A brief look at our opposition Wits
A brief look at our opposition Wits

Posted in News on Aug 07, 2003.

As the Glamour Boys prepare for a showdown with Wits University in the opening round of the 2003 Supa Eight, we take a close look at the club that almost became our hoodoo last season.

The match will be played at Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney. Kick-off is at 15:00.

While Amakhosi had a relatively tough time last season, Wits - one of the oldest clubs in SA founded in 1921 - enjoyed one of their best runs ever since the start of the Castle Premiership.

The 2002/03 season turned out to be one of Wits' best ever campaigns with 'The Clever Boys' going on a run of 14 league matches unbeaten over the New Year period. The side also saw several players receive national call-ups including the club's brilliant center-back Tony Coyle and promising midfielder Benson Mhlongo.

Former Wits midfielder Stanton Fredericks made his first appearance for South Africa in 2002 and joined only a handful of players to have scored on debut for Bafana Bafana. Meanwhile, defenders Ashley Makhanya and Tony Coyle both earned their first caps for the national team.

Fredericks, along with goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez joined Amakhosi in 2001. But the 2000/01 was one of the toughest for The Students under Scottish coach Jim Bone. They finished in a disappointing 13th place in the league.

But with the appointment of former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Roger de Sa as new head coach at the start of the 2001/02 season, the team's fortunes changed once again, as they finished on a respectable 7th place in the Premiership.

Some of the highlights in the club’s history is that they produced or developed big name stars who went on to dominate world football.

The Clubs first big star product arrived as a first year student in 1975 and immediately made a strong impression. Gary Bailey went on to play for Manchester United and received his first England cap in March 1985.

While Amakhosi have dominated the domestic league by winning almost every trophy on offer, Wits has only five in their history. The Students have their name on the 1978 Mainstay Cup, 1984 BP Top Eight (now SAA Supa Eight), 1985 JPS Knockout Cup, 1995, BP Top Eight and 1995 Coca-Cola Cup.

The Students go into Sunday’s encounter well aware that it was against the same Chiefs that they suffered their record loss - 6-1 on October 14, 1990 in a league match.

But Amakhosi will do well to be on the look out for national under-23 star Manqoba "Shakes" Ngwenya was in devastating for last season while midfielder Benson Mhlongo described as "nothing less than a quality player" by his coach De Sa can be a menace to the opposition. The Winstanley twins (Ivan and Neil) will have a point to prove against their former club after moving from Naturena to Milpark a couple of seasons ago.

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