With the competition heating up, here are the players who made the biggest impression in round 4.
Akani Rathokoa (TUT)
Rathokoa was TUT’s brightest spark in their five-goal defeat to UWC. He carried himself with real composure on the ball, showed no hesitation in running at defenders, and had a sharp eye for when to draw a marker away and create space for his teammates.
His link-up play with those around him stood out all afternoon, and on another day he could well have picked up the Man of the Match award himself.
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Mxolisi Mthiya (Wits)
Mthiya didn’t get on the scoresheet against UJ, but he stayed a live threat throughout, always available for a sight of goal.
He remains one of the tournament’s most reliable finishers, and his composure in and around the box is what continues to set him apart up front.
Risen Albert (UP-Tuks)
Albert was a handful for DUT all evening, tormenting their defence with his pace and directness down the wing in UP-Tuks’ 3-0 win. He was Tuks’ main outlet going forward, happy to take defenders on and repeatedly driving into dangerous areas to keep DUT under pressure.
It was the kind of display that suggests he could be a key figure for UP-Tuks as the tournament goes on.
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Mosa Mabitsela (UL)
Even in a losing cause, Mabitsela’s effort stood out. He fought hard throughout UL’s 2-1 defeat to UFS, doing everything he could to keep his side in the contest and repeatedly working to shut down UFS’s chances of adding to their lead.
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Photo: Gerhard Duraan/Varsity Sports
