Former Santos goal poacher Erwin Isaacs (pictured) revealed he always had a burning desire to feature in a Bayhill Premier Cup tournament – but as a player, this never materialised.
Ironically, Isaacs’ biggest attribute – a live wire striker with an eye for goals – was also his biggest curse that ‘curtailed’ him from participating in this prestigious Easter tournament.
That said, when the opportunity dawned for the Lavender Hill-born attacker to announce his arrival at The Bayhill, it was already written in the stars that he would turn pro at 17 years for Santos during the 2005/2006 season – and the rest is history.
“Yes, I was geared up and qualified (age-wise) to play in the Bayhill Cup and it was my ambition,” Isaacs told No Bones with Jones. “Honestly speaking it was a bit of a bittersweet moment for me but at the end of the day it was a no-brainer as the PSL was the highest league in the country and it was every player’s dream to play pro football,” he added.
Isaacs subsequently became the talk of the town, especially after he announced his arrival in top-flight football with the winning goal on his debut against Golden Arrows.
“I remember as if it was yesterday,” Isaacs explained: “I was one-on-one with the keeper and I chipped the ball over his head and I knew then my dream had come true. I will never forget this memory. I mean it is a striker’s dream to score on his debut for a club, and to do it at 17 was pretty special, I must say.”
These days, the 37-year-old former Wits and Ajax Cape Town player is coaching Lavender Hill FC’s junior divisions as well as the first team – and with great success. He won the League and Knockout titles last season with under 16’s, -18’s and the first team.
But with amateur neighbouring teams like Greenwood Athletic qualifying for the Bayhill finals, it has awakened old ambitions for Isaacs – obviously not as a player but as a young coach.
“Look, when I started with the youngsters it was mainly to get them off the streets and to find the next rough diamond in our area. But things started to grow and I linked up with the club in my area to see how I can assist on a collective scale.
“Now that I am coaching the under 18’s and seeing the talent we have, I am thinking that we should try and qualify for the Bayhill so that the players can match them against the best youth and hopefully they can get scouted. Look, that is the aim in the future and it got me very excited as I never played in the tournament.
Isaacs further explained: “But so far it has been fun and enjoyable. I am keeping fit at the same time. The thing is that I have committed to giving my time and skills to a community where it all began for me. I think one cannot deny that some looked up to me when I was a player back then. So, I have a responsibility to the community as well and the least I can do is to give back.”
Isaacs, who scored more than 160 goals in all competitions for The People’s Team emphasized the importance of good role models in society.
“Hence I want to create alternatives for young talent in the ghetto area and the one thing they are passionate about is soccer. The players should have dreams and aspirations they can strive for. So, we have something in common with football and that is our bond, you know.”
‘Appels’ as Isaacs is known in the football circles, admitted that he wasn’t always the best of examples as fame and money, if not managed with discipline and respect, can lead to destruction.
Appels was dubbed as the proverbial “Bad Boy” of Cape soccer at one stage but added he learnt valuable life lessons.
“You learn by your mistakes and I am grateful for that,” Isaacs explained. “I’m even more grateful for the fact that I am saved by God and He has given me another chance in life with a more meaningful purpose. “My advice to youngsters is that a player can never be bigger than the game. Respect your club and the players and live a clean lifestyle,” Isaacs concluded.
Isaacs has identified Ashley Jones, last season’s Player of the Season, as one for the future. According to Jones they are so lucky to have a former pro in the area that is willing to give back albeit on a small scale.
“Training with (coach) Erwin is like a case of the proverbial “apple a day keeps the doctor away,” Jones concluded.
