A local high school was recently crowned the South African Football Association (SAFA) Cape Winelands U19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup champions.
This is according to Martin van Wyk, head of the youth department at SAFA Cape Winelands.
Lückhoff High School beat Kayamandi High School 2-0 in the final on 8 September at the Cloetesville Sports Grounds, according to Nino Madiebe, head of marketing, media and publicity at SAFA.
Despite Lückhoff High School’s lack of resources, their passion for the game drives them to be successful, said Danica van Kerwel, football convener at Lückhoff High School. AUDIO: Tamara Wicomb
‘Indescribable’
“I did not expect us to win the regional championships,” said Danica van Kerwel, football convener at Lückhoff High School. This was the first time the school has played since the pandemic, she added.
“[The win is due] to the quality and talentful players we have, as well as the coaching we got from Stellenbosch Football Club (FC),” said Van Kerwel.
“As soon as the game started, all the nerves disappeared. […] Lifting the cup is a feeling you cannot describe,” said Rivaldo Rhode, captain of the U19 football team at Lückhoff High School.
“As [the South African Football Association (SAFA)] Cape Winelands, our main focus and primary mandate is football development,” said Martin van Wyk, head of the youth department at SAFA. The aim of the association is to start at school football, as that is the grassroots level, he stated. PHOTO: Supplied/Nino Madiebe
SAFA attendance at its peak
This year’s SAFA Cape Winelands School Cup Championship saw the highest number of schools participating since the competition’s establishment, said Van Wyk. There were 21 teams that competed in the championship, he said.
Teams came from all areas to compete in the championship, namely, Worcester, Drankenstein, Stellenbosch, Witzenberg and Langeberg, he said.
Each school competed in their own region and the top two teams of every region went on to compete in the regional final, Van Wyk explained.
“As SAFA, we want to integrate the different parts of our community,” said Van Wyk.
The teams that made it to the finals of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Cape Winelands U19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Championship were Ashton Public Combined School, Langeberg High School, Somerset High School, Ceres Secondary School, Iincingazethu High School, Lückhoff High School, Kayamandi High School and Zwelethemba High School, said Martin van Wyk, head of the youth department at SAFA. PHOTO: Supplied/Nino Madiebe
Looking towards the provincials
Lückhoff High School will now proceed to the provincial games taking place in September in the Eastern Cape, according to Van Kerwel.
“They are a very exciting and hopeful squad. They never doubt themselves,” said Van Kerwel.
With the provincials coming up, Lückhoff High School will be practicing with the Stellenbosch FC junior team on weekdays.
With constant practice and the re-evaluation of their shortfalls and what worked for them, the team is excited to see if they can win the upcoming provincials, said Rhode.