The record will show that Sea Point Swifts (Hope FC) has rewritten the club’s history books after winning Safa Western Cape’s provincial final by 1-0 against Diadora FC at a packed William Herbert Sport Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The last time Swifts qualified for this occasion was back in 2000 when they travelled to Nelspruit for the then Vodacom Playoffs under the mentorship of William “Pele” Anderson.
It’s a pity about the red card handed out to Diadora just before halftime, which somewhat spoiled the game after a brave call from the referee who stuck to his guns. Be that as it may, nothing can take away from the fact that this showpiece was a fantastic advert for local football and a credit to Diadora for playing their part.
But let’s face it, it was all Swifts and deservedly so. Swifts have proven to be a tough nut to crack in their debut season in the ABC Motsepe League – and huge credit should go to coach Dylan Deane and his technical team for their ability to assemble a championship-winning team in such a short period of time.
Nobody saw it coming, but it shows what is possible when everyone collectively buys into a project. Credit to the club’s hierarchy who stayed in their lane so to speak and allowed the coach and players to do what they have been contracted to do. This is also why Deane could build a winning machine with the capability to keep opponents at bay and to grind out wins against all odds.
So, it’s fair to say that Deane’s success was based on a rock-solid defence with a wily old fox in Clayton Daniels, who also doubled up as his assistant.
Not to mention the contribution from his goalkeeping department under the guidance of Mark “Kappies” Kapman (pictured), along with his equally competent shotstoppers in Leathan Croats, Tyrique Simons, Matthew Carelse, Yivan Memani and Jaden Valentine – their last line of defence who all contributed towards their record of 12 clean sheets for the season is testimony thereof.
No one is prouder than the former Swifts’ goalie Kapman, who had to juggle around his shot stoppers to ensure they maintained their high defensive standards right up until the final.
“I think what makes me extremely proud in this scenario is the fact that I lost my goalkeeper (Tyrique) with a broken leg and after the first two games during a Nedbank Cup game when he broke his leg,” Kapman explained to No Bones with Jones. “I brought in Matthew and he also picked up a bad (Achilles) injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season, you know. To have so many different goalkeepers featuring during the season, and all have kept so many clean sheets, it was just fantastic and I think that was the highlight for me.
“To bring in new goalkeepers all the time and to motivate and prepare them to do a particular job and to ensure the continuity for the team… I don’t think people really grasp the goalkeeping side of things, you know.
“We are not like players. If you don’t get coached well, if you don’t prepare yourself well mentally, you will concede and you lose confidence. And if the goalkeeper loses confidence, the whole team loses confidence.
“If the back four loses confidence, the midfielder does the same, the managers lose it as well, and it affects the team collectively. Let me tell you, a lot of our games we won by a solitary goal, which maybe came late on in the game, you know.
“All in all, our goalkeepers did very well for us. Currently, I have six goalkeepers and I have to keep the balance as well, you know,” Kapman concluded.
Swifts are now gearing up for the playoffs, which will be held in Umtata, East London, from next week Monday (1 June).
PHOTO SUPPLIED
