The stage is set for a Varsity Football Women's final for the ages, as the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) prepare to face off on Wednesday, 19 August, at UJ Soweto Stadium.
Both sides have fought hard for their place in the showpiece, and with the trophy on the line, neither is willing to leave anything to chance.
UJ head coach Nthabeleng “Dunga” Modiko remains resolute yet grounded heading into the clash, despite her side's semifinal triumph over UWC.
For Modiko, that result is already history. “Once teams reach the final, we have to start planning again,” she said.
“We have earned our place in the final and UP-Tuks have done the same. What happened in the semifinal is now history. We have to prepare for the final, respect the opponent, and perform at a level we know we are capable of.”
The Orange Army will arrive at the final on the back of a 3-0 victory over UP-Tuks in Round 2, but Modiko is wary of reading too much into that scoreline.
“That result gave us confidence, but it also means Tuks will enter the final eager to prove a point. They will have analysed that match, adjusted their approach, and arrived highly motivated. Finals are entirely different beasts. We cannot rely on past encounters. We must impose our own strengths. It will be a grueling game, and we expect Tuks to bring serious intensity, but we are fully prepared.”
UJ's run to the final has been built on high-tempo pressing and dynamic attacking football.
The Orange Army have dispatched TUT (1-0), UP-Tuks (3-0) and WSU (4-0), and drew 1-1 with UL, with that tactical dominance matched by individual brilliance.
UJ players have collected four FNB Player of the Match awards across five fixtures, courtesy of Lindelwa Mabuza against TUT, Kusaselihle Shibase against UP-Tuks, Mpho Dlamini against WSU and Sthembile Sandleni against UWC.
“The Orange Army has a distinct identity; we always play with high energy,” Modiko emphasised. “I want a team that is aggressive off the ball, brave on it, and sharp in decision-making in the final third. We are not entering this final merely to participate – we are going to compete for the trophy. Playing at home gives us a sense of comfort, but ultimate execution lies on the field. We hope our supporters turn out in numbers to elevate the squad. The players know what is required – to be brave and decisive in critical moments. We trust them, we are proud of their journey, and they know the title is within their reach.”
HOME FAVOURITE VS RESILIENT UNDERDOG
Standing in UJ's way is an UP-Tuks side for whom the stars have aligned.
The Stripe Generation began the tournament under fresh leadership, with Sibusiso Themba taking the reins and skipper S'bahle Ndlovu wearing the armband.
It was far from a smooth start, UP-Tuks lost their opening two matches, but they regrouped to top their group with wins over CPUT and Wits, before edging Tshwane rivals TUT in a tense penalty shootout to book their place in the final.
For Ndlovu, reaching a third Varsity Football final is a moment of immense pride, made sweeter by the journey it took to get there.
“It's a special feeling to be playing in the final, reaching the final is something to be proud of considering the journey we had as a team. There is excitement and a lot of focus because we know we worked hard to be where we are, and now there is only one game left to finish the job,” she said.
“Playing against UJ will be a great challenge, but we are not focused on what happened the last time we played them, as anything can happen. The first week we were last on the log, and now we are competing in the final. We will go all out, together, and fight for every ball.”
The 23-year-old midfielder, who will be leading her side into a final for the first time since 2023, says the responsibility is not lost on her.
“I will be playing in the first final since 2023, after missing out in the previous years, and now being able to lead the team on the bigger stage I cannot take it for granted. It means a lot to us because it represents the hard work and effort we put into this tournament,” she said.
“We have become more disciplined in how we approach our games and staying composed when things do not go our way. We are always united and play for each other, and I think that has shown this year. I am proud of this group; we have a lot of talented young players that have shown so much courage and willingness. We learn a lot from each other.”
With a dominant home favourite up against a resilient underdog fuelled by belief, Wednesday's final promises a fitting climax to the Varsity Football Women's campaign.
Kick-off is set for UJ Soweto Stadium on 19 August 2026 at 19:00, with fixture details and live score updates via the official Varsity Football website.