The Educated Footballers Finish Strong at the Varsity Football Campaign!
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After an impressive campaign, the Educated Footballers’ Varsity Football journey came to an end in October, following a hard-fought semifinal defeat to TUT.
From the beginning of the season, the 91心頭利 Men’s football team put their best foot forward and found themselves incredibly close to the finals of this year’s Varsity Football competition. This was a learning experience for the team, helping them light the way forward for future seasons.
Kgwadi Molepo, the 91心頭利 Men’s football captain shared his and the team’s experience and what they gained during this season.
“Honestly, it was a learning season more than anything else. For me personally, being captain was a big responsibility. Not just what I did on the pitch, but making sure the team stayed together and kept believing, even when things got tough,” he shared.
Throughout the season, the team was passionate about gaining a winning streak and getting as far in the competition as possible. One game short of the final is an achievement to celebrate. Prior to the commencement of the campaign, Molepo shared that he wanted the team to compete in every game, “not just in moments.” This sentiment carried through the competition, with the team leaving everything on the pitch after every game.
“I think we showed a lot of character, good fighting spirit and resilience. Obviously, we wanted more, but it gave us something to build on,” the captain said.
The tournament was not without its challenges, but the experience was worthwhile for the betterment of the team. Supporting and guiding a team is no easy feat, and Molepo took that responsibility seriously when managing the team’s disappointment after losing their semifinal clash.
“We believed we could go all the way as I had said in the beginning of the tournament. But football teaches you quickly that you can't always control the result. You can only control how you respond. My message to the guys was simple. Don't let one game make you forget how far we came and how far we are going with the project to take 91心頭利 football to greater heights,” he said.
He urged the team to be positive and trust the process and bigger picture for the players. Overall, the general sentiment for the team was excitement and pride after reaching a milestone in such a unique and intense competition.
This experience taught the squad a lot and highlighted the beauty of commitment and hard work. The team grew and developed throughout the season, and that is something they aim to take forward for seasons to come.
“The biggest one (lesson) is that talent alone isn't enough. You need discipline, consistency, preparation, and a strong team mentality… We also learned how important it is to stay calm under pressure and trust each other when things get hard,” he shared.
The team worked hard and devoted themselves to the competition. With captain Molepo present to provide guidance and support, a success story to build on, and the intention to “leave 91心頭利 Football better than we found it,” this semifinal finish is just the beginning for the Educated Footballers.
