While the 1-0 triumph saw UWC reach the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy on home soil in 2015, it was also an opportunity to honour the departed heroes who were pivotal in shaping the institution.
Among these were the late Professor Brian O’Connell, the former Rector and Vice-Chancellor under whose leadership UWC flourished, and Thando Ziwele, a key player in the 2015 championship-winning team, who passed away recently.
“We dedicated this victory to Prof Brian O’Connell, a mentor and close friend with whom I developed a deep bond during my time as SRC President,” said UWC head coach Dr. Lwando Mdleleni.
“His contributions were pivotal in advancing our institution, and this is our small way of honouring his legacy. Additionally, the loss of my friend and former teammate, Thando Ziwele, who won this very tournament in 2015, made this victory even more significant. This was a much-needed triumph in their honour.”
The UWC Caracals had to fight hard against a determined Tuks side seeking revenge for a 2-1 defeat in the round-robin mini-league.
The match lived up to its hype, with the opposition enjoying early possession before UWC playmaker Relebohile Matima struck in the 11th minute with a clever piece of play.
UWC’s defence, led by captain and Man of the Match Damian Overmeyer, had to hold strong against waves of attacks, especially after the Caracals were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Shuaib Martin 10 minutes before the final whistle.
Dr Mdleleni said that heading into the game, UWC had a clear plan: “Our focus was on ourselves — controlling what we could and maintaining discipline. We neutralised their threats and exploited their vulnerabilities. All credit to my players for not only trusting the strategy but also executing it to perfection. When we lost Shuaib to the red card, the team showed incredible grit, character, and determination to push through and secure the win.”
Dr. Mdleleni, who captained UWC during his playing days before serving as an assistant coach for the 2015 victorious team, also acknowledged the inspiration drawn from UWC’s highly successful women’s football team, which recently won the Varsity Football Women's title.
They then went on to win the Cosafa Qualifiers and to qualify to compete in the CAF Champions League later this year.
“Watching our women’s team has been nothing short of inspirational. Their achievements have driven us to push even harder. Their success sets the bar, and we are determined to meet it,” he said.
Reflecting on UWC’s journey to the final, Dr Mdleleni said the team was under pressure to surpass last year’s semi-final exit.
Acting Co-Directors of UWC Sport, Nadia Mgulwa and Glen Bentley, congratulated the football team and said it was an incredible achievement for both the men's and women's teams to reach the finals this year because it’s the first time since 2015 that such dual success has been accomplished.
“This milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication and talent of our athletes and coaching staff. Our journey to this point has been marked by consistent improvement, strategic recruiting and a renewed focus on developing a winning culture across our sporting codes. The immediate success of both teams highlights the strength and depth of UWC's commitment to excellence in sports. It showcases the equality and support we provide to both our men's and women's programmes,” they said in a statement.
The UWC Caracals will travel to Mafikeng to face NWU in the final on 26 September.
