Matome Rangata has the honour of being the first Tuks player to be named Player of the Match in this year’s Varsity Tournament.
He was brilliant in Tuks’s 4-2 victory over Kovsies. It should therefore not be a surprise that he was singled out as one of the four best players in the first round of the tournament.
The fourth-year education student has been praised for his on-field creativity and attacking influence. As a left winger, he played a key role in the opening goal, producing a superb pass to unlock the Kovsies defence, before showing his composure to capitalise on a defensive error and score Tuks’ equaliser in the second half. His ability to create chances and make an impact in decisive moments was crucial to Tuks’ comeback victory.
When asked about his performance, Rangata, however, becomes very embarrassed. According to him, he just did what he always does: give his best. That is what soccer is all about for him.
“I play where the team needs me. For me, soccer is not about personal glory. It’s about what I can do as a player to make the team play better. The ultimate goal is to get the team to win games and, in the end, the tournament. To be able to do that, I have to give my all every time I’m on the field.”
Rangata admits that he did not expect Tuks to score four goals against Kovsies because, after all, they are the defending champions.
“To be honest, last Friday’s victory was very special. The score against Kovsies should not fool anyone. It was a tough game. There was no moment where we could rest on our laurels. What made the four goals special was that we did not score any goals in our first few games last year.”
This Friday at home, Tuks plays UWC. Rangata predicts it will be another tough encounter.
“I think the last time we played UWC was in 2024. We lost. What makes it difficult to play against UWC is their unpredictability. So on Friday, all of us will have to be at our best from the very first minute.”
Rangata is one of the “Old Men” in the Tuks team. He made his Varsity debut in 2022 and has played more than 15 matches so far. To date, he has scored three goals for Tuks. His first goal was against Northwest. He has also played more than 20 times for AmaTuks.
Why soccer?
“I like the challenge. You can never rest on your laurels. In every game, you will face someone who is faster, stronger and more skilled. I learn something new in every game. Playing soccer is like solving a puzzle. What I also like is that it is a team sport. There are ten teammates you can rely on at all times.”
When Rangata is not playing soccer, he likes playing video games. He is also something of a foodie. His favourite is any home-cooked meal. Something he really likes is “pap” with pork crunch, tomato, and chilli sauce. What makes such a meal even more special is if he can prepare it with good friends.
Kickoff for Friday’s game against UWC at Tuks is 18:30.
