Wits University FC
Full nameWits University Football Club
GroundBidvest Stadium, Johannesburg
Capacity5000
CoachSouth Africa Mark Haskins
LeagueUSSA Gauteng
2017Varsity Football, 7th
WebsiteClub website

Wits University Football Club, also known as Wits FC, is the football club representing the University of the Witwatersrand based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Wits University Football Club boasts the largest number of members for any single sporting code in the university with two men's teams, a ladies teams and a junior program for prospective students.

The Men's & Ladies' First Teams represent the university in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Football Gauteng league, and are regular participants in the USSA Football National Club Championships competing with the top 16 university teams in the country, held in December of each year. The men's senior team, coached by Mark Haskins, is ranked 8th in the country following participation in the National Championships. The women's team, coached by Jabulile Baloyi, narrowly missed out on qualification.[1] The women's team also occasionally participates in external tournaments, such as the annual Zodwa Khoza Cup.[2]

The USSA Football National Club Championships act as the qualifiers to the prestigious Varsity Sports Football tournament of the following year; with the top eight men's teams and top four ladies' teams affiliated with Varsity Sports booking their place in the tournament.

The Men's First & Reserve Teams are members of SAFA Soweto, with the First Team playing in the Promotional League, playing towards promotion to the SAB Regional League.

Stadium

Wits FC's home ground is the Milpark Stadium, located on the university's East Campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The stadium can hold up to 5000 spectators at capacity. The stadium was primarily used by Premier Soccer League outfit, Bidvest Wits F.C., when it was 50% owned by Bidvest. Now the stadium is 100% owned by the university, since Bidvest sold the other 50% when it sold their shares.

Honours and tournament history

Varsity Football record

USSA Football National Club Championships record

Men
  • 2017 – 8th
  • 2016 – 6th
  • 2015 – 7th[4]
  • 2014 – 5th[5]
  • 2013 – Did not qualify[6]
  • 2012 – 5th[7]
  • 2011 – Did not qualify[8]
  • 2010 – Did not qualify[9]
  • 2009 – Did not qualify[10]

Sponsors

  • Main sponsor: Futurelife
  • Kit manufacturer: Kappa

First team squad

As of 24 October 2017.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK South Africa RSA Sthembiso Zuke
2 DF South Africa RSA Xabiso Simelela
3 DF South Africa RSA Mondie Dlamini
4 DF South Africa RSA Baliwe Moyakhe
5 DF South Africa RSA Kaizer Maphanga (Captain)
6 MF South Africa RSA Sicelo Khumalo
7 MF South Africa RSA Luke Pereira
8 MF South Africa RSA Lyndon Crouch
9 FW South Africa RSA Sindiswa Dlamini
10 MF South Africa RSA Mahle Mtabane
11 MF South Africa RSA Bradley Mongwe
12 DF South Africa RSA Phuthi Leboho
13 DF South Africa RSA Jordan Green
14 FW South Africa RSA Graeme Dor
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF South Africa RSA Euston Slabbert
16 GK South Africa RSA Kamohelo Moroosi
17 FW South Africa RSA Thabiso Rafanyane
18 MF South Africa RSA Mahudu Seageng
19 DF South Africa RSA Tumisang Manamela
20 DF South Africa RSA Snethemba Msane
21 MF South Africa RSA Keamogetswe Mokalake
22 MF South Africa RSA Tristan Gatter
23 MF South Africa RSA Maropeng Mphaho
24 MF South Africa RSA Mthokozisi Mthembu
25 MF South Africa RSA Sibusiso Nkosi
26 DF South Africa RSA Tebogo Msimangu
27 FW South Africa RSA Riaaz Kader
28 GK South Africa RSA Thorisho Marobane

Club officials

Coaching Staff & Technical Team

Men's First Team
  • Head coach: South Africa Mark Haskins
  • Assistant coach: South Africa Alzavian van Rheede
  • Fitness coach: South Africa Restoration Sikhwari
  • Sports officer: South Africa Monthso Matlala
  • Team manager: South Africa Sanele Nene

References

  1. ↑ "University Sports South Africa". ussa.org.za. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  2. ↑ Johannesburg, The University of the Witwatersrand. "Football (Soccer) - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  3. ↑ VarsitySportsSA. "Football Fixtures and Results 2017". Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  4. ↑ USSA FOTBALL [sic] CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 TOURNAMENT STANDINGS (29 March 2016), University Sport South Africa
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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