FNB UFH is up against it when they take on unbeaten FNB UWC in Belville in the second semi-final of the 2023 FNB Varsity Shield tomorrow at 19:00.
The defending champions will want to show that winning the 2022 competition was not a once-off occurrence. They beat FNB CPUT 28-27 on home turf in a pulsating match. (Watch highlights HERE)
UFH only secured their place in the semi-finals with a 37-24 victory over TUT in the last match of this year’s tournament. It pushed them past the Pretoria team to fourth on the log with 19 points.
It has been a bumpy road to the semi-finals, with four victories and three losses.
Coach Lumumba Currie acknowledges the challenges his team faced this season.
“Our campaign hasn’t been what we wanted it to be because of the challenges we faced in certain positions. We worked hard in addressing the areas that made us suffer the 3 losses so we could remain competitive.”
He says their approach against UWC won’t be different from what they’ve done before.
“We just need to be clinical in our execution and take our chances whenever they present them. Yes, Cape Town is not an easy place to play in but I’m sure we’ll be able to handle the pressure. They are a very competitive side, we’ll go do our analysis on them and exploit whatever we could find.
“My message is very simple, play until the last whistle and leave everything on the field.”
FNB UFH: 15 Sidloyi Apiwe, 14 Mdladlana Lilitha M. Lunika, 13 Maree Ryan Kelly, 12 Baleni Yonela Sibusiso, 11 Gxekwa Salusiwe, 10 du Plessis Merlin Ruwaan, 9 Madiba Lwazi, 8 NgetuZimi Aphendule (Zish), 7 Gcweka Kamvelihle, 6 Tosholwana Lukhanyiso (Jiji), 5 Moyo Walter Benjamim, 4 Xhosana Ayabulela, 3 Simani Buntu Ntlakanipho, 2 Fatyela Kamvelihle, 1 Nzima Mesuli S. Samkele.
Semi-final fixtures HERE.
