Premier Cup champions Grassy Park United’s victory in last year’s edition of the prestigious under-19 tournament may have come as a surprise to some, but for club insiders it was the result of hard work and a belief that they have what it takes to pull it off.
Based on recent performance, the club certainly has the pedigree to give anyone a run for their money as they have won the under-18 division of Safa Cape Town’s Coke Cup competition in 2018, the under-18 Cape District Football Association league title in 2023 and of course, last year’s under-19 Bayhill Premier Cup tournament.
Slotted in Group H, along with Windhoek Gymnasium, Leeds United AFC and FN Rangers St Agnes, Grassy Park will have their work cut out to hold on to their Premier Cup title, starting with Namibian neighbours Windhoek in their opening encounter on Thursday March 28, at 4pm. The tournament itself kicks of a day before, on Wednesday March 27, at Erica Park, in Belhar, with the finals due to be played at Athlone Stadium on Easter Monday, April 1.
A community club at heart, long-serving member and vice chairman, Gino Tobin, considers it extended family.
“It’s the passion, drive and love my fellow executive members and coaches have for the club, we all have the same vision and goals of where we want the club to be,” he said.
While filling up their trophy cabinet is a source of joy, consistency commitment and dedication is key to future success, Tobin said.
With nine Premier Cup appearances in the last 10 years, including a spot in the last round of 16 and a championship-winning performance in last year’s edition, Tobin and co know what to expect in the tournament and beyond.
“We only have one junior team in every age group because we need to develop them so they can play in our ABC Motsepe team. Our aim is to promote three or four players every year from our Bayhill team into the ABC squad. Our long-term goal is to win promotion to the National First Division (NFD),” he said.
The ABC Motsepe league is the third highest ranked league of the South African Football Association, behind the NFD and the Premier Soccer League.
“After the Bayhill, we play with that team in the Super League, along with a few our senior players, to groom these players for the next ABC season,” he said.
For now, the focus is on the task at hand, as the youngsters went through their paces under the guidance of head coach Rezaan Jacobs during a training session at the weekend.
“We share the same ambitions, that’s to take the club to the next level by investing in our youth and putting together a good strong development programme in place so that our goals to play at the highest level can be reached,” he said.
“We have players from all over Cape Town – Dunoon, Khayelitsha, Hout Bay, Ocean View and surrounding areas.
“I was brought to the club to help uplift the junior department by putting structures in place and recruiting qualified coaches. Our aim is to develop our young players in the best way possible by creating the environment for them to develop and uplift their football skills.
“Our reason for investing in our youth is because they are the future of this club and if we develop them at the highest level then they can become our reason for winning promotion to the NFD and PSL in the near future,” he said.
“Our senior team plays in the highest tier of the Cape District LFA – the Super League – and most of our seniors play in the ABC Motsepe league. We are currently doing very well, sharing top place with Maties. Our aim is to win the league this season as our greatest ambition is to win promotion to the NFD this year,” he said.
.
