By Joshua Hendricks

On Friday afternoon (1July 2022), we witnessed a titanic battle between a team with good technical ability and one with great physicality and tactical intelligence. 

The final of the Bayview Under 16 Tournament, which was played on the A field at the Strandfontein Sports Complex, was one to behold. Stellenbosch FC versus Rebels FC was the perfect ending to the Bayview football event which kicked-off last weekend. 

Stellies came out on top by a 2-1 margin, but the boys from Khayelitsha can leave the tournament with no regrets and with their heads high as they held their own against an academy with all the facilities and resources. 

This came after the Site C-based side in Lingelethu LFA won the Gold Section of the same tournament last year.

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The Man of the match was Rebels FC’s goalkeeper, Ayakha Mbedlashe, who scored a penalty but, most importantly, made three vital saves in the second half to keep the tie alive for his charges. 

“I felt so good and this has been a good tournament,” said the Rebels shot stopper. 

“I don’t know how we reached the final, and there is nothing we could have done differently to win it. I feel the boys worked very hard to get to this final and I never thought that we would reach the final.” 

Edited by Nicklaus Kruger