One-week ban for NMMU's Mazaka
FNB NMMU fullback Vuyolwethu Mazaka has been suspended for one week, after he picked up a red card for a dangerous tackle during his team’s 28-18 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International win over TUT on Monday.
Mazaka was red carded in the 30th minute – just two minutes after NMMU No.8 Jaco Swanepoel had been shown a yellow card – and the home side was forced to play for eight minutes with just 13 men.
Still, the ‘Madibas’ – as they are known in certain quarters – held out for a famous 28-18 win, their first-ever victory in the Varsity Cup, although they know have to take on FNB UCT this coming Monday without Mazaka.
“We’re obviously very disappointed and it’s a big loss for us ahead of the UCT game,” NMMU coach Kolie Brandt told varsitycup.co.za. “But I guess you’ve got to roll with the punches in this competition.”
Brandt added: “The big thing for us it that Vuyo is a first time offender and the guy he tackled slipped just before he reached him, so it looked a lot worse than it actually was. He is not a malicious guy and he certainly never meant any harm.”
FNB NMMU team (v FNB UCT): 15 Jade Barkhysen, 14 Wade Roos, 13 Daniel Howitz, 12 Devon Melville, 11 Aluzant Munnik, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Lusu Booi, 8 Jaco Swanepoel, 7 Andre Goosen, 6 Morne van der Westhuyzen (captain), 5 Jacques Naude, 4 Luke Beling, 3 Pierre Hammond, 2 Allistiar Langson, 1 Tyron Williams.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Slabbert, 17 Frans van der Walt, 18 Jannie Dourie, 19 January Siyabulela, 20 Neil Weitz, 21 Lalendle Ayabonga, 22 Marius Muller.
