By Joshua Hendricks Image: Tarren Saunders
Noone thought Grassy Park United had much of a chance in the 2023 Bayhill Premier Cup – but the team defied expectations when they beat Cape Town Spurs 2-1 in the final at Athlone Stadium on Monday, under the leadership of coaches Rezaan Jacobs and Curtley Daniels.
Last year, Grassy Park United dropped out in the first round of the Bayhill Premier Cup. But this year, the team defied expectations when they beat Cape Town Spurs 2-1 in the final at Athlone Stadium on Monday, claiming their maiden Bayhill title.
Having to dismantle the defending champions – who were arguably the team of the tournament, providing some of the most entertaining football of this edition – was not an easy task.
Photo by Tarren Saunders
But the Grassy Park team had two very important factors going for them: namely the GP Coaches, Rezaan Jacobs and Curtley Daniels.
“This is huge, nobody knows Grassy Park, we are on the map,” Coach Daniels told Capeat6sport. “We did very well, for the club, the players; they deserve it, man. We came from nothing, struggled in the group, grinded it out and now we are here as champions.”
Coach Jacobs – better known as Kaka – is a man of great pedigree and experience, and he knows how to play tournament football: the 38-year-old has won numerous trophies, including the Engen Knockout Challenge with Old Mutual Academy in 2016 and also the Coca-Cola Cup with Bayview in 2018, with their seniors. So he has the ethos and mentality to get his players and club over the line.
READ MORE: REZAAN “KAKA” JACOBS – COACH OF BAYVIEW FC SAFA CAPE TOWN REGIONAL THIRD DIVISION
Coach Daniels, on the other hand, is a bit less of an old hand: the 25-year-old was raised in the Ajax Cape Town academy system (now Cape Town Spurs) but was released as a junior. Now of course, that is something that forms part of youth football – but it’s not easy for any young man to take.
Last season he was there with Hellenic FC as their head coach, and this season he dumped out his former employers. So for him this cup was an emotional rollercoaster, which was clearly reflected after the final whistle.
Image by Shage Koopman
“As a coach I’m young in the game, and some people undermine you,” he said. “That’s why I’m very emotional – but I’m also very glad.”
No one gave the boys from Grassy Park much of a chance early on, after they drew their first two games with Greenwood Athletic and Amalaw’s from the Northern Cape. Then they beat University of Pretoria one-nil to qualify for the Last 16 – and they started to show what they were made of.
Coming up against JL Zwane they quietly dispatched them by the same scoreline, keeping themselves under the radar. Then they faced Hellenic in the Quarter-finals, going behind early in the game and eventually equalised and sent the game into extra time. In which they got the winner, continuing the fairytale story.
Their biggest feat was going on to beat Tshwane giants SuperSport United 1-0 (yet again). Or it was until they went up against the favourites, Cape Town Spurs, and came out victorious – something that nobody expected.
“Last season in the Bayhill Cup we went out in the first round, this is what makes it so emotional for us,” Grassy Park Captain Jody Classen told Capeat6sport.
“The plan from the technical team was to get tight to Spurs, not to respect them basically, don’t allow them to play. Let’s get close to their poles when we can and get the result, that was the plan.”
We love it when a plan comes together…well done!
READ MORE: BAYHILL PREMIER CUP: UNSUNG HEROES
