As massive as Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town’s Coke Cup triumph is for the newly formed club, it is equally as massive for its young up and coming coach, the former Bafana Bafana defender Mario Booysen.
Booysen, who is still wet behind the ears in terms of coaching, guided the academy club’s under-18’s, against all odds, to a maiden Coke Cup title with a 1-0 win over Hanover Park FC at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
Aiden Williams was the difference for Antalyaspor on the day when he netted the winner just before the final whistle.
“This is massive for them,” Booysen stated. “It’s just a bunch of humble boys that put in the hard work and this is just the cherry on the top the way our season went.
“But this is massive for the club because it is the first year the academy has started and it’s the first year we are in the Coke Cup final. All of them…. character because they fought till the end,” Booysen added.
Williams admitted it was a tough battle and that he was becoming emotional.
“Having the supporters and family here and to score the winner was a huge moment for me in the Coke Cup final,” Williams added.
This will be the perfect boost for the 36-year-old Booysen to further carve out a professional career in coaching – just as he did as a former player for Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
