The COVID-19 pandemic has robbed Cape Town of another popular sporting spectacle after the 2020 edition of the Lucky Star Cup – regarded as South Africa’s biggest grassroots football competition – was officially cancelled this week.
The event, organised by FC Kapstadt, was scheduled to take place on the weekend of 1 October, and two academy teams from English Premier League Champions, Liverpool FC, were expected to be among the top entries.
“It is with great disappointment that FC Kapstadt officially announces the cancellation of the Lucky Star CUP 2020,” read a statement from the club. “In light of the current COVID19 pandemic and with South Africa experiencing a peak in the infection rate, the FC Kapstadt Organising Committee (OC) took the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event.”
FC Kapstadt President Zaid Omar said that all options were considered before making the decision.
“We delayed our decision as far as we could with a view of being optimistic that
the coronavirus would be contained. We really considered all options, even an
event behind closed doors, as we know how much this tournament means to our
youth. Players have been starved of the game they love for far too long. But after assessing all outcomes, we decided that there are just too many risks involved. The safety and sanctity of life was foremost in our decision.”
The Lucky Star Cup has grown each year; last year the tournament drew entries from a number of major clubs from around the country, and this year the demand for entry into the 2020 edition was incredible, with the tournament having evolved into an international grassroots football festival to celebrate its 10th anniversary with the confirmed entry of two Academy teams from Liverpool FC.
Lourens De Waal, Lucky Star Managing Director, said they remained committed to the
competition and it is growing in leaps and bounds.
“The 2020 event had also seen the confirmed entry of two Academy teams from Liverpool FC, the recently crowned English Premier League champions, which gives an indication of the growing stature and global appeal of the Lucky Star Cup. The 2020 edition promised to be an unforgettable footballing experience for participating clubs, players, fans, and the wider footballing community, but public safety is paramount as we continue to work together to overcome this pandemic. Whilst the disappointment at the cancellation of this year’s competition understandably runs deep, we trust that next year we will again have the opportunity to watch the best young football stars in action in the Lucky Star Cup. Until then, stay safe.”
The invite to the Liverpool FC Academy and all other big clubs have been extended to the 2021 event.
“We will continue to use the lockdown period to evolve, so that the event remains the best experience in which to inspire our youth.”
All amateur competitive football remains suspended indefinitely throughout the country by the South African Government and by the South African Football Association.
