Wongalethu Maquthu

In a tournament that started out with 50 teams, Renaissance 1 came out on top and for the second year in a row they were crowned champions league champions.

This year the tournament was the work of two departments (DUT Sports Administration and Res Life), hence the name DUT Res & Inter-Campus Indoor Soccer Champions League.  Before the match Samkelo Ntanzi, Renaissance 1 coach, said the change from outdoor to indoor did not affect them that much because when you are a football player you must learn to adapt.

Renaissance 1 beat DUT Staff with a warping 4-0 in yesterday’s final.

“In the last 5 group stage we drew 0-0 with DUT Staff and I’m still saying, it is because we were on the defensive. Clearly the boys paid attention because today we were on the offensive,” said Ntanzi who was very excited.

An overjoyed Dumisani Matli, Renaissance 1 player, said he is very happy because out of all the residences they are the only team that is made up of first year students.

Lindokuhle Mncube who scored three (hat-trick) out of the four goals said it was a team effort.

“I wouldn’t have scored these goals without the guys, so I thank them very much,” said Mncube.

In third place was Sterling House 2 – they beat Hlelo Properties 1 3-2.  Mncedisi Ndlovu, Sterling House 2 coach, said he is very excited because the boys played well, and they came a long way.

“Obviously we wanted to be number one or number two and win R7 000 or R3 500, but they’re right when they say when you aim high you don’t fall far.  R1 500 is not something to take lightly,” said Ndlovu.

Bongani Yengwa, DUT Sports Administration HoD, said every year the competition goes to new heights.  He said one of the aims of this competition is that different students from different residences get acquainted with each other

“As you saw today, there was a lot of cheering for the students in the game and almost none for DUT Staff because it was students supporting other students,” said Yengwa.

Acting HoD of Student Housing and Res Life, Nonhlanhla Mbatha, said they have been working with Sports Administration, but it was not formalised.  However, this year it was.

Senior residence life officer, Phumlani Mnyango, said they worked with Sports Administration because that department knows more about sports.

“The reason we’re strengthening our relationship with Sports Admin is because they are the custodian of sports in the university.  As much as Res League belongs to Res Life, Sports Admin is well equipped to handle sports,” said Mnyango.

While Yengwa and Mnyango said there is more to be won next year, Ms Mbatha laughingly said she would not comment.  All three heads said Covid-19 did not make organising this tournament easy, however, they are glad it was a success.

Making sure Covid-19 protocols were being adhered to was DUT Sports Committee (Nokuthula Magubane, Senzo Nzimande, Dumisani Sibaya, Naledi Masakala, Siliziwe Jama and Snethemba Shozi).

These students say it was tricky making sure that students obey protocols, but it was nonetheless a great experience.  Naledi said she got to learn more about her crew members, while Nokuthula said it was stressful, challenging and fun.  Snethemba said students did not listen at first but eventually they did.

Shifting the focus back to the game, Renaissance 1 coach said he will not be participating in the tournament next year because he will be a postgraduate student.  However, he is confident the team will do it again.

Picture: Wongalethu Maquthu