The Durban University of Technology Football Club (DUT FC) is ready to host and play its first Varsity Football 2025 match against Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 07 August 2025 at 18h30.
This much anticipated game will be the first of three games that the DUT FC will be hosting at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg within the next few weeks. The second match against University of Free State (UFS) will be on Thursday, 21 August 2025 at 18h30 and the last home game against North-West University (NWU) will take place on Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 17h00.
DUT FC will be participating in the exciting Varsity Football men’s tournament for the second consecutive year, after its inaugural appearance last year. The DUT team is a sole representative from KwaZulu-Natal in this year’s Varsity Football, marking a significant achievement for the institution and the KZN region.
DUT is amongst the top eight universities who will be competing for the championship title. The other seven universities are: University of Johannesburg (UJ), University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), North-West University (NWU-Mahikeng), University of the Free State (UFS), and Central University of Technology (CUT).
Hoping to steer the team to victory is the newly appointed Head Coach, Ziphozonke “Zipho” Dlangalala. He comes with extensive coaching experience, having served as an assistant coach at Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United, as well as having leading roles at Pretoria University (AmaTuks) and Royal Eagles. He has also contributed significantly to youth development through his work with the Orlando Pirates academy and the South African U-16 national team, which participated in the UEFA U16 Development Tournament in Poland in March 2023.
Speaking on the team selection, coach Dlangalala said: “It is very important to always appreciate that this is a university team, a students’ team. The selection is made according to the Varsity Football rules and includes only those who came to DUT to study and meet the academic and eligibility requirements. Each player in this team has earned their place not only because of their football abilities but also because they are progressing academically. It is a privilege for them to represent DUT, just as it is a privilege for me to work with them.”
He said the team has shown real progress since they started training and continues to grow, which is very encouraging. He believes this is their time, their stage and they together with the DUT Sport Administration unit are there to guide them to have the best experience possible.
The DUT FC Captain, Xolani Mkhonza said: “The pressure this year isn’t as hectic as it was last year. We know what to expect now, we’ve seen how most teams play, and the fact that we have three home games this season gives us an advantage with more support from our fanbase. Another strength is that half of our squad is made up of senior players, so leadership isn’t just on me or my vice-captain, it’s shared among experienced players throughout the team.”
Mkhonza said they are confident that they will do well in the tournament as they are fortunate to have a coach like Dlangalala, who brings a wealth of experience. He said Dlangalala understands this level of pressure and has coached teams in this competition before, which gives DUT FC confidence heading into every match.
DUT Sports Officer Tumie Mgudu shared her excitement on DUT FC’s first home match this coming Thursday. She indicated that they are looking forward to sharing the thrill of Varsity Football with the DUT staff, students, alumni and supporters in the province.
She urged the DUT community to rally behind the DUT FC throughout the tournament and avoid from spreading any negativity on social media. She encourages people to create an unforgettable home-ground experience for the team.
Pictured: The 2025 DUT Varsity Football squad.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini.
Simangele Zuma/ Mncedisi Ndlovu
