Varsity Football Challenge
Season2015
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The 2015 Varsity Football challenge is the third season of a South African university association football competition. It involves some of the top football playing universities in the country, which belong to the University Sports Company. The tournament is run by Varsity Sports SA, and is endorsed by the South African Football Association and University Sport South Africa.[1]

History

The Varsity Cup tournament was founded in 2008, featuring the rugby teams of eight universities. Varsity Sports was expanded in 2012 to include other sporting codes.[2] University Sport South Africa discussed the Varsity Football proposal at its 2012 annual general meeting. The idea was initially rejected, as it was seen to split the member institutions.[3] However, it was later accepted, and 2013 was the inaugural season of Varsity Football, with an 8 team men's tournament.[4] A four team women's tournament is also being played.[5]

Participating teams

2015 Varsity Football is located in South Africa
NMMU
NMMU
NWU
NWU
TUT
TUT
UP
UP
UWC
UWC
VUT
VUT
Wits
Wits
WSU
WSU
Location of teams in 2014 Varsity Football
Blue: Men's teams only; Red: Women's teams only; Green: Men's and Women's teams.
Tuks are the 2013 and 2014 Varsity Sports men's football champions

The eight teams competing in the men's Varsity Football challenge are:

Varsity Football Challenge
Team Name University Stadium
NMMU Madibaz Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University NMMU Stadium
NWU Pukke North-West University Fanie du Toit Sports Complex
UP-Tuks University of Pretoria Tuks Stadium
TUT Tshwane University of Technology TUT Stadium
VUT Vaal University of Technology Isak Steyl Stadium
UWC University of the Western Cape UWC Sport Stadium
WSU Walter Sisulu University Mthatha Campus
Wits University of the Witwatersrand Bidvest Stadium

Qualification

Qualification was based on the 2014 University Sports South Africa National Club Championships. In order to qualify, men's teams need to be one of the eight highest placed teams associated with Varsity Sports. Walter Sisulu University did not finish in the top 8, but was invited as the best finishing member of Varsity Sports. The University of Zululand, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Central University of Technology, Berea College and Durban University of Technology were all overlooked, as they are not members of Varsity Sports.[6]

Standings

2015 Varsity Football Log
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 WSU 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 3
2 Wits 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
3 UWC 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
4 NMMU 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
5 VUT 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
6 TUT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Tuks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 NWU 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 0
Source:[citation needed]
Rules for classification: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. The top 4 teams qualified for the Semi-Finals.

Format

The tournament begins with a round robin stage, in which all teams play each other once. After the round robin stage, the top 4 teams will advance to the knock-out stage. The teams ranked 1 and 2 will host the semi-finals, against the teams ranked 4 and 3 respectively. The winners will advance to the final, to be hosted by the highest ranking finalist. All matches are played on Mondays. The league scoring system follows a standard scoring system and awards 3 points are awarded for a win, and 1 point for a draw. Teams are separated first on points, and then on goal difference.

Round robin stage

The 2015 season began with the round robin stages on 20 July, which will end on 3 September.

Week 1

20 July 2015 Wits 0-0 UWC Johannesburg, Gauteng
17:00 Report Stadium: Bidvest Stadium
20 July 2014 WSU 3-2 NWU Pukke Mthatha, Eastern Cape
18:00 Mkhuseli Mfeketho (2), Siphesande Matoni Report Thabang Matlhoko, Patrick Lebitsa Stadium: Mthatha Campus
20 July 2014 VUT 0-0 NMMU Madibaz Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng
18:00 Report Stadium: Isak Steyl Stadium
23 July 2014 TUT 0-0 UP-Tuks Pretoria, Gauteng
18:30 Report Stadium: TUT Stadium

Week 2

27 July 2015 UWC v UP-Tuks Bellville, Western Cape
17:00 Stadium: University of the Western Cape Stadium
27 July 2015 Wits v NMMU Madibaz Johannesburg, Gauteng
18:00 Stadium: Bidvest Stadium
27 July 2014 TUT v WSU Pretoria, Gauteng
18:00 Stadium: TUT Stadium
30 July 2015 VUT v NWU Pukke Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng
18:30 Stadium: Isak Steyl Stadium

Week 3

3 August 2015 UP-Tuks v NMMU Madibaz Pretoria, Gauteng
17:00 Stadium: Tuks Stadium
3 August 2015 VUT v TUT Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng
18:00 Stadium: Isak Steyl Stadium
3 August 2015 NWU Pukke v Wits Potchefstroom, North West
18:00 Stadium: Fanie du Toit Sports Complex
6 August 2015 UWC v WSU Bellville, Western Cape
18:30 Stadium: University of the Western Cape Stadium

Knockout stage

The top four placed men's teams progressed to the knockout stage, as did all four women's teams. The semi-finals for both men and women were played on 10 September and the finals on 24 September.

Sponsors

The tournament is sponsored by:

References

  1. ^ "Football to get Varsity passion". Varsity Sports SA. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  2. ^ "More sporting codes to boost varsity sports". SABC. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 6 April 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Minutes of the USSA Football Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the University of the Western Cape, Bellville, on 06th– December – 2013" (PDF). University Sport South Africa. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Explosive Mondays back with Varsity Football". Varsity Sports SA. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Ladies' chance to shine". Varsity Sports SA. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  6. ^ "USSA FOOTBALUSSA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

External links

Varsity Football
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