UFS search of elusive second victory vs TUT

Winless since the opening round of Varsity Football 2019, UFS will host TUT desperate to shock the defending champions.

The prospect of facing table-toppers TUT may intimidate some, but UFS captain Gauta Mokati remains calm ahead of Thursday’s outing.

“We are not intimidated by any team in this competition, but we respect them,” Mokati tells varsitysportssa.com while highlighting the tough task ahead. With five points separating the two teams and UFS just outside the knockout places, a win for the hosts can change the look and feel of the table.

Mokati views a wastage of chances as the main reason behind UFS’s slump since slotting three goals past UWC in their season-opener.

“We must improve our offensive game and take our chances,” Mokati said, lamenting how the Bloemfontein Derby turned out last week.

“In both instances [against CUT], we missed our chances in the final third and they went on to score.”

Above the technical and tactical improvements required, Mokati noted that mental and physical readiness would be vital cogs if they are to turn things around: “We are up against the defending champions and they are going to try by all means to defend their title. We need to be unified and fight for one another.”

One area, which will also be important to Kovsies, which Mokati has no qualms about is their ‘12th Man’: “They have been coming out in numbers and we have to reward them by winning.”