2014 Varsity Football

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football league season | logo = |caption= |competition= Varsity Football Challenge |season=2014 |winners= UP-Tuks (2nd Title) |relegated= |league topscorer= |biggest home win= 6-0 (NWU vs UCT), (UJ vs UCT) |biggest away win= 4-0 (UJ vs Tuks), (NMMU vs UFS) |highest scoring= 5-1 (Tuks vs UL), 6-0 (NWU vs UCT), (UJ vs UCT), 3-3 (UCT vs UWC) |longest wins= |longest unbeaten= UJ (8 games) |longest losses= |matches= 31 |total goals= |average attendance= |prevseason= 2013 Varsity Football |nextseason= 2015 Varsity Football }}

The '''2014 Varsity Football''' challenge is the second season of a South African university association football competition. It involves some of the top football playing universities in the country, which belong to the University Sports Company. The tournament is run by Varsity Sports SA, and is endorsed by the South African Football Association and University Sport South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://varsitysportssa.com/football-to-get-varsity-passion/|title=Football to get Varsity passion|date=19 July 2013|publisher=Varsity Sports SA|accessdate=30 July 2013}}</ref>

==History== The Varsity Cup tournament was founded in 2008, featuring the rugby teams of eight universities. Varsity Sports was expanded in 2012 to include other sporting codes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/b2fc2d804f20b5c7a46caf1e5d06aea0/More-sporting-codes-to-boost-varsity-sports-20130304|title=More sporting codes to boost varsity sports|date=12 April 2013|publisher=SABC|accessdate=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406023722/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/b2fc2d804f20b5c7a46caf1e5d06aea0/More-sporting-codes-to-boost-varsity-sports-20130304|archive-date=2013-04-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> University Sport South Africa discussed the Varsity Football proposal at its 2012 annual general meeting. The idea was initially rejected, as it was seen to split the member institutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ussa.org.za/docs/football2012agm.pdf|title=Minutes of the USSA Football Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the University of the Western Cape, Bellville, on 06th– December – 2013|date=6 December 2012|publisher=University Sport South Africa|accessdate=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215162729/http://ussa.org.za/docs/football2012agm.pdf|archive-date=2013-12-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, it was later accepted, and 2013 was the inaugural season of Varsity Football, with an 8 team men's tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://varsitysportssa.com/explosive-mondays-back-with-varsity-football/|title=Explosive Mondays back with Varsity Football|date=12 July 2013|publisher=Varsity Sports SA|accessdate=30 July 2013}}</ref> A four team women's tournament is also being played.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://varsitysportssa.com/ladies-chasing-glory/|title=Ladies' chance to shine|date=6 September 2013|publisher=Varsity Sports SA|accessdate=7 September 2013}}</ref>

==Participating teams== {{Location map+ |South Africa |float=right |width=425 |caption=Location of teams in 2014 Varsity Football 8px Blue: Men's teams only; 8px Red: Women's teams only; 8px Green: Men's and Women's teams. |places= {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=-34.009252 |long=25.679051 |label=NMMU|position=left}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=-25.85 |long=25.633333 |label=NWU|position=top}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=-33.959050 |long=18.462648 |label=UCT|position=left}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=-29.108672 |long=26.172352 |label=UFS|position=left}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=-26.178286 |long=27.992494 |label=UJ|position=left}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=-23.886 |long=29.738 |label=UL|position=left}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=-25.750959 |long=28.248736 |label=UP|position=right}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=-33.934254 |long=18.631960 |label=UWC|position=top}} {{Location map~ |South Africa |mark=Red pog.svg |lat=-25.734155 |long=28.161387 |label=TUT|position=left}} }}

right|thumb|UCT is the oldest of the competing universities right|thumb|Tuks are the 2013 Varsity Sports men's football champions

The eight teams competing in the men's Varsity Football challenge are: {| class="wikitable" |- |colspan=3 align=center|'''Varsity Football Challenge''' |- !width="100"|Team Name !width="280"|University !width="280"|Stadium |- | NMMU Madibaz||Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University||NMMU Stadium |- | NWU Mafikeng||North-West University||Mafikeng Sports Fields |- | UCT Ikeys||University of Cape Town||The Green Mile |- | UFS Kovsies||University of the Free State||Shimla Park |- | UJ||University of Johannesburg||AW Muller Stadium UJ Soweto Campus Sport Complex |- | Limpopo||University of Limpopo||Oscar Mphetha Stadium1 |- | UP-Tuks||University of Pretoria||Tuks Stadium |- | UWC||University of the Western Cape||UWC Sport Stadium |}

