The Coke Cup finals on Saturday were full of drama, grudges, and tightly-contested encounters, and they were simply fun to watch.
Helderberg Local Football Association in Strand had their hands in the senior men’s Coke Cup trophy for the first time when their Dynamos FC side beat two time champions Rygersdal 2-0. As if that was not enough, Dynamos head coach, Mthuthuzeli Matshabane, joined a select few of Cape Town footballers to take home the senior men’s Coke Cup gold medal both as a coach and as a player after he won it with Young Pirates in 2016. And Vasco da Gama coach Ashraf Calvert won the women’s section just in his first year in charge of the Sasol League team and did that against his former team Shosholoza, whom they beat 2-1. And there were new champions in the men’s Under 18 division, too, when Cape Town City overcame Hellenic 4-2 on penalties.
Under 18: Cape Town City 4 (1) Hellenic 2 (1)
Having a team in the Premier Soccer League, better structures and more financial backing, Cape Town City went into this clash more fancied to lift the trophy. And they had just beaten their opponents in the recent Engen Knockout Challenge. The Citizens took control of the game from early on but the Greek Gods struck first through a stunning Errin Leak free-kick. Aphelelele Madolwana made it 1-1 for Cape Town City after a header from a set piece late in the second half. Then Hellenic goalkeeper Nasheef Matthews was sent off in the dying minutes of the game, leaving his deputy Saadiq De La Harpe to deal with the penalty shootout.
The reserve goalkeeper did not disappoint as he saved one spot kick but his teammates could not match his heroics as two of them had their spot kicks saved by the brilliant Citizen shot stopper Luca Oliaro as the City became the 10th winner of the competition since the U18 division was incepted in 2006.
Women: Vasco da Gama 2 Shosholoza 1
There was a lot at stake in this clash, particularly on the touch line. Vasco mentor Ashraf Calvert was in the books of Shosholoza as the assistant coach until just before the start of the Sasol League when he was “overlooked” for the vacant head coach position in favour of Nathan Peskin, who had led Vasco to a Sasol League Western Cape triumph in the 2019-2020 season. The Parow-based Vasco had better ball possession and opened the scoring through Astria Boks in the first half. Caryn Van Rhyneveld levelled matters for Shosholoza from the penalty spot but Miche Minnies ensured that Vasco won the Coke Cup for the second time.
(image: Conray Swail)
Calvert said about the game: “I think Shosholoza had a good start to the game and had some early chances. But as the game went on we settled, dominated possession and started to create more opportunities. The girls wanted it more and it was a great performance all round. This means a lot to us. There are girls in this team who have made the finals three times and were not successful. And winning against a club that some of us came from a couple of months before the season meant a lot more because it was a derby, a rivalry. There was more at stake than just winning. As a coach it is my first season in the Sasol League and bringing home a trophy is an amazing achievement”.
Seniors Dynamos FC 2 Rygersdal 0
As the main Coke Cup final kicked-off on Saturday, the talk around Erica Park stadium was that Rygersdal have all what it takes to emerge victorious but Dynamos would have their work cut for them. That turned out to be true. The clash started on a high note as both sides searched for an early goal. But it was the men from Lwandle who struck first through a well taken goal by Thobelani Maneli just before halftime. Rygersdal pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the second stanza, leaving their defence open at times, but Dynamos failed to capitalise on their numerous counter attacks opportunities – until Bongani Titoyi made it count late in the game.
Dynamos coach Matshabane commented: “It was a tough game against an experienced side. But we tried to search for their weak points. We knew that they were flat and slow at the back and we used our front three very well. This trophy means a lot for our community back home in Lwandle. Hopefully this puts us in a good spot on the map for people to come and see potential. We will use this victory as preparation for the play-offs (SAFA Cape Town LFA) next weekend”.
