The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Ladies Soccer Team, Head Coach, Taoni Banda is confident that the team is ready to debut in South Africa’s biggest university tournament, the Varsity Football 2021. The tournament is set to take place in two weeks’ time, in a secure bio-bubble at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) from 29 September 2021 to 04 October 2021.
According to Banda the team has been working very hard in ensuring that it meets its objectives of the first training month together as the preliminary squad.
“Our objectives were very straight to the point from the start. We had to work on the players physical conditioning to get their fitness levels up. The technical team had to understand the individual players’ abilities and capabilities. There is a common understanding among players, we have been working on team movement and playing combinations,” said Banda.
The DUT community can expect to see the players playing as a team and playing for each other. The team has also managed to identify positions suitable for each individual and the type of play that will suit the players.
“As a coach, I feel confident that we can go there and compete, from where we were when we started, I am confident that we won’t come back empty handed. The understanding and confidence among players is growing every day.
The level of their fighting spirit is just amazing and no one is in a comfort zone and this is very good. In any instance, pressure is good and it is making us work over time, we can’t rest. Above it all, the support from the Sport Administration Department is excellent and the players are also responding well,” said Banda.
Even though the pressure to perform is mounting from each and every player, Banda said they are keeping their fingers crossed that there are no serious injuries so that all players can be at their disposal.
Sharing their team captain selection, Banda said they have selected Nomfundo Buthelezi as the Team Captain and Zama Ngcobo as the Vice-Captain. As part of team building initiatives, Banda shared that the team recently went on a hike at Krantzkloof. In addition, they had a few friendly matches as part of their preparations for the tournament.
The team is now approaching the final stage of their preparation and has begun counting down to the highly anticipated tournament. They also want to make DUT and the women of KwaZulu-Natal proud, as they are the only female team from KwaZulu-Natal to qualify in the tournament.
They will be among eight teams who will be competing in this tournament, joining the University of Western Cape (UWC), WITS, TUT, University of Limpopo (UL), University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks), University of Johannesburg (UJ) and North-West University (NWU-Potchefstroom). All of the games will be broadcast live on SuperSport (DStv channel 211).
Pictured: DUT Ladies Soccer team, Head Coach, Taoni Banda.
Simangele Zuma