Varsity Football Match 2025: Cambridge University Association Football Club’s Sakina Dhirani excited at prospect of facing Oxford at Cambridge United’s Cledara Abbey Stadium

Sakina Dhirani has enjoyed her first campaign with the Cambridge University Association Football Club – and she is hoping to cap it on Friday (21 March) with victory in the Varsity Match.

Dhirani and her team-mates will get the double header under way against rivals Oxford at the Cledara Abbey Stadium with a 4pm kick-off, before the men’s team take to the pitch at 7.45pm.

And having embarked on a largely positive debut season, Dhirani is eyeing up a win in the prestigious fixture.

“It’s an incredible opportunity. This is my first year at Cambridge and it’s something I’ve been really looking forward to all year,” she said.

“It’s tough at times with my academic work, football, my faith and everything else, but if you love something then you’ll do it.

“It’s such a lovely and talented group of girls who have all made me feel so welcome within the team.

“What I’ve loved is the fact that it’s brought players from different backgrounds and countries together to form a team.

“We’ve obviously beaten Oxford a couple of times this season already so in the back of our heads we know we can do it.

“This is a new game now, though, and the past has gone, but we’ll definitely be looking to win.”

Away from her commitments with the Light Blues, Dhirani has also been turning out for Cambridge City in the Eastern Region Women's Football League Premier Division.

It has been a tough campaign for the young Lilywhites, who need to start picking up some positive results quickly if they are to avoid back-to-back relegations.

And Dhirani has seen some positive signs in recent weeks.

She added: “It’s been a rough couple of seasons with quite a few players leaving, but the young group we have is growing all the time.

“We’re getting better and you can really see the progress that’s being made with our performances.

“We need some results and I think we’re capable of giving some teams a real surprise.

“It’s been a steep learning curve but our young squad is very talented and we’re getting there.”

City are due to play to Enfield on Sunday (23 March).