to a bigger audience and also market the university. “This is a huge opportunity for the players to show the whole nation their soccer aptitude. This is a milestone for us as the university. The matches will be televised and that on its own will give us exposure,” Dhlamini added.
Varsity Football manager, Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi reportedly said they were eager to have UL on board. “We are excited about what they will bring to the table. Varsity Women’s Football will be in the much-deserved limelight after a series of captivating seasons, with the some of the players going on to gain national honors.”
University Sports Company (USC) Chief Executive Officer, Flip van Zyl reportedly said he was proud of the development Varsity Women’s Football undergone and looking forward to further achievements he believed were well underway. “One of the biggest announcements that we are making this year is that Varsity Women’s Football is now officially a sponsored sports code. Previously, the USC invested funds into this tournament and it is evident that the venture has paid off, as the South African women’s football team performed extremely well at the World Student Games in Taipei last year.”
Apart from the UL men’s teams from North-West University, University of Johannesburg, Wits University, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Pretoria, University of the Western Cape and University of KwaZulu-Natal will also participate.
The women’s title will also be contested by University of Johannesburg, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Free State, Walter Sisulu University, University of Zululand, University of the Western Cape, University of Pretoria and Tshwane University of Technology.
Fixtures for the tournament will be released by the organisers in due course.

Story and photo: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com