There were cheers, whistles and dancing as the University of the Western Cape (UWC) community came out in big numbers to back the football teams in this year's Varsity Football competition.

The UWC men's team will play their first Varsity Football match in five years at UWC Sports Stadium, known as the Operation Room, when they host second-placed University of Johannesburg (UJ) today. Kick-off is at 15h00.

It will be their second match in this year’s campaign after their 1-1 draw away at Central University of Technology last week. The women's team will start their Varsity Football Women’s campaign also against UJ next week on Friday, in Gauteng.

The men's team won the tournament in 2015 and the women's team brought the trophy home in 2021.

Both teams have a wealth of ammunition going into this year’s tournaments, with the women's team boasting players currently flying the UWC flag high. They include Homba Mazaleni, who is in the top nine of the Miss South Africa pageant, and players currently in the Banyana Banyana team competing in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 

On Tuesday, the UWC Main Quad came to a standstill as students, staff, friends of the University and supporters attended the 2023 Varsity Football Launch to build excitement and rally support for both football teams. 

Student Representative Council (SRC) President, Mandla-Onke Notyawa, assured the teams that the student community would do everything in their power to support them, and that the stadium would be filled to capacity: "We are proud of our players, and we hope the University will also support them with everything they need".

UWC Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support, Prof Matete Madiba, assured the football teams that the entire university community is behind them, saying, "I like to be on the winning side. I feel good when I win, but I also feel good to be associated with winners". 

Head coach for the men's team, Dr Lwando Mdleleni, echoed Professor Madiba's well wishes and Notyawa's appeal: "I would like to urge you to come and pledge your support. As a team, we are nothing without you. You are the twelfth man on the field, and we heavily rely on your support." 
 

For more information on fixtures, results, and ticket purchases, you may visit: www.varsitysportssa.com