Barely a month after taking over the reins as head coach of the Kovsie Football Club in August 2025,
Mokete Tsotetsi guided the team to their first-ever
Varsity Football triumph, and after six months at the helm, the team sits comfortably in position six in the Free State stream of the national
ABC Motsepe League with two games in hand.
For two weeks on the trot, the University of the Free State (UFS) team registered two wins, scoring eight goals without a response from their opponents: 4-0 at home against Mountain Eagles on Wednesday 4 February, and the same scoreline away against Mathaithai FC at Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium in Botshabelo three days later.
Tsotetsi says even though the team did not start well in 2026, “it is a work in progress”. He says, “We are still improving with games; their fitness levels are improving. Where we are on the log is not bad. But with games in hand, we know the pressure from the teams behind us. We need to convert at least a few of the chances we get and balance the defence and attacking.”
The technical team believes in the camaraderie built around the team, with Tsotetsi saying, “We tell them to have fun and to be their best each day.”
Even though the team has registered back-to-back wins, Tsotetsi remains modest, saying that even though the team has two games in hand, they cannot bank on the possible six points at hand. “There are good teams in the league. The team still needs to work hard and not be under pressure when playing games in hand.”
From 15 outings, the team has managed to score 33 goals and conceded 16, thanks to their striker, Vuyo Kopamotse, who contributed 11 goals and is a joint top goal scorer with Rethabile Maqalika from Mangaung City FC – the team in fourth position on the log, which they will be hosting at the Kovsie Football fields on 14 February at 15:00. The team’s goalkeeper and captain Tisetso Seodinyane is also number three on the league’s charts with six clean sheets.
Describing the mood in the camp, Seodinyane says, “The mood is positive and the belief of going all the way is coming back gradually after not starting the year with consistency. The training sessions have also changed, with the coaches demanding a lot from each player. On match day, everyone is on the same page, knowing what needs to be done and applying ourselves on the field.”
The team, led by the technical team, remains focused on taking one game at a time, staying disciplined on the field, and ensuring that players balance their football commitments with their academic responsibilities as they continue their steady progress this season.