{"id":302363,"date":"2022-09-07T04:00:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T02:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/top-teams-prepped-for-clashes-20220906\/"},"modified":"2022-09-07T04:00:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T02:00:27","slug":"top-teams-prepped-for-clashes-20220906","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/top-teams-prepped-for-clashes-20220906\/","title":{"rendered":"Top teams prepped for clashes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The men\u2019s football team of the University of the Free State (UFS) will be looking to remain a formidable force to beat on its home turf of Shimla Park in Bloemfontein in the last-round fixture of the Varsity Football tournament against the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The match takes place on Thursday (08\/09). Kickoff is at 17:00. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This match precedes the important semifinal clashes on 15 September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kovsies, joint log leader with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 13 points each, has already secured a slot in the semifinal. The Free State side did so by beating Wits University by 3 \u2013 2 a week ago in Bloemfontein. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UJ secured a semi\u00adfinal spot after beating the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) by a single goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TUT, on 11 points, shares a ranking with the North-West University (NWU) and the University of Pretoria (Tuks). The team desperately needs a win to qualify for the semifinal. The teams all have to play in Thursday\u2019s last matches of the round-robin tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kovsies coach Tebogo Motsamai is hoping that his charges remain resolute. The hosts are unbeaten in three matches played on their home turf thus far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kovsies\u2019 fighting spirit saw the side hammering Wits, with the host\u2019s trio of Boy Rantsoti, Aphiwe Zulu and Sello Diphoko each scoring a goal. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The men\u2019s football team of the University of the Free State (UFS) will be looking to remain a formidable force to beat on its home turf of Shimla Park in Bloemfontein in the last-round fixture of the Varsity Football tournament against the Tshwane 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