With the 2025 Varsity Football tournament set to kick off on 7 August, the men’s team from North-West University (NWU) say they are mentally and physically prepared for another competitive campaign.

Head coach of the NWU Soccer Institute, Nkululeko Malgas, says the team is entering the season with a solid foundation and the benefit of experience. “They are in the right mental space, having retained almost 70% of the players from the 2024 season. They know exactly what is at stake,” he says.

As part of their preparations, the team competed in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Football Club Championships, where they reached the quarter-finals.

“I think we did well playing in the championships and losing in the quarter-finals against UP Tuks on penalties,” says Nkululeko. “We came back to host the North West USSA Inter-Varsity Cup, and by winning it, that served as a good morale booster. But nothing comes close to Varsity Football because you can’t rehearse that crowd atmosphere and Varsity Football fever buzz.”

The NWU finished as runners-up in the 2024 tournament, and Nkululeko believes last years’ experience has shaped the team’s approach for the new season. “We treated each game as if it was a final. It will be more difficult this year with a complete Gauteng ‘big four’,” he says, referring to the return of the University of Johannesburg and Wits and the continued participation of UP Tuks and the Tshwane University of Technology.

Asked about standout players to watch this season, Nkululeko emphasises the team’s unity over individual brilliance. “It’s very difficult to single out any particular player, as we believe in collective effort.”

With the return of strong competition and the high expectations that follow last year’s campaign, the NWU will be looking to build on their consistency and cohesion as they aim to go one step further in 2025.

NWU head coach Nkululeko Malgas