David Rossouw
This year’s edition of the largest local soccer tournament for under-19 teams, the Bayhill Premier Cup, was officially launched by the local organizing committee on 2 March in the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Banquet Hall.
Players, coaches, distinguished guests, and dignitaries attended the event featuring live music by a variety of performers.
Dunoon and Atlantis Local Football Associations demonstrated once again that they could compete with the top academy footballers when SAFA Cape Town signed three of their young players from the two neighbouring Local Football Associations to join their academy group.
Awonke Ntakana of Liverpool FC in Dunoon once again demonstrated his talent when SAFA Cape Town selected him to compete in the Bayhill Premier Cup (BPC) 2024. In addition to his ball skills, this young man demonstrates leadership traits that set him apart.
CJ van Zyl and Allesandro Kotze of Jomo’s Power AFC in Atlantis, like Ntakana, received a second chance to impress football scouts after their sides were eliminated from the playoffs.
Much will be heard and seen from these young players, and it is anticipated they will follow in the footsteps of current PSL players such as Yusuf Maart (Kaiser Chiefs and Bafana Bafana), Roy-Kean Avontuur (SAFA National u-17 and Stellenbosch), and Jayden Rhodes (Cape Town City FC), all of whom participated in the Atlantis LFA competitions.
The many guest speakers delivered inspirational remarks to the attendees, indicating that the tournament is fiercely competitive among the 32 teams.
Fawaaz Basadien, a Stellenbosch PSL player and BPC alumnus, encouraged the players to give their all in the event and serve as role models for other young players.
Coach Brandon Truter and Christobel Kota, who formerly worked with Metropolitan, offered their thoughts and experiences, inspiring the future generation of soccer players.
City mayco member for community services and health, Patricia Van der Ross, emphasised the BPC’s potential for future generations and urged players to demonstrate their abilities and believe in themselves.
Western Cape minister for community safety, Reagan Allen, congratulated the BPC local organising committee for their contribution to football and youth development
Allen said the competition not only interests young people in sports but also keeps them away from undesirable influences like gangsterism.
He said talen was identified and allowed to flourish, encouraging personal progress.