The club’s recent twinning agreement with professional outfit Highbury will be front of mind for those wanting to impress potential suitors.

 

Mandela University’s football manager Mark Tommy said the partnership offered a strong incentive for individuals to perform at their very best, especially with technical staff from the National First Division side likely to make the trip up north.

 

“There is now a clear opportunity to unlock a football pathway for deserving student talent,” he explained.

 

“Players can put their hands up for consideration in the professional game with good performances at the Ussas.”

 

Apart from pursuing personal fame and fortune, qualifying for the 2026 Varsity Football competition is the other attraction for the team from Gqeberha.

 

To this end, there will be massive emphasis on the first three days when the round-robin matches determine which eight teams will qualify for the prestigious national tournament.

 

“Every match is effectively a final,” Tommy said.

 

Madibaz will field men’s and women’s teams in the top tier of the Ussa competition, which is hosted by UP-Tuks from December 1 to 5.

 

The memo of understanding signed last month formalises the long-standing relationship between Madibaz Football and Highbury and the joint venture promises benefits for both parties.

 

The main aim is to build a high-performance programme that is aligned with the university’s vision of being a leading force in sport, education and youth development.

 

The Madibaz women have been drawn in group A, a tough pool that includes powerhouses Wits, UWC and Kovsies.

 

The men will contest pool C, where the hosts and DUT are expected to set the early pace among the five sides.

 

Tommy describes Ussa football, where 18 teams will do battle in both the men’s and women’s categories of the A section, as the biggest of the sporting codes.

 

A further 10 outfits per gender will compete in the B section.

 

“The event runs on a promotion-relegation format, so there is intense competition right until the final day as teams fight to retain or gain A section status,” Tommy said.

 

The Madibaz squads will arrive in Pretoria two days before the start to allow for optimal acclimatisation to the Highveld conditions.

 

“The Tuks fields are typically dry and hard in summer, so navigating that is crucial.”