Poen is a living legend of The Bayhill – and is still going strong after 35 years

From the very first Bayhill Cup final held at the Rocklands Sports Complex in Mitchells Plain in 1989 – won by Matroosfontein – to the recent spectacle at the Athlone Stadium where Grassy Park beat the more fancied Cape Town Spurs… 

One particular individual – Thomas Carolus, better known as Poen – has seen it all. And he has the accolades to show that he has been there . . . and done that. There is nothing that this well-known local football reporter does not know as he has covered them all.

Carolus will be celebrating his 35th year of covering this prestigious under19 event come the Easter weekend from 27 March to 1 April at the Erica Park in Belhar – a feat that is unrivalled and unmatched on the local front.

It is safe to say that ‘Poen’ is a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to the history and details of this tournament – and it’s only when one has a conversation with him regarding the Bayhill, that one realises that he too is a legend of this event.

But Carolus, as modest and humble as he is, says there was a colossus of a human being who deserves the praise and recognition rather than himself – that of ‘Mr Bayhill,’ the late Roger Clayton.

“You cannot talk about the Bayhill and not mention Roger,” Carolus explained to No Bones with Jones.
“He made covering this event a pleasure over the Easter Weekend as he was always on hand and available to assist with information and stats. It is because of him that one also committed to going the extra mile as he would do the same for anyone.

“From a journalist’s perspective he made sure that we got the relevant information as he would visit our office in town regularly to inform the media of what’s to come. He was very hands-on, you know. He would operate amongst the crowd and interact with everybody. He was a real people person, a real gentleman and his legacy should always be kept alive.” Carolus added.

Carolus recalls on a lighter note some peculiar happenings during the earlier years.

“I remember when the tournament was held at Westridge’s Stephen Reagan Sportsfield in Mitchells Plain how the Bayhill’s LOC operated from a caravan which belonged to one of the committee members in Mr Abraham Witten,” Carolus further stated. “I would joke about it as I found it quite peculiar but that was just me.”

Carolus highlighted that it is no secret that the tournament got better “here and there” with time and he regards the decision to move the event from Mitchells Plain to Belhar’s Erica Park as a “masterstroke”

“I think it signified that the tournament had outgrown itself in Mitchells Plain due to the popularity and demand and started to attract visiting teams from outside Cape Town’s shores, like the School of Excellence,” Carolus further added.

“It also provided the organisers with some much-needed office space for administrators, officials and the media. I think it also made the tournament very easy to watch as one could stand on the embankment and watch four games simultaneously by just turning your head.

“Unlike at Stephan Reagan where the A-field, the Oval, was obscured from the other three fields, you know. The fact that Erica Park has a grandstand also allows the LOC to have a (cordoned off) section for VIP’s and it offers fans sitting in the stands a bird’s eye view – especially on the (main) A-field. Not to mention the parking space is logistically smoother if you know what I mean.”

Carolus was not just a football writer covering the event. He had a deep love and passion for the beautiful game and was also affiliated to Riverside Rangers FC from the Northerns LFA.

The football lover says there have been so many memorable finals over the previous 34 years, but one particular final stands out above the rest

“In my mind it has to be the 2014 showpiece between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns on Erica Park purely for its football displayed. There were quality players who delivered quality football for the crowd. Others might disagree, but we all see the game differently and that’s the beauty of it.

“Another exciting final was when Battswood beat Rangers on penalties (7-6) in 1992. I might come across as biased but there was one semi-final between two amateur sides in Riverside Rangers and Edgemead PV… it was one of the best games I have ever seen at the tournament – it could easily have been a final in my view.

“Rangers, who just returned from a provincial tournament boasted players like Jerome McCarthy, Riedah Jappie, Llewellyn Petersen, Rowan Arendse and others… one of the best semi-final clashes ever.
“I think the final between Santos and Milano in 1999 pulled the biggest crowd to date but I speak under correction. Santos eventually won 3-1 and this was another standout fixture for me.

”One remarkable aspect from the first tournament which I think gave it immediate prestige was when Matroos’ duo of Kamaal Sait and David Petersen were rewarded with a pro contract with Santos and Hellenic respectively while the coach Marco Roman also played pro at Santos subsequently.

Carolus humbly admitted to No Bones with Jones that he was one of the sceptics when the organisers announced last year that the final would be played at the Athlone Stadium.

“For the very simple reason that the very first final at the Athlone Stadium in 2003 between the winner, Wits and Tuks, did not live up to expectations. There was a lack of atmosphere probably because it was two sides from outside Cape Town. Last year’s event however was totally different as the atmosphere was amazing.

“In 2003 they moved the final between Wits University and Tuks to the Home of Soccer, the Athlone stadium for the first time. The game was tight and Wits won (5-4) on penalties but in my view it didn’t live up to expectations,” said Carolus.

Many may know Carolus as a football writer who has covered and won quite a number of accolades at this one-of-a-kind tournament on the African continent, but few know that he also won the losers final when he steered Rangers to a 1-0 win over Westridge.

The Bayhill’s slogan “Where legends are born” is no truer and it is safe to say that Carolus has given it credence with his off (and on) the field contribution.

According to Carolus there is no better place to be over the Easter Weekend. “I felt lost when the event was postponed a couple of years ago due to the drought and Covid of course as there is just an unexplainable vibe and atmosphere like no other. 

“You meet new friends every year and similarly you get to catch up with old friends as well,” Carolus stated. “And with a common passion for football, who needs to be anywhere else?” he concluded.