PROFILE
NWU Vaal on the rise
Johannes Masiteng
Both the Vaal Campus Women’s and
Men’s football club collected a total
of 7 points and 4 points respectively
in their last three University Sports
of South Africa Gauteng Football
League (USSA GFL) games.
Ladies
NWU Vaal hosted Wits University on
15 April and either team could not
get the result. NWU Vaal conceded
an early goal, but they drew level before the half time break. The teams
were evenly matched in the first half
with equal scoring chances. NWU
Vaal was eager to extend their lead
but the visitors defended well, stopping any attacks by the opposition.
The home side cannot hold on to
their lead as the visitors levelled the
matters 10 minutes from time. The
late equaliser meant that either team
walks away with a share of spoils.
A week later NWU Vaal visited Medunsa. NWU Vaal women capitalised
on the hosts’ poor performance and
drubbed them 6-0. They dominated
the whole game with possession and
shots. They netted 3 goals in the first
half and added another 3 in the final
half of the match. Medunsa players
squandered possession easily and
the visitors punished them.
NWU Vaal displayed an impressive
play when they eased past bottom
log placed Midrand Graduate Institute (MGI) on 5 May. NWU Vaal
dominated their opponents from the
first minute to the last. MGI’s defence
and goalkeeper made mistakes at
the back and NWU Vaal attackers
capitalised on that, netting 4 goals
in the first half. Medunsa improved
their play in the second half but could
not break into NWU Vaal’s defence.
NWU Vaal also looked to net more
goals but squandered their scoring
chances. The game ended 4-0 in
favour of NWU Vaal. These results
mean that NWU Vaal Women move
to 5th place, with teams below a
game to play. NWU Vaal Women’s
Football team will play Monash in
their next fixture.
Men
NWU Vaal Men’s Football Club also
managed to collect 4 points in their
last 2 outings. On 15 April, NWU Vaal
Men collected a point with a goalless
stalemate and later on 06 May they
defeated Midrand Graduate Institute
2-0.
NWU Vaal and Wits University could
not find the back of the net as both
teams were solid. Both sides squandered their scoring chances in the
early moments of the match. Both
enjoyed same portion of possession and had set pieces, yet could
not break the deadlock. The second
period of the match saw both sides
have more scoring but kept wasting
them. Goalkeepers of both teams
kept it goalless pulling crucial saves
when either side’s attackers posed a
threat.
Efforts at goal from both NWU Vaal
and Wits attackers produced routine
saves from the goalkeepers of both
teams. They were evenly matched
in every department, with most possession played in the middle of the
field. Either team’s attacks were broken down as the defenders made
vital interceptions. Wits conceded 3
consecutive corner kicks with a few
minutes to play, but failed find the
winner. The teams shared spoils as
the match ended 0-0.
NWU Vaal hosted Midrand Graduate
Institute on 6 May. We did not have
to wait long for a goal in this as NWU
Vaal netted early in the match. MGI
lost possession cheaply and relied
on counter attackers. NWU Vaal attackers were guilty of missing glorious scoring chances in the final minutes of the match. During the second,
they attempted to extend their lead
but MGI’s defence was strong.
MGI seemed more organised and
launched attacks with the goal attempts going wide of goal or easily
saved by the NWU Vaal goalie. Finally NWU Vaal scored their insurance
goal later in the second half. They
held on to their lead 2 goal containing MGI’s attacks. The match ended
2-0 in favour of Vaal Pukke.
NWU Vaal Men are on the 6th position on the league with two games
behind the team above. They will
play Medunsa before visiting their
cross-town rivals VUT on 12 August.
USSA Games Wrap Up: UP vs NWU Vaal
Mangaliso Maduna & Johannes Masiteng
With the Fifa World Cup fast approaching, the world
will turn its attention to Brazil as the World Cup trots
to its climax. Fans across the globe will flock to Brazil in numbers to witness the 20th edition of the world’s
greatest spectacle. The World Cup is always a special
experience, it brings both passion and excitement into
the game. Above all, it is the pinnacle of international
football. It offers fans around the globe an opportunity
to watch football elites battling it out in the biggest stage
of them all.
While brainstorming story ideas for the May edition,
myself and my counterpart Johannes ran into an international student, Jasper Vanassche, who hails from
Belgium. We then enjoyed a good chat and promised
to grant us an interview. In his interview he talks to us
about