Moshikere scores in UJ’s Varsity Football opening draw

A chilly evening couldn’t dampen the spirits of the home crowd at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), as they gathered to witness an electrifying opening match of the Varsity Football tournament. The UJ Senior Men’s Football Team faced off against North-West University (NWU), treating the packed stadium to a nail-biting showdown.

The home team wasted no time, igniting the crowd’s energy just three minutes into the game. Thabo Moshikere capitalized on a superb free kick from Teboho Makhalanyane, which was headed into the box by Yasidu Lifa. Moshikere found the back of the net, giving UJ an early 1-0 lead. The team held onto this narrow advantage for the rest of the first half, despite intense pressure from the visitors who were determined to find an equalizer.

The sold-out stadium was a sea of orange, with the UJ supporters breaking into song just before the half-hour mark, celebrating their team’s impressive performance. UJ’s goalkeeper, Lungelo Sithole, was a wall, making several crucial saves to protect his team’s lead and live up to the crowd’s high expectations.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams creating scoring opportunities but failing to convert for most part of it. Substitutions were made by both sides, and it was NWU’s change that had the biggest impact. Just before the 90-minute mark, Molemo Kukama delivered the equalizer, silencing the UJ faithfuls and securing a point for his team. The final whistle blew, ending the game in a 1-1 draw.

Match Details

Goal Scorers:

UJ: Thabo Moshikere

NWU: Molemo Kukama

FNB Player of the Match: Sinenhlanhla Mkhonza, UJ

SportPesa Goal Rush Award: Thabo Moshikere, UJ

On Thursday, August 7, 2025, both teams will travel to the Free State Province for their next matches. UJ will take on the University of Free State, while NWU will face off against the Central University of Technology (CUT). Both games are scheduled to kick off at 18:30.

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