There are probably not enough superlatives to describe FC Tafelzucht’s heroics in the Coke Cup competition this season.
Needless to say, there is also just something romantic and gripping when the underdog overcomes adversity and as well as the odds to reign supreme.
This is exactly what the club from Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain displayed – the beauty of the game in its entirety as they continued their fairytale run in this David vs Goliath cup competition.
Yes, Tafelzucht has been the talk of the town and rightly so – not only for their quality football on the pitch, but also for the heart and grit displayed thus far to cut their opponents down to size.
Coach Oswald Sauls’ Tafelzucht slayed another giant in Saxon Rovers by 4-3 (1-1) on penalties at the Stephen Reagan Sportfield in Westridge, Mitchells Plain on Sunday afternoon.
This completely sent their passionate fans into raptures displaying what football should be all about and how it galvanizes a community – let alone their LFA.
Tafelzucht’s partisan fans have also shown that their support for the club of Tafelsig is undoubtedly unrivalled as their role cannot be downplayed – they are a true 12th man and supplies their side with the power – and it’s called ‘Zucht Power’
It feels like just a distant memory when the club threatened to break away a couple of months ago – and luckily for them sanity prevailed and uniting the whole of Mitchells Plain in the process.
“This is absolutely massive,” said the LFA’s boss to No Bones with Jones Gilbert Kruger as he watched in awe how the scenes unfolded.
Kruger was indeed a proud leader after one of his union clubs had again made it through to the Athlone Stadium where Vasco da Gama awaits.
Vasco beat Young Idols by 1-0 in the other semi.
Kruger knows too well that football in the Plain has been on an upward trajectory in recent seasons as well as playing its rightful role within the broader community- and Tafelzucht achievement further drives home this point.
Their passionate fans are also the reason why Saul’s side could come back from the ‘dead’ yet again and wipe out a deficit to walk off the field as victors – just as they have done in the previous two rounds.
They have humbled tournament favourites and big guns such as Hanover Park FC in the Round of Last 16, Young Pirates in the quarters and now Saxon Rovers in the semifinal to book their spot in the final for the very first time in the history of the club.
Furthermore, they have ensured that their Mitchells Plain LFA is once again represented in this prestigious competition and crept in the hearts of many.
The last side to fly the flag for the Mitchells Plain LFA was Woodlands United when they also surprised Hanover Park FC in 2019.
Not a single soul, friend or foe, could miss or not feel the emotion and excitement as Tafelzucht booked their place in a historic first final in the club’s history.
It’s especially the humble nature and fatherly figure of Sauls which deserves all the praise and recognition.
Sauls flipped the script when he said: “Without them nothing will happen, so they deserved all the credit. No one gave us a chance but we did not mind as the boys stuck to their guns and delivered the goods on the field,” Sauls concluded.
