The fixtures have been released for the 2023 Varsity Football tournament that will be getting underway at the end of July.
The university tournament is one of the fastest-growing events in South Africa and this season, for the first time, not one, but two teams will be representing Bloemfontein and the Free State.
The University of the Free State will be in action once again and this year they will be hoping to go further than the semi-finals. In addition to UFS, the Central University of Technology will be in action as well.
The UFS Blues will open their campaign on 27 July at home when they come up against the defending champions, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), in round one. This televised match at Shimla Park on the campus will kick off at 19:15.
By the same token, CUT will also be in action at home during round one and they will be up against the visitors from Bellville, in the form of the University of the Western Cape (UWC). This fixture at CUT Park will get underway at 18:30.
In round two, UFS, will travel for the first time in the season as they will head to Alice in the Eastern Cape to measure themselves against the University of Fort Hare (UFH) at the Davidson Stadium. CUT will play at home again during the round, but this time they will be up against TUT.
In round three, CUT will be at home again, and this time they host UFH, while UFS are back at Shimla Park to take on UWC, who will be in the City of Roses for two weeks in a row. In round four, CUT will travel for the first time when they head to Mafikeng to take on the former champions, North West University (NWU).
The big Bloemfontein derby will take place on 7 September during round 7, with the hosting rights going to the UFS. This is the same time that the Proteas cricket team will take on Australia at the Mangaung Oval in the 1st One-Day International.
The semi-finals are locked in for 14 September and the final is scheduled for a fortnight later on 28 September. – MORGAN PIEK
