The University of the Free State (UFS) men’s football team is compelled to not surrender the top position in the Varsity Football tournament in the two upcoming two must-win fixtures.
Kovsies is in pole position to finish in the top four, which is an automatic semifinal slot.
The team is the joint leader with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), also boasting ten points after five rounds of round-robin matches played thus far.
Kovsies’ first must-win game is against Wits University on home turf, Xerox Shimla Park in Bloemfontein, on Thursday (24/08). The match kick-off is at 18:30.
A victory will cement Kovsies’ place in the semifinal of the competition.
Kovsies is still oozing confidence after another important away win over the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) on Thursday (18/08).
The Free State side won by 1 – 0.
With the prospects looking favourable to make history by reaching the semifinal for a second time in a rowmaking history reaching the semi-final for the second time in a row, Kovsies coach Tebogo Motsamai said his charges would target maximum points against Wits.
“The fixture against Wits is a do or die for us. We cannot afford to slip up, given the opportunity that exists to even reach the final again. We are playing home and must capitalise on the advantage to ensure we secure a top-four slot,” said Motsamai.
The other important match gameis an away game against the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) on 8 September.
“A win against Wits will ease the pressure going to the last match against TUT, which is another fixture in which we must fight hard to avoid defeat, to keep the impressive record.”
Motsamai said optimism was high in the camp and that he has an in injury-free squad, which spoils him for choice to select players for the must-win game against Wits.
“Everybody is looking forward to the match against Wits – and knowing the importance of it, we are focused,” he said.
The Kovsies team has shown significant improvement in this year’s edition. Evidence thereof is that three players wonwere awarded prize of the man of the match title in the five games played thus far, and have conceded less goals. The winners of this awardthe man of the match were Iviwe Dyabuza, Sello Diphoko and Bradwell Gouws.
“This reflects teamwork, having different players winning prizes.
“The other factor is that we are playing as a team and scoring a goal is the responsibility of every player on the field.
“I emphasised the importance of teamwork and taking away the focus of opponents on Diphoko, who they target in every game,” said Motsamai.
In the previous year Diphoko was the live wire of Kovsies, scoring at least five goals and enabling the team to reach the Varsity final.
“Everyone has heeded the call to step up, and we are repeating the rewards to work as a team,” said Motsamai.
