The University of the Free State (UFS) will be aiming for a home semi-final in Varsity Football this week as they travel to Johannesburg to face Wits in round six of the tournament.
Last week, the Kovsies claimed the bragging rights – and three valuable points – by beating the Central University of Technology (CUT) 2-1 in the big Bloemfontein derby at Shimla Park. Goals from Kagiso Semenya and Jarome Jansen secured their third consecutive win, lifting them to second on the log with ten points – just one behind the pace-setters, the University of Johannesburg, who sit on eleven.
With just two rounds remaining before the semi-finals, a win against third-placed Wits would almost guarantee a playoff spot, though five teams remain very much in contention.
UFS will aim for the three points on Thursday night as the four-time champions, Tshwane University of Technology, will be heading to Bloemfontein next week. They will be a tough nut to crack, especially since they are in fourth place at the moment and will also be gunning for the semi-finals.
Thursday night’s clash in Johannesburg kicks off at 18:30.
At the other end of the log, CUT still have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs. Back-to-back wins could lift them to nine points, but they would also need a fair bit of help from other teams. The first step in keeping their own destiny alive is a win over sixth-placed UP-Tuks in Pretoria. Tuks are just one point ahead of CUT, but the Bloemfontein side will be confident they can get the job done.
That match in the capital also kicks off at 18:30 on Thursday. – MORGAN PIEK