The four teams competing in the men's Varsity Football challenge are: {| class="wikitable" |- |colspan=3 align=center|'''Varsity Football Challenge''' |- !width="100"|Team Name !width="280"|University !width="280"|Stadium |- | UJ||University of Johannesburg||AW Muller Stadium |- | UP-Tuks||University of Pretoria||Tuks Stadium |- | TUT||Tshwane University of Technology||TUT Stadium |- | UWC||University of the Western Cape||UWC Sport Stadium |}

* 1 The University of Limpopo was unable to host any matches at Oscar Mphetha Stadium, as the stadium did not meet league standards. As such, the team played all of their matches away.

===Qualification=== Qualification was based on the 2013 University Sports South Africa National Club Championships. In order to qualify, men's teams need to be one of the eight highest placed teams associated with Varsity Sports.

===Standings=== {{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |res_col_header=Q |sortable_table=y |title=2014 Varsity Football Log

|col_Q=green2|text_Q= |result1=Q|result2=Q|result3=Q|result4=Q |class_rules=3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. The top 4 teams qualified for the Semi-Finals. |update=complete |source= }}

==Format== The tournament begins with a round robin stage, in which all teams play each other once. After the round robin stage, the top 4 teams will advance to the knock-out stage. The teams ranked 1 and 2 will host the semi-finals, against the teams ranked 4 and 3 respectively. The winners will advance to the final, to be hosted by the highest ranking finalist. All matches are played on Mondays. The league scoring system follows a standard scoring system and awards 3 points are awarded for a win, and 1 point for a draw. Teams are separated first on points, and then on goal difference.

==Round robin stage== The 2014 season began with the round robin stages on 21 July, which will end on 1 September. * ''All times are South African (GMT+2)''

===Week 1=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 21 July 2014 |time = 16:30 |team1 = NMMU |score = 2 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/separating-madibaz-nwu/ Report] |team2 = NWU Mafikeng |goals1 = Kieran Koert 2 |goals2 = Sandile Mbatha, Sifiso Ngwenya |stadium = NMMU Stadium |location = Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 21 July 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UWC |score = 2 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/uj-denied-first-victory/ Report] |team2 = UJ |goals1 = Tapelo Sixishe, Wade Crowie |goals2 = Stephanis Sibanyoni, Wisdom Mathebula |stadium = University of the Western Cape Stadium |location = Bellville, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 21 July 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UCT |score = 1 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/late-goal-hands-uct-draw/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Michael Salgado |goals2 = Tsietsi Tshehla |stadium = Green Mile |location = Cape Town, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 21 July 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = UP-Tuks |score = 1 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/tuks-sink-brave-kovsies/ Report] |team2 = UFS |goals1 = Lucky Mathosi |goals2 = |stadium = Tuks Stadium |location = Pretoria, Gauteng }}

===Week 2=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 28 July 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = UFS |score = 2 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/kovsies-running/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Lehlohonolo Mokoena, Jay Jay Groenewald |goals2 = |stadium = Shimla Park |location = Bloemfontein, Free State }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 28 July 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UP-Tuks |score = 2 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/tuks-maintain-winning-ways/ Report] |team2 = UCT |goals1 = Lucky Mathosi, Mbongeni Masilela |goals2 = Michael Salgado |stadium = Tuks Stadium |location = Pretoria, Gauteng }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 28 July 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UJ |score = 3 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/magic-madibaz-fall-uj/ Report] |team2 = NMMU |goals1 = Tebogo Mandyu, Ponshu Nyathi 2 |goals2 = |stadium = AW Muller Stadium |location = Johannesburg, Gauteng }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 28 July 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = NWU Mafikeng |score = 1 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/nwu-edge-gutsy-uwc/ Report] |team2 = UWC |goals1 = Mogomotsi Molefe |goals2 = |stadium = Mafikeng Sports Fields |location = Mahikeng, North West }}

