Ikey Tigers reflect on missed chances as title defense falls short

FNB UCT Ikeys suffered an agonizing defeat in Round Seven that saw their reign as FNB Varsity Cup kings come to an end at the hands of the NWU Eagles in Potchefstroom. It looked like the defending champions were going to defy the odds and hand the Eagles their first defeat at home and sneak past FNB UJ into fourth place.

It was not to be in 2026 after the men from Potch pulled off a remarkable second half comeback ensuring that a new champions will be crowned this year. Ikeys captain Enos Ndiao revealed that heading into the campaign with the goal of going back-to-back was always going to be challenging.

“We had a big task of wanting to be braver this season and we knew we had to in order to try and create history in our own club – going back-to-back as champions which no UCT team has ever done, it was a daunting task. Specifically, the backend of the campaign was something we knew would be tough, you know, facing Maties, Shimlas and then Pukke” said Ndiao.

The UCT skipper admitted that they knew there was a target on their backs heading into 2026. “We knew on top of that [going back-to-back] every team wanted to beat us as defending champions. So for us, it really, truly was a campaign in which we were fighting an uphill battle”.

Reflecting on the campaign, the Ikeys captain acknowledged that they just weren’t able to get the rub of the green at critical moments.

“I think there were so many moments that we sort of understood, you know, the way that sport goes and the vitality and crucial understanding of moments in rugby which we just couldn’t win with no fault to anyone else but ourselves” said the UCT lock.

By: Kieryn Thompson