The University of the Free State (UFS) men’s football team is through to the 2025 Varsity Football final after a nail-biting 4-3 penalty shootout win over North West University (NWU) in Mahikeng. This marks Kovsies’ long-awaited return to the championship clash after a four-year break.
Semifinal showdown full of drama
Played at the packed NWU Mahikeng Stadium on Thursday night, the clash delivered everything fans hoped for – intensity, drama, and a fair share of nerves.
NWU came out firing, dominating possession and forcing UFS goalkeeper Lethokuhle Makhaya into two crucial saves in the opening 20 minutes. The Kovsies, meanwhile, eased into the game and carved a chance of their own, but the half ended goalless.
The second half followed the same script, with the NWU piling on the pressure but unable to find a breakthrough. Then, in the dying seconds of regulation time, the hosts were awarded a penalty – a golden chance to snatch victory. In a heart-stopping twist, striker Momelezi Mngati missed, and the game headed for a tense penalty shootout.
Both sides held their nerve early on, but two costly misses from NWU opened the door for the Kovsies, who clinically slotted home four penalties to seal the win and spark wild celebrations.
Coach praises resilience
For head coach
Mokete Tsotetsi – who only joined the team shortly before the tournament – the result was a moment of pride.
“It is significant for the team to push and reach the final after having been knocked out in the semifinals before. The signs were there – the dedication. We just needed to get over the hurdle. The technical team is privileged to be working with the young team we have assembled,” he said.
The win was even sweeter given that NWU had thrashed the Kovsies 4-0 in last year’s semifinal. Reflecting on the turnaround, Tsotetsi added: “Knowing that it was the same fixture as last year, the preparations were more challenging. It was a matter of psychological preparation and getting players in the right frame of mind - and thank you to all the stakeholders within the institution.”
The Kovsies will now host the final against Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), who beat them 2-1 in the group stage. This time, with home advantage and a roaring crowd behind them, the team is determined to make history.
“Playing at home comes with a lot of expectations and pressure. The technical team will get the players ready mentally so that they can display good, simple football. We need to stick to basics,” Tsotetsi said.
Next week promises to be a festival of UFS sport. On Monday, 29 September,
Kovsie Netball will face NWU in the Varsity Netball final at the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus. The match - already a sold-out – is set to be a thrilling encounter between two of South Africa’s top sides.
Tickets for the men’s Varsity Football final are available via the
Varsity Sports website and selected outlets. The Kovsie family is urged to rally behind the team, pack the stadium, and help push the boys to their first-ever Varsity Football crown.