Wits University Football Club, also known as Wits FC, is the
football club representing the
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), is a multi-campus South African public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University or Wits ( or ). The university ...
based in
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
.
Wits University Football Club boasts the largest number of members for any single sporting code in the university with two men's teams, a ladies teams and a junior program for prospective students.
The Men's & Ladies' First Teams represent the university in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Football Gauteng league, and are regular participants in the USSA Football National Club Championships competing with the top 16 university teams in the country, held in December of each year. The men's senior team, coached by
Mark Haskins
Mark Haskins (born 25 June 1988), is an English professional wrestler currently signed with Ring of Honor. He is known internationally for his time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as well as his appearances in Progress Wrestling, Revolution ...
, is ranked 8th in the country following participation in the National Championships. The women's team, coached by Jabulile Baloyi, narrowly missed out on qualification. The women's team also occasionally participates in external tournaments, such as the annual Zodwa Khoza Cup.
The USSA Football National Club Championships act as the qualifiers to the prestigious Varsity Sports Football tournament of the following year; with the top eight men's teams and top four ladies' teams affiliated with Varsity Sports booking their place in the tournament.
The Men's First & Reserve Teams are members of SAFA Soweto, with the First Team playing in the Promotional League, playing towards promotion to the SAB Regional League.
Stadium
Wits FC's home ground is the
Bidvest Stadium
Bidvest Stadium, is a multipurpose sports stadium in the Braampark, suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa.
The stadium has a dedicated field to host football matches with a capacity of 5,000 seats, and other fields to host other sports discipl ...
, located on the university's East Campus in
Braamfontein,
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...
. The stadium can hold up to 5000 spectators at capacity. The stadium was primarily used by
Premier Soccer League
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
outfit,
Bidvest Wits F.C.
Bidvest Wits Football Club,
(simply often known as Wits University F.C. or Wits) was a South African professional association football, football club from Johannesburg which played in the Premier Soccer League the first-tier of South African l ...
, as 50% of the stadium is owned by the university, while
Bidvest own the other 50%..
Honours & tournament history
Varsity Football record
*
2017 Varsity Football - 7th
*
2016 Varsity Football – 7th
*
2015 Varsity Football - Semi-final
*
2014 Varsity Football – did not qualify
*
2013 Varsity Football – 7th
USSA Football National Club Championships record
;Men
*2017 – 8th
*2016 – 6th
*2015 – 7th
*2014 – 5th
*2013 – Did not qualify
*2012 – 5th
*2011 – Did Not Qualify
*2010 – Did Not Qualify
*2009 – Did Not Qualify
Sponsors
*Main sponsor: Futurelife
*Kit manufacturer: Kappa
First team squad
''As of 24 October 2017.''
Club officials
Coaching Staff & Technical Team
;Men's First Team
*Head coach:
Mark Haskins
Mark Haskins (born 25 June 1988), is an English professional wrestler currently signed with Ring of Honor. He is known internationally for his time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as well as his appearances in Progress Wrestling, Revolution ...
*Assistant coach: Alzavian van Rheede
*Fitness coach: Restoration Sikhwari
*Sports officer: Monthso Matlala
*Team manager: Sanele Nene
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Football Club
University and college soccer clubs in South Africa
Soccer clubs in Johannesburg