The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been crowned the 2026 Varsity Football Women champion after securing a 5-0 victory over UP-Tuks at UJ Soweto Stadium on 19 August.
The result brought an exciting season of university football to a close and marked SportPesa’s second year supporting the women’s competition. From the opening weekend on 1 August to the final, the tournament provided a national platform for talented university athletes to demonstrate the growing strength of women’s football in South Africa.
Throughout the season, SportPesa worked to bring players and supporters closer to the competition through matchday activations and fan engagement.
The sponsorship also helped celebrate standout performances during the competition. Mho Dlaimini won the Goal Rush Award after an outstanding tournament, scoring UJ’s first goal in the final.
“Congratulations to UJ on an outstanding championship performance and to every team that helped make the season such a success. SportPesa is proud to play a part in a competition that gives talented players a platform to perform, connect with supporters and make their mark,” said Gareth Rosslee, Sponsorships & Partnerships Lead at SportPesa South Africa.
SportPesa’s support for Varsity Football forms part of a three-year partnership focused on nurturing the next generation of South African football talent, with a particular emphasis on the women’s game. University competitions play an important role in connecting emerging athletes with higher levels of competition, while helping them gain the experience and exposure needed to progress.
The talent, intensity and passion displayed during the 2026 tournament demonstrated why continued investment in women’s sport matters. By supporting structured competitions and creating opportunities for athletes to be seen, SportPesa is helping strengthen sporting pathways and elevate the profile of women’s football across the country.
SportPesa’s commitment to supporting South African sports and athletes includes a wide range of partnerships including DHL Stormers, Cape Town City FC, long-distance runner John April and world cup winning rugby legend Cobus Reinach. Together, these partnerships are helping to create stronger pathways for South African athletes to develop, compete and make their mark. This is the SportPesa Effect: turning investment into opportunity and helping local sporting talent fulfil its potential.