===Week 3=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 4 August 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = UWC |score = 1 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/kovsies-strong-uwc/ Report] |team2 = UFS |goals1 = Curtley Beukes |goals2 = Dumisani Tjomelane, Manxubandile Bantshi |stadium = University of the Western Cape Stadium |location = Bellville, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 4 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = NMMU |score = 2 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/madibaz-punish-uct/ Report] |team2 = UCT |goals1 = Sachin Jackson, Kieran Koert |goals2 = Moussi Sopp |stadium = NMMU Stadium |location = Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 4 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = NWU-Mafikeng |score = 3 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/five-goal-thriller-mafikeng/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Orebotse Mongae, Lebogang Phetlhu, Tshenolo Machwisa |goals2 = Clyde Kgatla, Mahlatse Mogale |stadium = Mafikeng Sports Fields |location = Mahikeng, North West }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 4 August 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = UP-Tuks |score = 0 - 4 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/uj-outgun-tuks-go-top/ Report] |team2 = UJ |goals1 = Matthew Edwards, Sandro Claro, Tebogo Mandyu, Ruben De Freitas |goals2 = |stadium = Tuks Stadium |location = Pretoria, Gauteng }}

===Week 4=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 11 August 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = UP-Tuks |score = 5 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/tuks-back-winning-ways/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Botshelo Mfulwane 2, Sibongile Njokwe, Lindsay Stowman, Jeremiah Nkwana |goals2 = Clyde Kgatla |stadium = Tuks Stadium |location = Pretoria, Gauteng }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 11 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UFS |score = 2 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/square-bloem/ Report] |team2 = UJ |goals1 = Lehlohonolo Mokoena, Manxubandile Bantshi |goals2 = Sandro Claro, Lwazi Nogenga |stadium = Shimla Park |location = Bloemfontein, Free State }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 11 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = NMMU |score = 1 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/uwc-bruise-madibaz-egos/ Report] |team2 = UWC |goals1 = Lukhanyo Rasmeni |goals2 = Tapelo Sixishe, Reza Dramat |stadium = NMMU Stadium |location = Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 11 August 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = NWU-Mafikeng |score = 6 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/ruthless-nwu-march-top/ Report] |team2 = UCT |goals1 = Thatohatsi Santos, Tshenolo Machwisa 3, Matsobane Matsi, Kagiso Modimeong |goals2 = |stadium = Mafikeng Sports Fields |location = Mahikeng, North West }}

===Week 5=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 18 August 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = UFS |score = 0 - 4 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/madibaz-cruise-past-kovsies/ Report] |team2 = NMMU |goals1 = |goals2 = Simamkele Thobi, Lukhanyo Rasmeni, Kieran Koert, Kurt Duff |stadium = Shimla Park |location = Bloemfontein, Free State }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 18 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = Tuks |score = 2 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/nwu-comeback-earn-draw/ Report] |team2 = NWU-Mafikeng |goals1 = Mbongeni Masilela, Jeremiah Nkwana |goals2 = Lindani Dudula, Orebotse Mongae |stadium = Tuks Stadium |location = Pretoria, Gauteng }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 18 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UWC |score = 1 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/square-windy-bellville/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Curtley Beukes |goals2 = Theo Phophi |stadium = University of the Western Cape Stadium |location = Bellville, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 18 August 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = UJ |score = 6 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/unbeaten-uj-reign-soweto/ Report] |team2 = UCT |goals1 = Pontsho Nyathi, Karl Clements, Ruben De Freitas, Sandro Claro, Lumkile Dava, Matthew Edwards |goals2 = |stadium = UJ Soweto Campus Sport Complex |location = Soweto, Gauteng }}

===Week 6=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 25 August 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = NWU-Mafikeng |score = 1 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/mafikeng-battle-ends-deadlocked/ Report] |team2 = UJ |goals1 = Lindani Dudula |goals2 = Ruben De Freitas |stadium = Mafikeng Sports Fields |location = Mahikeng, North West }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 25 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UCT |score = 0 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/moodie-adds-ucts-woes/ Report] |team2 = UFS |goals1 = |goals2 = Byron Donaldson (OG), Jay Jay Groenewald |stadium = Green Mile |location = Cape Town, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 25 August 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UWC |score = 2 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/uwc-bag-win-tuks-slip/ Report] |team2 = UP_Tuks |goals1 = Tapelo Sixishe, Reza Dramat |goals2 = Jeremiah Nkwana |stadium = University of the Western Cape Stadium |location = Bellville, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 25 August 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = NMMU |score = 3 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/madibaz-send-limpopo-packing/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Kieran Koert, Onela Beqezi, Simamkele Thobi |goals2 = |stadium = NMMU Stadium |location = Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape }}

