Photo by Siyabonga Kalipa.
8 April 2014
In preparation for the Metropolitan U19 Premier Cup, Beacon Spurs from Mitchell’s Plain took on Chippa United, last year’s Premier Cup participants at Philippi stadium. Spurs used the game to try out new combinations before the big tournament on Easter weekend.
The Bayhill Tournament, as it is also known, is made up of professional, amateur and international teams. Spurs, an amateur team, is taking part for the first time. Chippa United is a professional team. On the field, the boys from Mitchell’s Plain were no match for Chippa as they took the lead in the first half. But after the first goal, the Spurs were all over the ‘Chilli boys’. The first half ended with the Spurs in front. Spurs made a few changes at half time, but nothing changed on the pitch in the second half.
The Chilli Boys had no answers for the Spurs after two more goals in the second half. The game ended at 3-0 with the Spurs winning.
Spurs’ striker, 17-year-old Devon Wood, says, “We played very well today and we did everything we do at training. We’ve only been together for three weeks but we play very well together and that is a good thing.”
“Those who think they will walk all over us because of our name are going to be surprised, because we work as a team,” said Wood.
The Premier Cup is known for having produced big names such as Benni MacCarthy, Nassif Morris, Matthew Booth, Steven Pienaar, Thulani Serero, Daine Klate and Ayanda Patosi to mention a few.
Wood says, “The tournament is going to be a huge experience for me. I feel I’ve been given a chance and I’m going to grab it with both hands. With hard work, dedication and determination, we’ll go far in the tournament and we’ll need to be disciplined.”
Another Spurs best player on the day, Nathaniel Jacobs,17, says, “For me playing soccer is motivation, because some of my friends do nothing but sit on street corners, and I don’t want to do that. We did well in today’s game and we saw the drills we do at training. It was a good performance all round.”
Jacobs says, “We are going to the tournament as underdogs, but we can do well if we put our minds to it. I have a saying that goes, it’s only your best that will make you succeed. My biggest challenge is my size, because I play against bigger players and that means I must always give it my all.”
“We have good individual players but if we play well together we will go far in the tournament,” he said.
Oswald Sauls, Beacon Spurs coach, says, “We played the ball very well today, which gives me hope that we’ll do well in the tournament. Teams must look out for us. We’ll surprise a lot of teams. I want us to go past the group stages and whatever happens from there is a bonus.”
The 26th edition of the Metropolitan Premier Cup will kick off at Erica Park Stadium in Belhar on Wednesday 16 April until Monday 21 April.