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Boasting the highest number of players in the Banyana Banyana World Cup squad than any other university and seriously challenging for the Hollywood Super League title, UWC's women's football team is flying higher and higher.

But that will count for nothing when Udubs take to the field in the Varsity Football Women - a tournament they won in 2021 and finished as runner's up in last year.

In fact, of the four current UWC players who were in the Banyana Banyana World Cup squad, only defender Fikile Magama is likely to don the navy and gold UWC jersey in Varsity Football, a tournament that is contested by the eight top university football teams in the country.  
 
Msekeli Mvalo doubles coaching duties with
UWC men's and women's teams

According to assistant coach, Msekeli Mvalo, Magama’s teammate Bongeka Gamede needs to catch up with her academic work and recover after playing every minute for Banyana Banyana in New Zealand and Australia. The other two players, Sibulele Holweni and Kholosa Biyana, are ineligible to featuring in the Varsity Football tournament.

In the Hollywoodbets Super League team, where UWC is two points adrift log leaders and champions Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand, some players don't qualify for Varsity Football as they are either over-age or not registered students.

In the Varsity Football Women, UWC is in a "group of death" comprising reigning champions University of Johannesburg (UJ) and six-time champions Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), as well as Durban University of Technology (DUT). The tournament kicks off at TUT in Pretoria today.

Mvalo, who is also the assistant coach of the university men's team in Varsity Football, said that despite the disruptions caused by the taxi strike in the Cape this week, and the fact that the Super League took a break during the World Cup, UWC is more than ready for Varsity Football Women.

"We would have loved to have spent more time with the players, but we can't complain. We tried all we could and I believe we should compete well in Varsity Football."

Mvalo, who played for several professional teams before pursuing his coaching career, said the team participated in a tournament in Bloemfontein, which they won, as part of their preparations.
Nabeelah Galant in action last year


UWC, he said, has enough firepower with the likes of defender Lonathemba Mhlongo (who was in the World Cup preliminary squad) and forwards Tiffany Kortjie and Nabeelah Galant, among many others, ready to do what they are known for.

Asked about how he manages to juggle between the two university teams - the men’s team lost 0-1 to the University of Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein last night and the women’s team play UJ in Pretoria this afternoon - Mvalo said he has to make it work. 

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with great coaches in Thinasonke Mbuli and Dr Lwando Mdleleni. For them to say I must come to the teams is an honour and a great learning opportunity.

"I'm eager to learn and better myself, and I must make it work. I'm growing to be in two teams with different ways of doing things. With men, you have to be aggressive, and with women, you need to be more patient."

The first game of the women's team is at 17h00 today against UJ, followed by a clash with DUT at 12h00 on Saturday, before wrapping up the group stages against TUT on Sunday at 12h00. All Varsity Football Women's games will be televised live on SuperSport.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Siphesihle Dlamini, Thandeka Ngcobo.
Defenders: Njabulo Mtshali, Sinegugu Zondi, Fikile Magama, Zikhona Nogqala, Thimna Mpehle, Lonathemba Mhlongo.
Midfielders: Thembelihle Zulu, Bonang Mothoeng, Katlego Mabuza, Khanyisa Manengela, Asange Nake, Bongeka Gamede, Lindokuhle Gladile.
Forwards: Tiffany Kortjie, Nabeelah Galant, Chelsea Daniels, Andiswa Mthethwa.
  For more information on Varsity Football fixtures, results, and ticket purchases, visit: varsitysportssa.com
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