===Week 7=== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 1 September 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = UCT |score = 3 - 3 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/square-cape-derby/ Report] |team2 = UWC |goals1 = Charlie Mbatha, Michael Salgado, Louis-Romain Moussi Sopp |goals2 = Curtley Beukes, Keenan Davis, Reza Dramat |stadium = Green Mile |location = Cape Town, Western Cape }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 1 September 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UJ |score = 1 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/uj-stay-top-stalemate/ Report] |team2 = UL |goals1 = Taelo Mphahlele (OG) |goals2 = Clyde Kgatla |stadium = AW Muller Stadium |location = Johannesburg, Gauteng }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 1 September 2014 |time = 18:00 |team1 = UFS |score = 1 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/kovsies-hold-nwu/ Report] |team2 = NWU Mafikeng |goals1 = Manxubandile Bantshi |goals2 = Kagiso Modimoeng |stadium = Shimla Park |location = Bloemfontein, Free State }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 1 September 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = UP-Tuks |score = 4 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/tuks-power-past-madibaz/ Report] |team2 = NMMU |goals1 = Jeremiah Nkwana, Simbongile Njokwe, Lundi Balfour (OG), Thabo Ndlovu |goals2 = |stadium = Tuks Stadium |location = Pretoria, Gauteng }}

==Knockout stage== The top four placed men's teams progressed to the knockout stage, as did all four women's teams. The semi-finals for both men and women were played on 8 September and the finals on 15 September.

===Men's tournament===

====Semi-finals==== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 8 September 2014 |time = 16:45 |team1 = NWU Mafikeng |score = 0(4) - (5)0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/tuks-set-defend-title/ Report] |team2 = UP-Tuks |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = Mafikeng Sports Fields |location = Mahikeng, North West }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 8 September 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = UJ |score = 2 - 2 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/uj-book-home-final/ Report] |team2 = UFS |goals1 = Wisdom Mathebula, Kaylan More |goals2 = Walter Phori, Marathodi Phillies |stadium = UJ Soweto Campus Sport Complex |location = Soweto, Gauteng }}

====Final==== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 15 September 2014 |time = 19:00 |team1 = UJ |score = 0 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/nkwana-stunner-sinks-uj/ Report] |team2 = UP-Tuks |goals1 = |goals2 = Jeremiah Nkwana |stadium = UJ Soweto Campus Sport Complex |location = Soweto, Gauteng }}

===Women's tournament===

====Semi-finals==== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 8 September 2014 |time = 16:00 |team1 = TUT |score = 2 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/preview-football-queens/ Report] |team2 = UWC |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = Mafikeng Sports Fields |location = Mahikeng, North West }} {{footballbox collapsible |date = 8 September 2014 |time = 16:00 |team1 = UJ |score = 2 - 1 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/double-trouble-tuks/ Report] |team2 = UP-Tuks |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = UJ Soweto Campus Sport Complex |location = Soweto, Gauteng }}

====Final==== {{footballbox collapsible |date = 15 September 2014 |time = 16:00 |team1 = TUT |score = 5 - 0 |report = [http://varsitysportssa.com/tut-trample-tuks/ Report] |team2 = UP-Tuks |goals1 = Mary Ntsweng (2), Palesa Mohlabai, Katlego Khwinana (2) |goals2 = |stadium = UJ Soweto Campus Sport Complex |location = Soweto, Gauteng }}

==Notable players and coaches== Players and coaches who have since been signed by professional clubs.

==Sponsors==

The tournament is sponsored by: * Cell C * Debonairs Pizza * First National Bank * Samsung

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * https://www.varsitysportssa.com/varsity-football

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varsity}} 2014-15 Category:2014–15 in South African soccer leagues