New kids on the Coke Cup block, Seaside Spurs, from Ocean View, are among the sides through to the next round of Safa Cape Town’s flagship amateur tournament.
Other senior teams through to the quarter-finals are Rebels FC, D&G Orient, Clover, Diadora, Rygersdal and Bishop Lavis.
Established earlier this year, the Seasiders have booked their spot in the quarter-finals following a 5-4 victory against Hanover Park FC in a last round of 16 match, played at the Rooikrans sports complex, in Grassy Park, last week.
In an evenly-matched contest, both sides brought on the heat from the get-go, with a number of missed opportunities on both ends of the pitch.
Hanover Park drew first blood, thanks to what coach Andrew Pequeno describes as a “deft” finish at the near post from the lanky Mickyle George, courtesy of a quality left-footed cross from Ronnie Matthys, to send his side leading 1-0 going into the break.
The Seasiders equalised matters in the second half thanks to vice captain Wesley Nicholson who slipped on the captain’s armband after regular skipper Shane Petersen was substituted.
“Hanover Park started the match the better side,” said club founder-member and chairman Earl Cloete.
“Once they scored and after about 30 minutes, the boys started to find their feet and started to hit Hanover Park more on the counterattack, targeting the side areas,” he said.
Matches were played across all divisions, including the women’s section, under-18s and seniors.
For Hanover Park coach Andrew Pequeno, it was a case of déjà vu with history repeating itself as his side lost by the same margin in last year’s quarter-final clash against Rygersdal.
Champions in 2009 and 2012, Hanover Park are certainly no strangers to big games.
However, captain Nathan Idas and company had their work cut out going up against an outfit that included a number of well-travelled journeymen, including Franklin Cale and Diego Brown.
Although barely six months since its establishment earlier this year, Seaside Spurs operated like a well-oiled machine.
The match was every bit as physical as expected with both teams eventually down to 10-men after a player on either side were red-carded – Seaside’s Justin Adendorf and Hanover Park’s Fernel Abrahams.
Ultimately, it came down to the dreaded penalty shoot after the match ended in a 1-all draw.
Seaside’s proven spotkickers Brown, Cale, Nicholson, Ryan Serfontien and Rezico Davids, did what was expected, but it was goalkeeper Sibulele Mphalwa’s heroics between the sticks that sealed the deal.
Quick to congratulate his opponents, Hanover Park coach Pequeno lamented on missed opportunities.
“I felt we dominated the first half and we went into half-time 1-0 up,” he said.
“We spurned a number of good opportunities in the first half and that came back to bite us when Seaside Spurs equalised in the second half.
“We kept going and we had some half chances but we could not score the decisive goal.
““Unfortunately, the lottery of a penalty shootout resulted in our missed final spot kick deciding the tie.
“I wish Seaside Spurs all the best in the next round and I am so happy that the Coke Cup is alive and kicking looking at the huge numbers that turned out for all the matches,” Pequeno said.
● Meanwhile, Gugulethu women’s soccer coach Jeffrey Mqondisi Qhuma can be forgiven for reaching for his stress tablets during last week’s last week’s matches the Rooikrans sports complex in Grassy Park.
The Winnies Ladies FC mentor’s side was on the receiving end of an 11-0 drubbing in their last round of 16 clash against Hotspurs Ladies FC.
A strong proponent of developing women’s soccer in the city, Bra Jeff, was one of a number of women’s soccer coaches, including Cape Town Roses’ coach, Xolile Madikane and others, applauded by national women’s coach, Desiree Ellis during the homecoming celebrations for Cape-based Banyana Banyana squad members, at Athlone Stadium recently.
Qhuma, who’s been with Winnies since its establishment in 1993, remains positive about the future, despite his side’s exit from the competition.
“We’ll soldier on. Eventually, the tide will turn,” he said.
“We’ll promote some youngsters with potential from our development structure, so the future looks bright,” he said.
“Ever since Banyana Banyana became African champions, interest in women’s soccer has increased.
“Numbers have doubled at our training base at the Gugulethu sports complex. Along with coach Griselda Baartman, we’re building future stars,” he said.
Women’s teams through to the quarters are Burnley, UCT, Santos Ladies, Invincible Cravenby, Shosholoza, Heideveld and Dangerous Heroes.
● In the boys under-18 division, D&G Orient, Grassy Park United, Cape Town City, Ulana Academy, Mfolosi FC, Ubuntu Football Academy, Valhalla Park and Woodlands United are through to the quarter-finals.