FNB UFS Shimlas are focusing their attention on the details and finishing ahead of today’s (Monday 8 April) important last round-robin match in the 2024 FNB Varsity Cup against FNB Wits in Johannesburg. Kickoff is at 16:45.
The fourth-placed Shimlas have already secured a semi-final spot. However, after leading the standings for most of the tournament, they are now in a position where they are fighting to secure a home semi-final after their 38-29 defeat to FNB Maties in Bloemfontein a fortnight ago.
For the Free State outfit reaching a home semi-final is a big deal but according to captain Pierre Uys that alone is not enough to tame their desire for a second title.
“We are in the semi-finals already, but that is not our goal, we are aiming for much more than that.
“Monday’s games will determine which teams will have the advantage of a home semi-final, but, having said that, it’s not about where you play, but it’s more a case of which team rocks up on the day.”
Uys concedes that against five-time champions Maties they were not at their best. It was the small things that let them down and they’ve worked hard to remedy that.
“Against Maties we fell short with a few things and that was our attention to detail and our overall finishing. We’ve put a lot of focus and effort into that during our prep leading into the Wits game.
“Monday’s match against Wits is going to be a good one, because both teams will want to prove a point, and we as the Shimlas won’t be taking this one lightly at all.”
Meanwhile, what appears to be some good news coming from the Shimlas camp, influential loose-forward Kwezi Dlamini is expected to be fit and ready for action after picking up an injury earlier in the campaign.
