31 July 2018 – It’s a Jukskei Derby, a Gauteng-Western Cape match up, a battle for the North and rematch of the USSA final in Round 2 of Varsity Football.
Wits will look to claim their second win of the tournament when the Johannesburg side host UWC at Wits Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Johannesburg side will be confident going into the clash after a 3-2 come-back victory over newcomers UKZN. Wits responded well to UKZN’s first goal with Clinton Mphahlele adding the equaliser to make the score 1-1. It looked as though Wits had run away with the game after Sandile Mbatha and Baliwe Moyakhe built on Wits’ tally. UKZN weren’t down and out though and talismanic captain Nqubeko Dlamini scored the final goal of the game.
UWC will be less excited about playing in the City of Gold. Altitude, vivacious home supporters and a resurging Wits side won’t make shirking their bad-travellers tag easy. Their loss to NWU will sting, but after a strong second half and some good set pieces, UWC have a lot of positives to build their campaign off. This is their last fixture before returning home and will want to show they can play away from the Cape.
Kick-off: 16:00, 2 August 2018
Venue: WITS Stadium, Johannesburg
NWU and UKZN set for grudge match
Finalists in the University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament, UKZN and NWU meet again in a mouth-watering and unpredictable clash in Pietermaritzburg.
The two teams who made the USSA final, will meet again on Thursday with both teams having references to draw confidence from. For UKZN, they go into the game after a first round 3-2 defeat to Wits, however they may feel as though they are the favourites to win the match as they look to repeat their 4-2 victory over the Mahikeng side.
NWU won an exhilarating match at home, beating UWC 2-1 with Tshepo Baholo and Lebohang Phetlhu each opening their goal accounts for the season. The men in purple will gain confidence from the fixture, after dominating the set pieces and as well as the loose play.
Kick-off: 18:30, 2 August 2018
Venue: Peter Booysen Sports Stadium, Pietermaritzburg
UJ look to ambush wounded title-holders
There will be no time for UP-Tuks to lick their wounds before heading to Johannesburg to take on a rambunctious UJ side. The Orange Army is coming off a seven-goal win against UL after utterly dominating their Northern rivals. O’Neil Hendricks, Karl Clements, Pogiso Mabote all got onto the score sheet with Mokete Mogaila, Tebogo Mnyandu each netting a brace.
Mnyandu, who was awarded FNB Man of the Match, believes the victory gives them momentum going into their next clash, but they won’t get carried away.
“We made a collective effort as a team but individually I am very happy with my performance and this definitely gives us confidence going into our next game against Tuks,” said Mnyandu.
“But we won’t let our victory against University of Limpopo get to our heads, we still have more games to play.”
The men from Pretoria will be reeling after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home against the old rivals TUT, with the electric Lebogang Phatlane netting both of the goals. They will need to front up against UJ if they hope to set a strong precedent for the rest of the season.
Kick-off: 18:15, 2 August 2018
Venue: UJ Soweto Campus Stadium, Soweto
UL hoping to get season on track
The University of Limpopo will look to come back from their crushing 7-1 defeat to UJ last week. The men in baby blue were completely outclassed and will need to find some form quickly if they want to compete in the higher echelons on the tournament.
TUT were sublime in their 2-0 victory over UP-Tuks at Tuks Stadium last week. Their victory was based on a confluence of a fantastic defence and exciting attacking play, spear headed by striker Lebogang Phatlane who bagged his side’s two goals.
UL, will have the advantage of playing their first home of the season, which they will hope will tip the scales in their favour.
Kick-off: 15:00, 2 August 2018
Venue: Oscar Mpetha Stadium, Polokwane