The Bayhill Premier Cup has come to a spectacular end. But successful tournaments aren’t just about fantastic footballers – it takes a village, after all. So let’s celebrate the selfless service, on the field and on the sidelines, that made it all possible.
The Bayhill Premier Cup has come to a spectacular end. But successful tournaments aren’t just about fantastic footballers – it takes a village to raise a champion, after all. So we caught up with some of the unsung heroes of the tournament, to celebrate the selfless service, on the field and on the sidelines, that made it all possible.
Coach Curtley Daniels is a former Ajax Cape Town Academy player, who is now the coach of rivals Hellenic. He delved into why the competition is needed.
“The Bayhill Premier Cup is huge,” he noted. “It’s a big opportunity for players to make it big. It’s a global platform; every game is like a final. Players get the opportunity to make their careers expand out of this tournament. What a platform as you can see a lot of spectators, a lot of agents and a lot of scouts. So have the game of your life and it can change your life forever.”
The media attention helped as well.
“We had a group of journalists that would go to each game and report on it, as well as photographers,” said Tarren Saunders, Editor of the Premier Cup. “My role was to oversee all the media reports, to edit and make them presentable – for every game.”
It was a big task for a budding young sports writer – but one she’s grateful for.
“I wasn’t very experienced with this – but with the amount of games we had to cover over a few days, this tournament has given me a whole lot of experience. So I was very happy to be part of it, and also that the people that appointed me saw that I have the qualities and abilities to fulfil this role.”
A special thanks needs to go to the likes of 021 Footballers, the 4th Moment and Captured Sporting Moments (CSM), who kept fans entertained and updated, sharing scores, news and analysis, and the many magical moments the tournament provided.
Their work not only keeps record of what has transpired, but continues to educate, help and give much-needed exposure to all participants.
“We tried our best to bring you all the action from the Bayhill Premier Cup 2022,” said Conray Swail, 021 Footballers and Premier Cup Photographer. “Six long days, yes…but we do what we love for local football.”
And an extra special mention needs to go to Mrs Nancy Fourie, for her contribution and love for kids – as shown in a particular story involving one of the teams, Amalaws FC, that went a long way in showing what makes Cape Town football culture special.
When Mrs Fourie saw that the talented team from Upington needed equipment and other essentials, she called Sameegh McLaurie at CSM and shared her feelings. And soon CSM and the football community were reaching out, helping with essential kit as well as lunch packs.
It’s stories like this that prove the old saying: it really does take a village. And with this being the growing culture in Cape Town, the village is just getting bigger and better.
Edited by Nicklaus Kruger
