UJ eye UWC upset

  • By Kate Nokwe

  • 23rd February 2023

UJ eye UWC upset

University of Johannesburg (UJ) Ladies, coach Nthabeleng "Dunga" Modiko, believes the match against the University of Western Cape (UWC) Ladies can go either way when they meet in the Hollywoodbets Super League in Cape Town this weekend.

The two universities will renew their long-standing rivalry in one of two matches in the Mother City on Sunday.

UJ dethroned UWC as Varsity Cup queens in 2022, and despite the hosts' dominance in Super League, Dunga is adamant this fixture will not be as straightforward. 

"It's a hoodoo team against UJ in a number of competitions. But I think we've managed to play some other games where we won against them and I think that's something we should take when we go to Cape Town," she said.

UJ defeated Coal City Wizards 5-0 in the second-round while UWC had a bye. Dunga says they will have to employ several strategies to stand a chance of upsetting their hosts, who scored 9 goals against the same Wizards.

"It's not going to be a game where I want to play an open one, I just want to have another strategy maybe have a plan b, c and d to suit each and every occasion," she added.

The Orange Army welcomed nine new players into their dressing room this season but after scoring seven goals in two games, team cohesion seems to be fine.

Coach Dunga says they had to take a different approach collectively.

"There is a change of mindset and also inspiring the girls, I've made them aware that there is space for them to actually grow into the first line up. Before there would be younger girls, so they were scared and not full of energy. Now at least they're inspired and they also want to showcase themselves and they also want to play in the Hollywoodbets and be seen by their families on TV," she concluded.