The CPUT Res soccer league kicks off with great vigor.

Updated: Apr 18

By Lukhanyo Tshitshi, Nhlanhla Mabunda, & Siyabonga Goni

The playoffs encounter between City Edge FC and New Res FC at Bellville Sports grounds, on Wednesday. Image: Siyabonga Goni.

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student residence soccer league that aims to hang loose students from overwhelming academic stress and discover young talent, has opened four spots in the 1st division league table of 16 teams that will be scratched up to 20 teams this year.

With only four spots available, the playoff games started with enormous vitality in all four games that kicked off at 10 a.m. in four separate fields at Bellville Campus sports grounds on Wednesday.

The playoff games kicked off with high intensity as City Edge Residence FC secured a 2-0 victory over New Res Residence FC. City Edge FC stroked first early in the match with a tap-in goal and came back in the second half to score their second goal from outside the penalty box, sealing the victory for the District Six campus side.

Meanwhile, in Field C, Mountain House Residence FC won their first game of the Res qualifier 4-3, defeating Sheriff Residence FC. Both teams received penalties and failed to convert from the spot. Kabelo Cele stroked a late-minute goal to clinch a win for Mountain House FC.

In the other six playoff games that kicked off at noon, four teams—Orchards FC, MGR1 FC, President FC, and Freedom Square II FC—won victories in their matches. New market junction and the newcomers, Rise FC also managed to win their first matches in penalty shootouts, defeating Ragkam FC (4-3), and Navarre FC (4-2).

Concluding the first round of the qualifiers, the chairperson of the CPUT RES league, Kedibone Mbiza, expressed his gratitude for all the teams that participated in the first round of the qualifiers.

“Even though we started late, we were able to maintain everything, and the boys gave us what we expected.

“To be honest, as a chairperson, I’m really happy with my team of referees, and for every team that was able to pitch up, I’m really grateful.”

The last round of the qualifiers will be played on Thursday morning, and the four teams that win the final games will be promoted to the 1st Division of the CPUT residence league.

The last round fixtures are as follows: