After years of working toward a Varsity Football final on unfamiliar soil, Wits Women will finally enjoy home-ground advantage.
- Wits Women host Varsity Football at home for the first time.
- The team is determined to reach the final.
- Matches will take place at Wits Football Stadium on August 8 and 9 before the final on August 19.
Wits University will host Varsity Football women’s fixtures for the first time on August 8 and 9, giving the team a home-ground advantage as they look to reach their first Varsity Football final.
The team opens the tournament with two matches in Pretoria on August 1 and 2 before returning to Johannesburg to host the second bumper weekend. The final is scheduled for August 19.
This opportunity comes as Varsity Football introduces a new bumper weekend format, allowing teams to play two matches before a longer recovery period ahead of the final. Hosting rights are also a first for the Wits women’s football team.
“There had been a rotation, and Varsity Sports opened it to numerous institutions that qualified. We raised our hand, and fortunately Wits will host the second bumper weekend,” said Phuthego Mokgethi, Sports Officer for Football.
Aside from reducing travel, Mokgethi believes hosting will give Wits a competitive edge.
Coach Siphesihle Ngalmane agreed: “We’ve always been knocked out in the semi-finals. This year we want to play in the final, and we’re hoping the final will be here at home.”
Captain Nthabiseng Ramaisa believes playing in front of Wits supporters could make all the difference.
“It’s not easy playing away,” she said. “Having supporters here is exciting because when we’re away, it’s hard for Wits to organise buses for people to come and watch us.”
She added that away matches often come with added pressure from opposition fans.
“When you get there, people start booing you.”
Ramaisa believes the growing support for the women’s team could inspire more young women to get involved in football.
“More girls can get into soccer, and more girls can participate in sport,” she said.
For first-year player Nokubonga Msimango, the chance to play Varsity Football at home still feels surreal.
“There’s like a superpower playing at home,” she said. “You want to make people proud.”
FEATURED IMAGE: Cheerleaders welcoming the Wits women’s football team at the official launch of the 2026 Varsity Football tournament. Photo: Asisipho Mpahleni
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