SPU step into the big time
THE SOL PLAATJE University (SPU) Football Club have won promotion to the University Sports SA’s senior male league while at the same time taking the silver medal in the B-section of the recent inter-varsity tournament which took place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University
(NMU) in Port Elizabeth earlier this month.
SPU coach Don Mojaki said the team had gone to the tournament with high hopes of gaining a place in the senior section of the competition which is equivalent to the Premier Soccer League for universities, after campaigning in the junior A league for the past two years.
Mojaki said the promotion to the senior league means that SPU will play in the Varsity Football League, whose games are broadcast nationally via satellite television nationally, as of next year.
He added that SPU’s achievement was “quite remarkable” as they have surpassed more established institutions in gaining promotion to the Varsity League. “Some (universities) have been trying for years to gain promotion without much success and yet look at where we are. Our goal was to be amongst the three universities that will be promoted,” Mojaki said.
The coach told the DFA that the competition was anything but easy, saying that SPU had opened their account in the group stages against Varsity College, whom they beat
2-0 despite not having much information on their opponent’s style of play before the match.
“SPU was victorious thanks to the condition of our players, they responded well to the different challenges in the game and could maintain the pace till the last minute without yielding,” the coach said. “Goals were created through combination play. Three points for SPU, (back, from left): a good start.”
The team then went on and won their next encounter 2-0 against Mpumalanga University of Technology who were no match for the Northern Cape side.
“We could stretch and penetrate their defensive lines but missed scoring chances. Their physique and confidence carried them through the first half, but we came out victorious because of a disciplined formation and mental endurance,” the coach said.
Next was Rhodes University who was under pressure already, having lost a game earlier that morning.
“We only made two changes in the starting 11,” Mojake explained. “Both teams had played in the morning. We relied on our technical and tactical ability to keep shape and absorb pressure for half of the first half, since their approach was influenced by desperation.
“They could not stretch or break us, then they lost their defensive structure and we capitalised coming out victorious.”
By this stage SPU were nine points strong and were on top of their group with no goals scored against them; their only problem was a serious neck injury picked up by Olebogeng “Stola” Mere, their only left-footed player who played as a full back.
SPU then suffered their first defeat at the tournament against Mangosuthu University of Technology, going down 2-0. The SPU coach said that it was brilliant goalkeeping by their opponent’s No 1 that cost them this match.
Mojaki said they had a chance to watch their next opponents Stellenbosch play and could plan around their style of play. “They were a better team than last year with strong players and skill as well.
“Our task was huge. We went out to contain well-conditioned athletes with aerial advantage and hunger to qualify to the A section. They have been struggling for years to go through,” he said.
In the end, SPU won 4-2 on penalties.
SPU advanced to the knockout stages where they again were matched up with Mangosuthu in the final of the tournament.
Mangosuthu went through to win gold as well as promotion to the B League.
Meanwhile, SPU captain Jethro Setlholo won the Player of the Tournament award while Tebogo Takane took the Manager of the Tournament honours.