FNB WSU have a mammoth task ahead of them as they prepare to face the undefeated FNB UP-Tuks in their 2024 FNB Varsity Shield semi-final match. Kick-off is on Friday 19 April at 15:00 at the Tuks Stadium in Pretoria.
WSU head coach Mthembani Mkhokheli is backing his team to go toe-to-toe with their opposition and give a great account of themselves when it matters most.
“We are not putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves ahead of this game because we know the type of players we have, and we know they are good enough to go all the way to win the competition. We have thus planned well and have gone through the right processes and covered all the problematic areas for us to be ready to face Tuks.”
There are lessons to be learned from their round-robin encounter that WSU lost 17-40, says Mkhokheli.
“In this competition, you must take lessons from all the challenges you’ve faced in each game. There are new challenges (for) a team to rise to the occasion and show growth and maturity in trying not to repeat the same mistakes. “
Captain Awonke Sondishe says to stand any chance against an unbeaten Tuks side, his team will need to execute the fundamentals adequately and put continuous pressure on the opposition.
Characterising his side as a “fighting team“ itching to make a huge statement in Pretoria, Sondishe says he expects a tough encounter against the Stripe Generation who will be keen to put on a show for their home fans.
“We must focus on ball retention, if we have the ball, then they can’t play. We however must use our ball possession and territory to accumulate points and hopefully cause a huge upset.”
by Thando Cezula
