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Scoring five goals in seven matches is no small feat, but if Ntokozo Madela gets his way, those statistics will look different after tomorrow’s Varsity Football semifinal between Tuks and UJ.
The final-year Tuks education student has good reason to want to score more goals. This is his last year competing in the Varsity Tournament; in the five years he has played for Tuks, the team has not yet won the trophy.
“It would be the proudest moment of my life if Tuks get to lift the trophy in two weeks. As players, the mandate is clear: win. But we must not get ahead of ourselves. We must remain humble. Our focus now is only Friday’s semifinal against UJ.
“We put in a great performance against them last Friday. The 13 goals we have scored so far in the tournament are not a fluke. Tomorrow we have to step up again. It will be important to keep on doing what we have been doing. We are going to score again.
Madela made his Varsity debut in 2022. Before this year, he had scored seven—or perhaps eight—goals for Tuks in 20 matches; he isn’t certain.
“Nothing makes me happier than scoring for Tuks. I always tell the wingers and the backs, ‘Keep bringing in the crosses, guys; be patient with me. I am going to score’. Credit goes to them for doing what I have asked.
“I am excited about tomorrow’s game. It’s been two years since we played in a semifinal. Things have been going well during training.”
Another Tuks player to watch tomorrow is Matome Rangata. So far, he has scored three goals. More importantly, he has been singled out over the last seven weeks as one of the tournament’s standout players on three occasions.
Rangata tormented TUT’s defence with his skills and pace on the flanks. He was a thorn in UL’s defence with deadly runs and cheeky feet on the left wing, eliminating players, creating chances and breaking defensive lines. The midfielder played a key role in the opening goal, delivering a superb pass to unlock the UFS defence before showing composure to capitalise on a defensive error and score Tuks’ equaliser in the second half. His ability to create chances and make an impact in decisive moments was crucial. This is how his praises have been sung.
When asked about it, Rangata is quite modest.
“I have a team that is willing to fight for one another, a team that knows its abilities and the strengths and weaknesses of each other. This has helped me relax, knowing that I have brothers on the pitch and I need to do my best for them. Stepping up for me is a collective effort; I give 100% each match, knowing I’ll get the same from my teammates.”
As to tomorrow’s semifinal clash against UJ, he said, “I feel cagey about the match. We need to regroup and get ready for a serious encounter in Soweto. This is a do-or-die match, and we will be giving it our all. We owe the University of Pretoria for all the support and guidance we have received, and this is our way of paying them back.”
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