Lwandle Mdingi leads Antalyaspor to Bayhill glory
After six days of exciting football in the Western Cape, Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town captured the 2026 Bayhill Premier Cup (BPC), by defeating the favoured Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in the title game to lift the BPC Roger Clayton Trophy.
The title stays in the Cape, thanks to Antalyaspor
Antalyaspor’s number nine, Lwandle Mdingi, rose to the occasion by scoring the all-important only goal of the match.
With his title-winning strike, Mdingi etched his name on the list of young stars who have lit up the BPC over the 37 years of the tournament. Antalyaspor’s win was, to many, a surprising outcome, given Sundowns’ pedigree and status as one of South Africa’s most prominent youth development teams.
In the title game, played at the Athlone Stadium, the Brazilians enjoyed the majority of possession, which is customary for Bafana Ba Style, but their Cape Town opponents were undeterred and delivered a robust defensive performance. Sundowns pushed hard for an equaliser after falling behind, but Antalyaspor held their ground, bending but not breaking, and their win ensured that the title remains in the Mother City.
The last time a team from outside of Cape Town won the prestigious title was in 2019. Victory on that occasion went to Gauteng’s Highlands Park. Since then, though, the proud residents of Cape Town have valiantly defended the title, and Antalyaspor’s victory was the latest chapter in their defiant resistance.
In 2020 and 2021, the tournament was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, Cape Town Spurs won the title, and they repeated their success in 2024. The champions of 2023 were Grassy Park United, another team from Cape Town, who defeated Cape Town Spurs 2-1 in an all-Cape Town final at Athlone Stadium.
In 2025, Randburg made the final, but they were stopped by the Ubuntu Football Academy, who won 2-0. In 2026, Antalyaspor stunned Sundowns to earn the right to have their name recorded as champions of the Bayhill Premier Cup Football Tournament.
Hout Bay United lifts the Plate title
In the Pat Connolly Plate Section, Rygersdal overpowered Hout Bay United 4-0 with silverware on the line. Four different scorers took them to victory.
Aminnuddin Gaiden initiated the scoring for Rygersdal, Cayden Liam Daniels increased their advantage, and Mogamat Fawwaz O’Malley made it 3-0. Keanu Enrico registered the fourth and final goal of the match.
Cape Town Spurs crowned Pat Connolly Mid Section winners
The 2024 champions of the BPC, the Urban Warriors, fell short in their quest to win the title for a third time in five years. However, they had a chance to claim the Pat Connolly Mid Section honours when they faced Randburg in the final on Monday.
The match was challenging for both teams, as Randburg, the representatives from the Gauteng Development League (GDL) who had lost the final to Ubuntu Football Academy in 2025, were eager for retribution in the mid-section competition. Defending their honour in their home city, Cape Town Spurs had equal cause for motivation, and they pulled through, claiming a 2-0 victory.
Sibabalwe Valela netted the first goal of the match in the first half, which forced Randburg to pursue the game aggressively.
Spurs exploited that, with Msimelelo Qokelwa extending their lead in the closing minutes of the match.
Randburg had a chance to make a late charge, earning a penalty kick, but that attempt was thwarted, and Spurs celebrated a hard-fought win.
Individual Honours
After the referee blew the final whistle, signalling Antalyaspor’s victory in the title match, individual and team titles were presented.
Denovian Davids, from Cape Town Spurs, claimed the Golden Boot for scoring four goals, receiving the award from the former Cape Town Spurs and Bafana Bafana striker, Shaun Bartlett, who made his name with Charlton Athletic, in the English Premier League.
The Goalkeeper of the Tournament title was presented to Ayaan Jacobs of the BPC champions, Antalyaspor. Farouk Abrahams, a well-known figure in South African football, recognised for his career as a professional goalkeeper coach and community builder, handed over the award. He famously served as the goalkeeper coach for Bafana Bafana during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Muziwakhe Dladla, from Sundowns, was honoured as the Manager of the Series, while the coach of Banyana Banyana, Dr Desiree Ellis, presented Gareth Ncaca, from Antalyaspor, with the Coach of the Series Award.
Stanturf United was named the Most Promising Amateur Team, and Antalyaspor was named the Team of the Series.
The BPC 2026 Player of the Series went to Sechaba Tlotlang, of Mamelodi Sundowns, with Lance Davids, the BPC Ambassador and former Cape Town Spurs player, presenting the title to the young athlete.
The referees were acknowledged for their contributions, with Sophumelela Gxowa recognised as the Referee of the Series, while Akhona Khuse received the Assistant Referee of the Series Award.
RESULTS
Bruyns Plate Section Final
Rygersdal 4-0 Hout Bay United
Pat Connolly Mid Section Final
Cape Town Spurs 2-0 Randburg
Roger Clayton Trophy Final
Antalysapor 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
- Tough road ahead for Amajimbos after Afcon draw - 2026-04-09
- Bulgaria falls as South Africa wraps up UEFA Four Nations in style - 2026-04-08
- Lwandle Mdingi leads Antalyaspor to Bayhill glory - 2026-04-07
