Seen Here: 🏆⚽ TEN YEARS LATER… TUKS ARE BACK IN THE VARSITY SOCCER FINAL! 🔥A 1–0 semifinal victory over UJ sends Tuks through to the showpiece, setting up a mouth-watering Pretoria derby against TUT. The stage is set, the stripes are ready, and history awaits. 💙⚽Tuks vs TUT. One final. One trophy. 🏆🔥 Photo Credit: Supplied
PRETORIA, 28 September 2026 — After a decade of waiting, Tuks men’s football team are back in the Varsity Soccer final — and they have done it in dramatic fashion.
It took 3,650 days for Tuks to return to the tournament’s championship decider, with their place in Friday’s final secured by a late 1–0 victory over UJ in a tense semifinal in Soweto.
With the match appearing destined to go down to the wire, Tuks found the breakthrough in the 86th minute, producing the decisive moment that sent the team into its first Varsity Soccer final since 2017.
Standing between Tuks and the trophy will be TUT, setting up a repeat of the 2017 final and turning Friday’s championship match into a highly anticipated Pretoria derby.
A decade later, Tuks are back
Tuks’ return to the final represents a significant milestone for a team that has endured a long wait to once again compete for Varsity Soccer’s biggest prize.
Their semifinal against UJ demanded patience, resilience and belief. The winning goal arrived just four minutes before the end of regulation time, sparking celebrations as Tuks finally broke through.
For captain Paballo Mamabola, reaching the final after such a lengthy absence was difficult to put into words.
“Emotions ran high. That is understandable. Qualifying for the Varsity final for the first time in ten years is almost historic. I am still struggling to find the right adjectives to describe my emotions.”
The victory was also Tuks’ second win over UJ in the space of eight days, adding another layer of significance to the semifinal triumph.
“We unleashed a certain fire”
Mamabola acknowledged the difficulty of winning away from home but said the challenge appeared to bring an extra level of determination from the Tuks squad.
“Winning an away game is never easy. The odds are almost always stacked against you, but for us as a team, that actually fuels our energy,” he said.
“It’s a fight we wanted to win. I’d almost say that on Friday night in Soweto, we unleashed a certain fire. That’s why we won.”
But the captain knows the job is not finished.
The ultimate prize remains the Varsity Soccer trophy, and Tuks will now have to overcome a familiar opponent to claim it.
A final with history attached
TUT booked their place in the final by defeating Wits 1–0 in the other semifinal.
The result sets up the second Varsity Soccer final meeting between Tuks and TUT, with their previous championship encounter coming in 2017.
That match remains memorable for the intense atmosphere surrounding the contest, particularly after Tuks established a 2–0 advantage.
Now, almost a decade later, the two teams have another opportunity to settle the rivalry on the biggest stage.
Available tournament statistics indicate that Tuks and TUT have met 13 times in Varsity Soccer, with TUT winning six, Tuks three and four matches ending in draws.
History, however, offers no guarantees.
Records won’t decide the final
Tuks have won every Varsity Soccer final they have previously contested, while TUT have made seven appearances in the championship match, winning four and losing three.
TUT’s four titles remain the most in Varsity Soccer history. Tuks have three championships to their name, while UWC have won two, with North-West and the Kovsies each having one title.
But those numbers will mean little once the teams step onto the field.
Mamabola believes Tuks must maintain their focus and approach the final with the intensity required for a derby.
“We want to be crowned champions. It would be a fitting reward for all the hard work we’ve put in,” he said.
“Friday’s match against TUT isn’t just another final; it’s a derby. Both teams will have no shortage of motivation.”
He added that the occasion would demand discipline as much as passion.
“That’s why we need to make sure we’re in the right frame of mind — emotionally and mentally. Each of us will have to play with passion.”
“A final. A war.”
For Tuks defender Joshua Wood, the magnitude of the occasion is clear.
“It’s a final. A war. We are ready to fight to bring respect to the coveted ‘Tuks Stripes’,” Wood said.
“Doing so means everyone needs to step up and do whatever it takes to bring the trophy home.”
That mentality will be tested when Tuks face TUT in what promises to be an emotionally charged Varsity Soccer final.
After waiting 10 years for another opportunity, Tuks now have 90 minutes — and potentially more — standing between them and a fourth Varsity Soccer crown.
Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 on Friday at Tuks.
For a team that has waited 3,650 days to return to this stage, the opportunity could hardly be bigger.
