WALTER SISULU REWARDS HISTORY-MAKING WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM WITH R3,000 INCENTIVE AHEAD OF VARSITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

WALTER SISULU REWARDS HISTORY-MAKING WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM WITH R3,000 INCENTIVE AHEAD OF VARSITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Each member of iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu's history-making women's football team has been rewarded with a R3,000 incentive after securing qualification for the 2026 Varsity Football Tournament, where they will compete among South Africa's top eight university football teams for only the second time in the institution's history.

The incentive was announced by Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Thandi Mgwebi, during a special send-off ceremony held at the Mthatha Campus to honour the players, coaches and support staff ahead of the team's departure for the national tournament. The gesture recognised a remarkable achievement that has once again placed Walter Sisulu among the country's elite university football programmes.

The team's qualification follows an outstanding performance at the 2025 University Sport South Africa (USSA) Football Tournament, where they finished sixth out of 20 universities to secure a place in South Africa's premier university football competition. Their qualification marks a return to Varsity Football for the first time since 2018, signalling the continued growth and competitiveness of women's football at Walter Sisulu.

For team captain Okuhle "Hotto" Mrulwa, the achievement represents more than simply qualifying for a national competition.

"It's an achievement and a victory that the majority of people waited so long to witness. We did everything we could, working day in and day out to improve where we lacked. We prepared ourselves through friendly matches and also worked on our mentality to lead and communicate better as a team during Varsity Football," said Mrulwa.

Mrulwa said bringing together players from different campuses initially presented a challenge, but the team's commitment and a recent training camp strengthened their unity.

"I think the biggest challenge was understanding each other's style of play because we come from different campuses. We recently had a group camp where we managed to train together, and that helped us build stronger teamwork. We work together both on and off the field, helping one another wherever we can. Everyone is committed to improving and delivering excellent results," she said.

Addressing the team, Mgwebi described their qualification as a defining moment for both the players and the university.

"This is a statement about who we are becoming as an institution, what we believe in and what we are capable of achieving. When talent, discipline and visionary leadership come together, opportunity follows. This is exactly what we see in this remarkable team," she said.

She added that the team's qualification symbolised much more than just sporting success, but the resilience, determination and limitless potential of young women determined to excel both on the field and in the classroom.

"This is only the second time in our history that our women's football team has qualified for the prestigious Varsity Football Tournament. Eight years later, you have rewritten another chapter in the history of this university. History is written by people who refuse to accept limitations. You are showing South Africa that where you come from does not determine how far you can go," said Mgwebi.

Widely regarded as South Africa's flagship university football competition, Varsity Football features only the country's top eight university teams in both the men's and women's divisions. Walter Sisulu's qualification reflects the university's continued investment in high-performance sport and student development while affirming its growing reputation on the national stage.

Mgwebi said the achievement also reflects the university's commitment to producing graduates who excel academically and beyond the classroom.

"Sport is one of the most powerful classrooms we have. It builds confidence, develops leadership, nurtures resilience under pressure and teaches accountability. These are the qualities we seek to develop in every Walter Sisulu graduate," she said.

As the team prepares for the opening leg of the 2026 Varsity Football Tournament at the University of Pretoria on 1 and 2 August before travelling to the University of the Witwatersrand for the second leg on 8 and 9 August, the captain says the team is focused on making an unforgettable mark.

By Anita Roji