Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis believes the 2025 Varsity Women’s Football final between hosts University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) and the visiting University of the Western Cape (UWC) could be tactical and very tight to predict.
The clash takes place on Friday evening (19 September 2025) at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto.
Kickoff is at 7pm.
“I am really looking forward to seeing the match-up between the two teams, with UJ probably having a more settled side as they have a lot of players playing in the Hollywoodbets Super League, and UWC also having that experience but having a lot of first timers. It just shows how much the tournament means to the students for those newer players to have gotten to the final. So, I think it’s going to be a great match up, it’s going to be also very tactical, I think it could turn out to be a very tight game as well,” said Dr Ellis.
UJ and UWC sailed through to the final without defeat – winning all their four matches. The Orage Army even went one better and reached the last match of the tournament without conceding.
Dr Ellis, the four-time CAF Woman Coach of the Year, who has been a regular at the games, was impressed by how the two sides performed.
“Both teams have shown at the tournament that they were the best of the lot and it’s going to be a tough match. UWC being two-time champion will be going for a three-peat, and UJ last having won it in 2022 when they beat UWC will want to reclaim the title. In 2023 UWC beat UJ, so it’s all to play for,” added Dr Ellis.
“It shows that varsity football has always shown a lot of quality, I think it’s bridging the gap between club and national football as players get to play on a different stage. I think it’s become bigger and better, I think that’s the ultimate tournament for university students to be able to showcase their talent.”
UJ, led by Nthabeleng Modiko, got off to a flying start in the opening match, defeating the North West University (NWU) 4-2, and followed that up with a 2-0 victory over a stubborn Wits University. Next up was the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) who suffered a 4-0 loss while the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) were given a 3-0 hiding.
Thinasonke Mbuli’s Cape Town side had to dig deep in the first game of the tournament as they brushed aside TUT 2-1, but it rained goals in the next fixture when they fired 10 past newcomers the University of Venda (Univen) without any reply. The University of Pretoria (Tuks) were the next victims, and were on the wrong side of a 2-0 defeat. In the semi-finals, UWC were pushed all the way by a resolute Wits and needed a late goal in the second half to clinch their spot in the final.
Road to the 2025 Final:
UJ ladies:
- UJ 4 – 0 NWU
- Wits 0 – 2 UJ
- UJ 4 – 0 CPUT
- UJ 3 – 0 TUT
UWC:
- UWC 2 – 1 TUT
- UWC 10 – 0 Univen
- UWC 2 – 0 Tuks
- UWC 1 – 0 Wits
FINAL FIXTURE:
- UJ vs UWC
Friday, 19 September 2025
UJ Soccer Stadium, Soweto
7pm
“Both teams displayed the best football to get to the final and hopefully we’ll have another fantastic cracker of a final. I think the 12th player could also be key where it’s being played at UJ, but I’ve also seen some reports that UWC were busing in some students and, obviously, you will have some alumni’s all over the country so it’s going to be very interesting,” said Dr Ellis.
“I just wish the two coaches coach Dunga (Nthabeleng Modiko) and coach Thina (Thinasonke Mbuli) all the best in the final, they’ve obviously kept the university flags flying as female coaches, along with coach Maud (Khumalo) at Tuks, Azania (Moshushu) at NWU and Christina (Kutumela) at TUT – that shows how the game has grown, big ups to these female coaches, it’s not easy and good luck to the teams in the final and may we have a very good match. Good luck to everyone.”
The final is a repeat of the 2022 and 2023 match up with UJ claiming the first fixture 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw, while the Capetonians won the second encounter 2-0.
The Blues are looking to lift the trophy for the third year in a row after wins in 2023 and 2024, making it their fourth title following the first victory in 2021.
But the Orange Army will be looking to be party spoilers as they look to add the success their celebrations of the university’s 20th year anniversary.
The Varsity Women’s Football Cup has seen a lot of talented players grace the stage – with some going on to ply their trade abroad, among others:
- Refiloe Jane – TUT
(now with TS Galaxy Queens, former with AC Milan and Sassuolo in Italy)
- Hilda Magaia – TUT
(now with Club Tijuan in Mexico)
- Amogelang Motau – UWC
(now with Club Tijuan in Mexico)
- Thembi Kgatlana – UWC
(now with UANL Tigres in Mexico, formerly in China, Spain, Portugal)
- Kholosa Biyana – UKZN
(now with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, former in Spain)
- Ronnel Donnelly – UWC
(now with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies_
- Lesego Nkoane – Wits
(now with TS Galaxy Queens)
- Thalea Smidt – Tuks
(now with UCT, formerly with Sundowns Ladies)
- Bongeka Gamede – UWC
(now with Nordsjaelland, Denmark)
TUT is the most successful team with six trophies – following a run of six titles in a row: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
The list of champions and runners-up:
| Year | Champions | Runners-up |
| 2013 | UJ | TUT |
| 2014 | TUT | Tuks |
| 2015 | TUT | UWC |
| 2016 | TUT | UWC |
| 2017 | TUT | UJ |
| 2018 | TUT | UWC |
| 2019 | TUT | UWC |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 | |
| 2021 | UWC | Tuks |
| 2022 | UJ | UWC |
| 2023 | UWC | UJ |
| 2024 | UWC | TUT |
| 2025 | UJ/UWC | UWC/UJ |
Most successful universities:
| University | Championships | Runners-up | Winning Year | Runners-up year |
| TUT | 6 | 2 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 | 2013, 2024 |
| UWC | 3 | 5 | 2021, 2023, 2024 | 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| UJ | 2 | 2 | 2013, 2022 | 2017, 2023 |
| Tuks | 0 | 2 | 2014, 2021 |
By Matlhomola Morake
