Gareth Ncaca (pictured) might not have represented Bafana Bafana during his playing days but despite this, he had quality written all over him during his illustrious career in the professional ranks.
The Paarl-born midfielder was also from the first intake for Ajax Cape Town during their “golden era’ back in the mid-nineties and later went on became a household name with top clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows before he retired in 2013.
‘Mabhuthi’ as he is affectionately known, was also renowned for his tenacity in the engine room who also possessed a powerful shot an eye for goals.
Despite not winning the Bayhill Cup after losing out on two occasions to Santos in (1999 and 2000), Ncaca’s name was already etched in the history books after he became the first individual to win the Player of Tournament award for 1999 as an Ajax player when the event was still hosted at the Westridge Sport Complex in Mitchells Plain in the nineties.
More than three decades later, he returned to the Easter spectacle with Antalyaspor JMP Cape Town to get the tongues wagging once again after he finally conquered the tournament as coach. and deservedly scooped up the coach of the tournament after he guided his side to their maiden success at the biggest youth football event on the African continent – humbling three PSL sides on its way to an historic title.
Just for the record and to refresh the memory again on Antalyaspor JPM’s almost flawless scorecard which reads – a 2-2 draw against the host club Bayhill United during the group stages was the only blemish so to speak while the rest were all victories against Stanturf (1-0), Bolabatha (7-0), 2-0 against Chippa United (Last 16), 2-0 against Randburg AFC (quarterfinal), a 5-4 penalty shootout win against Stellenbosch FC (semifinal) and off course their 1-0 triumph against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Roger Clayton Cup Final at the Athlone Stadium on Easter Monday.
This is exactly why they were crowned deserved champions. Ncaca, who has seen it and done it all, is also a very humble individual that does not really speak or rave about his footballing achievements.
That said, the 44-year-old exclusively opened up to No Bones with Jones when he rated this achievement as the pinnacle of his footballing exploits.
I’m just honoured, humble and grateful to have won it as a coach as I could never get my hands on the trophy as a player therefore I rate this right up there,” Ncaca told No Bones with Jones. “I’ve tried to achieve this feat before with PPG (Langa) but fell short in the Round of 16 against Wits University.
“In 2017 I lost in the last 16 again against Ikapa Sporting. The following year, I lost in the quarterfinal against Super Sport United but went on to win the Plate (section) beating Glendene (United) in that final.
“Subsequently football took me to a place where I gained a lot of experience with Batalions FC in the ABC (Motsepe League. From there I moved to Cape Umoya’s SAB and NFD set-up, then to (Cape Town) All Stars within their NFD set-up where I have gained so much experience and learning and growing as a coach along the way.
“Then coming back to back to a citizen club, Citizens FC in Langa which is also my old club and that is where my humble beginnings started as much as I started off at PPG Langa which is also a citizen club and has been a big influence and part of my development so giving back to my community here in Langa as well as in Paarl (Mbekweni) was important to me.
It is no secret that Ncaca’s transferred his characteristics as a workhorse in the midfield during his playing days to that of his new life in coaching and drawing on those experiences.
Ncaca further explained: “You know, I’ve also just kept on working and working. I’m not going to stop now as for me I’m still a student of the game and continuously learning as a coach. So, for me this victory serves as an inspiration, not just to imspire young coaches but players as well to show them that work pays off.
“This achievement is also dedicated to all the clubs and the coaches that want to win the Bayhill – to show them that it is about working hard and it will pay off, you know. That is why this success sits right on top and surpasses everything you know,” Ncaca concluded.
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