By Joshua Hendricks. Images: Conray Swail
The Kapstadt Cup 2022 is bringing together Cape Town’s young footballers and fans in a fast-paced celebration of local talent. The excitement at Wembley Stadium is palpable – as Capeat6Sport journalist Joshua Hendricks discovered.
As a fan of Cape Town football, my first day at the Kapstadt Cup 2022 was extremely fulfilling: the excitement is palpable, from the very moment you into the Athlone Stadium arena.
The organising committee, led by FC Kapstadt founder Zaid Omar, is a well-oiled machine that would give most top flight clubs a run for their money in terms of hosting a tournament of such a magnitude.
Just think of the numbers: The 2022 edition of the Kapstadt CUP is bringing together 1700 players from 120 teams in 10 age groups from under 7 to under 20, from 23 Cape-Town based football clubs – as well as two clubs from the wider Western Cape, three from KZN, three from Gauteng and one from Namibia.
For something like that, a big opening is important – and the committee delivered.
The opening ceremony was also conducted in a seamless fashion, bringing forth a great moment for all the kids – all of them – to be applauded as they paraded around Athlone Stadium.
And it wasn’t just football talent on display: a special appearance by son of the soil Youngsta CPT got the crowd on their feet and moving for the music of Cape Town.
And of course, then there was the football.
The final encounter of the day saw the host team FC Kapstadt under 20 go up against the Under 20 version of the DStv Premiership outfit from the Winelands, Stellenbosch FC.
The game ended goalless but it produced key moments that could have swayed the result to either side. FC Kapstadt came out hard, piling on the pressure, but as the game lingered on, Stellies slowed it down and started creating a few problems themselves.
“They came at us at the start, but once we slowed it down and started knocking it around,” Stellenbosch U20 coach Jean-Pierre Farrugia told me. “We gained more control and had a good few chances – but we didn’t take them, and that’s what cost us in the end.”
FC Kapstadt later on started pressing in moments high up the pitch that caught the maroons on the ball in their own half – but then was clever enough to back off and control the space when need be.
“It was physical, and really tough, we had to assess and we saw that they played 3-5-2 with really high wingers,” said FC Kapstadt Coach Coldrin Coetzee. “We had to keep our shape, because if you don’t concede then you have a chance of winning.”
That chance didn’t quite happen – but it’s okay.
“We wanted to play, but as the game went on we had to adjust to the game. When we sat back, they didn’t know what to do,” said Coach Coetzee. They played lots of long balls, and I think a point is fair. I told them if we can’t get the three points then we take the point.”
And that goes for their opponents as well.
“I’m a little bit disappointed because I thought we had the better of them, and that we didn’t ultimately get another three pointer,” said Coach Jean-Pierre Farrugia. “But we’ll take the draw and move on.”
The Kapstadt Cup continues until 2 October 2022. Fans are encouraged to go out to support the young footballers. Entry at all venues is R20 for adults and R15 for children under the age of 15. And if you can’t make it…don’t worry. Stick around, and we’ll keep you posted.
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Edited by Nicklaus Kruger
