Mafikeng Campus Soccer Institute wins USSA championships

Mafikeng – In a dramatic final, the Soccer Institute  of the North-West University (NWU) won the University Student Sport Association Games (USSA) against the team of Venda who was last years winners.


The Games were hosted by the Soccer Institute of the NWU Mafikeng Campus from 7-12 December.
Tempers flared up about 40 minutes into the first half when the referee awarded a goal to Venda, but the linesman ruled that the player was offside.  The match was stopped for about an hour while differences were sorted out.  The game finally resumed with the appointment of a new referee and the goal awarded to Venda.  With only five minutes left to play in the first half the North West team, determined not to lose their focus, scored the equalizer.


The scoreboard remained unchanged for the duration of the second half and the match ended in a draw.  According to the rules of the championships, the winner had to be determined by a penalty shootout which the Institute won 4-3.
The North West team also scooped most of the prizes compared to the other teams.  The award for the top goal scorer went to Luvolwethu Mpeta for scoring 5 goals.  Mantoko Kagiso was named player of the tournament  whilst Dorry Diale the  goalkeeper of the tournament.  To crown it all, 10 players were selected to represent South Africa at the Student World Games and Federation of African Student Union games next year.


Seventeen Universities from all over the country participated in the tournament which was officially opened by SAFA President, Mr Kirsten Nematandani.  In his address Mr Nematandani stressed the fact that there is a life after football and that SAFA is concerned that very few soccer players actually have a tertiary qualification.  After retirement, these players disappear completely. 


The Soccer Institute of NWU-Mafikeng Campus is one of its kind in the country and provides a platform for young talented soccer players to acquire a degree or diploma.  “Students at this Institute will have something to give back in the form of coaching, refereeing or as administrators” he added.