‘We will fight and give our all’ – Wits FC head coach
- Tshepiso Mametela
The Educated Footballers have had a rocky start to the 2022 season of the Varsity Football tournament with two draws and two losses thus far. The Witsies will look to come back stronger in the remaining matches of the season.
A 2-1 downing at the hands of North-West University (NWU) after leading the match by a solitary goal on the edge of halftime in their tournament opener, followed by a 1-1 stalemate away from home against UKZN, put the skids under Wits’ campaign early.
The side welcomed perennial arch-rivals University of Johannesburg (UJ), to a capacity-filled venue in their own back yard for a mouth-watering third outing with the hopes of earning bragging rights for the 2022 Varsity Football Joburg Derby. However, it was not to be as the Orange Army took all three points with a 2-0 victory against Wits after 90 minutes of end-to-end footballing action.
The Witsies then faced Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in an away fixture to draw 0-0, leaving Wits still needing their first win after four matches.
“It has not been the best start,” said Wits FC head coach Alzavian Van Rheede. Football is a game of chances. We haven’t capitalised on our chances throughout the tournament so far. We dropped two points in the game against TUT, who had one chance to score but kicked the ball over the crossbar. We hit the post twice, and in all fairness, their goalkeeper should have been the man of the match. He pulled off four massive saves. So, we take a lot of confidence from that performance, but we’re disappointed with the result. With three games remaining, we are going all out to win.”
Wits will take on VUT in the fifth round on 18 August 2022. Van Rheede commented on how the away team is expected play.
“Teams from Vaal enjoy the ball. They always have individuals that run with the ball and look to eliminate players in wide areas of the pitch,” said Van Rheede. They are a team standing in our way, and we desperately need the three points at the end of 90 minutes. That's all we want.”
The coach said the boys remain high spirited to turn the tide as his side eyes an improved campaign. He called on the student community to continue rooting for the Educated Footballers, whom he assured will spill their guts on the field to bag an elusive first win.
“Our boys know what's expected of them for the next game. If we can play with the same attitude, intensity, and character that we showed against TUT, we will be victorious. The message remains the same for everyone associated with Wits University. We will fight and give our all, in preparation and within the game. We know that our supporters will be with us. They have always been our 12th player, and we need that player now, more than ever.”