FNB Tuks Women in it to win it and not underestimating the defending champs

The 2025 FNB Varsity Cup Women's tournament draws to an end with only four teams remaining in contention of the title. Defending champions FNB UFH Women hosts last year’s semi-finalists FNB UP-Tuks in a repeat of last year’s clash.

With a mountain to climb ahead of them, the ladies from Pretoria are eager to prove that they’re no walkovers. Squaring up in the opening semis, Tuks captain Jess Mare praised her side’s preparations ahead of the encounter.

“Our preparations went well, a hard week of training the girls did very well and put a lot of effort in. We want to fix a lot of mistakes that made us lose matches previously,” said Mare.

“We want to improve our game management; we haven’t been executing it very well especially on attack and making sure we get the basics.

“Semis against the UFH takes us back to last year. The history we’re creating in this encounter, we fell short to UFH last year and they went on to win the tournament.

We expect a tough match; they’re the reigning champions and we are not going to underestimate them.”

“Unfortunately, we have just one win out of three, having lost to Maties and UJ, we would like to exploit our attacking shape we feel we haven’t really displayed our attack fully this season.”

Mare believes there are no more underdogs in this competition.

“There are no underdogs in this competition, everyone is in it to win. Every team put a lot in this competition, and it all comes down to who wants it more.”

Starting XV:

Nomzamo Nimorundsini, Aphiwe Masuku, Naki Thukutha, Mbali Ndlovu, Rethabile Kgatle, Thandi Mokatse, Gina Moya, Jess Mare, Erin Prins, Precious Tlaka, Innocentia Kgosana, Gugu Mncwabe, Lerato Tshabalala, Amukelani Lisenga, and Kwanga Majebe.

Replacements:

Leone de Bruyn, Arnell Primo, Sharon Stoaba, Ox Xholi, Marisna Godsil, Kgotso Letsoalo, Raylene Muller, and Thato Nkadimeng.

By: Lehlogonolo Ditshego