Spare a thought for Wynberg High School….
Because never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined the fate that would befall them in the seventh edition of the Gavin Manual Memorial Schools Legacy Cup.
Wynberg, competing in their fifth tournament went all the way to the final – only to get beaten 2-0 by their Southern Suburbs neighbours Plumstead High.
The latter also became the seventh new champion to get its hands on the flagship event on the school calendar. But here is where it gets crazy. Plumstead only received entry to the tournament following a cancellation.
Furthermore, Wynberg’s coach Jayson Van Dalen, who happens to be good friends with his counterpart from Plumstead Faeed Amardien, proposed that the organisers extend the vacant spot to their Plumstead neighbours.
Clearly Amardien was not in the mood to return any favours or show some loyalty as they rubbed Wynberg’s noses in the sand sealing the game with the two first half goals via Jonathan Lukama and Jude Rulse.
Despite this, both coaches displayed the true spirit of football and humanity as they congratulated each other after the match, having a nice chuckle.
Meanwhile Manyano High defended their title following a 3-0 victory over Glendale High in the girls’ final thanks to a brace from Yolanda Kabane (2) and Esam Bantom.
The tournament director Sean Campbell stated the growth from 24 clubs to 40 indicates that the event is here to stay.
“The tournament is to honour a “Legend” in schools football, using social cohesion to create “Access and Opportunity” for the participants,” Campbell added.
Individual awards:
Boys
Winners: Plumstead High
Top Goalscorer: no outright winner, three-way tie (4 goals)
Top Goalkeeper: Ayabonga Yawa (Wynberg High)
Player of Tournament: Jonathan Lukama (Plumstead High)
Girls
Winners: Manyano High
Top Goalscorer: Nikita Erasmus (6 goals) Westridge High
Top Goalkeeper: Buhle Ncanywa (Manyano High)
Player of Tournament: Nasiphi Kolwane (Manyano High)
