Having tasted defeat at the final hurdle in the 2015 Varsity Football final, Tshwane University of Technology hit the ground running in 2016 and took a stranglehold on the competition.
They are the only unbeaten team left in the competition, dropping points in just two of their seven matches. The defeat to UWC in the 2015 final must have been at the forefront of their minds as they have been dominant throughout.
Along the way, TUT have slammed home 13 goals while they boast the best defensive record of any team, conceding just five goals in their seven matches.
They opened their campaign with a 2-1 home victory over Wits, before seeing off two-time champions UP Tuks 1-0 in Pretoria. These victories got them off to the perfect start and gave them valuable momentum for the next few matches.
They faced a tricky prospect in Round Three when they hosted Fort Hare, and managed to sneak home with a narrow 2-1 victory over the newcomers, before they dropped points for the first time in the next round.
UJ managed to hold them to a 1-1 draw in Pretoria, but that ensured them the unofficial "Kings of Gauteng" title, after picking up seven points from their three matches against Gauteng opponents, making them the most successful university in the province.
TUT then faced a tricky trip to Mafikeng to face North West University in a match that was built up to be the match of the round. TUT did what they needed to do in order to secure a 1-0 victory and remain unbeaten, while ensuring that they remained cemented to the top of the log.
They wrapped up top spot with a game to spare in Round Six, when they thrashed second-placed CUT 4-0 in Pretoria. It was just reward that they managed to secure a home semi-final in front of their home fans after such a dominant campaign.
Their final match of the round-robin phase was a trip to Cape Town to face UWC at the same venue they managed to exact some revenge for their 2015 defeat. A strong second half performance saw them bag a 2-2 draw and subsequently knock the defending champions out of the competition.
Their semifinal, set to take place on Thursday 8 September, will be against NWU-Mafikeng in Pretoria.
