Clubs Like Matroosfontein FC. Juventus FC, Stanturf United, Everton FC coupled with the more influential ones like Vasco da Gama and Rygersdal FC who are all based in the Cape Metropole, will be flying the flag for the amateur sides at the 37th edition of the Bayhill Premier Cup which kicks off at the Erica Park Sport Complex in Belhar from 1 to 6 April.
So, too will the duo of Jomos Power and Aberdeen FC represent the community of Atlantis with immense pride. The latter, along with Rygersdal ‘snuck’ by the back door as the best second and best third-placed teams respectively – but as if they really care!
These so-called minnows will once again be on a quest to try and change the narrative which has become that only by the academy sides with their big budgets and resources.are privy to taste success at the Easter spectacle.
One coach in particular, Erefaan Meyer from Juventus says they will not be at the event just to make up the numbers and either will be intimidated by the so-called big guns at the tournament.
“Their (academies) weakness is arrogance,” Meyer pointed out to No Bones with Jones.”
Meyer, who’ll be doing duty for a second time after the Mitchells Plain outfit qualified as league winners from their LFA, also has a deep connection with the Bayhill tournament.
The former Santos and Cape Town Spurs player has gone the proverbial full circle at the event and played in the tournament back in the nineties where he too was scouted by pro clubs along with South African icons such as Benni McCarthy and others.
Along with his technical team Abubakar Essop (Manager), Allie Samsodien (Assistant coach), Safwaan Fataar (Assistant manager) and Imaad Essop (Physio) they will attempt to further their previous achievements of progressing beyond the group stages.
That will be easier said than done as Fanie’s Juvie Boys were faced with many challenges with their preparation leading up to the tournament proper.
“Ons of our biggest obstacles is that we never had a proper practice field,” Meyer further stated. “Remember, we have a lot of clubs in the area and forget that fields must be shared with the cricket fraternity as well.
“Then there is also a growing and thriving rugby community that also uses the facility and this makes it impossible to get a space of our own. We have been training in one of the roads in Lentegeur, Duinebessie road to be exact. It’s even called the “Juvie blad” as it is a concrete surface in the ‘jungle’ and you know how hard that is and where our dreams started.
“Having no proper training field was one of our biggest challenges I’d say. But, we needed to keep the boys active and we had no other alternatives. It is pointless to moan and groan, that is just our reality and we had to make the most of it as we needed to keep the players active for the Bayhill.”
Another challenge Meyer had to navigate was to ensure that the mix between the homegrown players and those from outside the club were also met.
“Look, we want to be competitive at the Bayhill but not at the expense of our local players who helped us win the league. Hence, we decided to only have seven recruits from a squad of 20 players and we’ll make the best of everything, you know,” Meyer concluded.
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