BANYANA Banyana star Simphiwe Dludlu has tipped the University of Pretoria to win University Sport South Africa's women's tournament under the way in Mafikeng.

BANYANA Banyana star Simphiwe Dludlu has tipped the University of Pretoria to win University Sport South Africa's women's tournament under the way in Mafikeng.

Dludlu, one of the assistants at the 2010 World Cup final draw in Cape Town last Friday, is leading Tukkies in this week-long tournament.

The Tembisa-born Dludlu is one of the two Banyana Banyana senior players in the star-studded Tukkies side guided by Sello Mokoena. The other is goalkeeper Mukondi Mulaudzi.

"We have been to the final of this tournament twice, but this is our turn to walk away with the title," said the down-to-earth Dludlu yesterday. "We have some pretty good teams here, but University of Johannesburg and Vaal University of Technology will be our major threats.

"Our plan is to end 2009 on a high note by winning the tournament," said Dludlu, who is adamant Bafana Bafana will qualify for the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup.

"Bafana Bafana are in a tough group, but I think they will rise to the occasion. France, Uruguay and Mexico are strong teams, (but) we are playing at home and cannot afford to disappoint."

University Sport South Africa's outgoing soccer chairperson Jerry Laka said there were 32 teams in Mafikeng - 16 men's and 16 women's teams.

"We are using the tournament to select a team to represent South Africa during the Cucsa (Southern Africa university) tournament in Botswana in June next year," he said.