Nicholas Stothard: The hungrier of the two will be evident on Friday

This will mark only the second time that Tuks and TUT have contested a final in this competition since its inception in 2013. Although Tuks claimed the inaugural title back in 2013 and successfully defended it the following year, TUT hold the status as the most decorated considering the four previous titles they have won and will be aiming to extend their dominance with a fifth. 

TUT head coach Bushy Moloi revealed to SABC Sport last week, ahead of their semifinal against Wits, that they were the hungrier of all the four semifinalists remaining in the competition at the time – Tuks, TUT, Wits and UJ. He also said his institution was the only one to have experienced “difficult moments” which have set them back this season. 

However, Tuks’ head coach Nicholas Stothard  believes his side have also had to endure challenging moments, what he describes as a project over the last three years refusing to look at this year in isolation stressing that they’ve had to adapt and also revealed the hungrier side is his Tuks team.

“You know, we've had dark periods within our project for the last three years. We've had some highs. We've had some lows, and we've come out on top of that. We've also lost our left back, which was a dark period for us, and we've had to adapt. The hunger is clear from our side, and you'll see that on Friday. The hunger of the two sides will be evident on Friday.“

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On where the game would be won on Friday evening, Stothard points to Tuks’ attacking threat. They have scored 14 goals in eight games, while TUT are not far behind having netted 12. Tuks have, however, conceded six to the ten of the red army, keeping four clean sheets in their run to the final. 

Stothard, who won the title as a player and later as an assistant coach in 2017, says  reaching this year’s final as the head coach is a great achievement. A victory would add to the two USSA titles he has won in the last three years, with the Varsity Football title being the one that has eluded him. 

The two sides meet at Tuks Stadium on Friday evening with kick-off scheduled for 19h00.

Photo credit: Catherine Kotze/Asemengage