Cape Town City’s under-18s successfully defended their Coke Cup title when they beat Fish Hoek’s Ubuntu Academy 3-1 in a thriller cup final, at Athlone Stadium, at the weekend.
Coach Neven Payne’s formidable side lived up to expectations as they are also the current Engen Knockout champions and national finalists in the same competition.
City started off like a house on fire with Cee-Jay Bezuidenhout’s strike in the opening minutes, followed by Gabriel Amato’s stunner before half-time and another one by Ibongwe Tshaka after the break to make it 3-0.
To their credit, Ubuntu put up a spirited performance with Siviwe Magidigidi managing to pull one back for the Fish Hoek lads late in the second half.
“First quarter we took our chances, second quarter they had possession,” said Payne, who called his side’s performance in the competition “fantastic and a privilege to have made it to the finals and won, yet again”.
The former professional, who also had coaching spells with Hellenic and Old Mutual Academy, has been in charge of the junior Citizen squad for just over a year and a half.
“Everyone did well and took their chances, we could have scored more,” he said.
Rival coach, Moritz Kossman was quick to congratulate the champions, saying: “They’ve had an amazing year at under-18, winning the Engen, making the final of the national as well as winning the Coke Cup now. Defending the Coke Cup is no small achievement. Credit to them. The second goal they scored was beautifully taken. At 2-0 down before half-time, you try to adjust a little to come back. The third goal was probably one too far,” he said.
