Twelve teams secure Bayhill Premier Cup spots
Preparations are underway for the annual u19 Bayhill Premier Cup (BPC), also known as the Bayhill Tournament Premier Cup, which will be played in April.
Over the weekend, round-robin fixtures were played at William Herbert Sports Grounds in Wynberg, Cape Town. The weekend’s action was streamed on the SuperSport School App and online and saw 24 teams vying for the 12 places.
After the dust had settled, Stanturf United FC, Rygersdal FC, Ubuntu Academy, Hellenic FC, Jomo’s Power FC, Young Bafana FC, FC Porto, JL Zwane, Antalyaspor JPM CT, FN Rangers St Agnes, Eagles Performance Academy, and Valhalla United FC advanced to the Cup competition after finishing either first or second in their groups.
Cape Town Spurs are the defending champions after beating FN Rangers St Agnes in 2024’s title game.
The Bayhill Premier Cup was first held in 1989 and has since grown to attract top teams from across South Africa and beyond, serving as a platform for young talent to be exposed to a wider audience. Apart from the Cape Town teams, last year’s event included, among others, Virginia Academy, Chippa United, Stellenbosch FC, the University of Pretoria, and Mamelodi Sundowns.,
International participants have included Swansea City (UK), Zesco United (Zambia), Manchester Schools (UK), Hessischer Futbal Verband (Germany), Komeshu FC (Namibia), Three Kings (New Zealand), South Nottingham College (UK), Wiesbaden 1926 (Germany), Gallant Academy (Kenya), SV Wehen (Germany), Dipetsana (Botswana), Windhoek Gymnasium (Namibia), and Young Warriors (Zimbabwe).
Last year’s final, won 4-1 by Cape Town Spurs, attracted a crowd of over 10 000 spectators, with Spurs’ captain Denzel du Plessis, Faiz Abrahams, Jenairho Brock, and Jeandre Gaffoor netting for the winners, and Sergio Fransch replying for the runners-up.
Numerous players, including Benni McCarthy who went on to win the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto under coach Jose Mourinho, have been identified and propelled to success through the Bayhill Premier Cup. Others to have strutted their stuff in the event include top pros, Thulani Serero, Nasief Morris, Lance Davids, Luke Baartman, and Percy Tau,
RESULTS
SATURDAY
Group A
Ulana Academy 1-0 C.R. Vasco Da Gama
Stanturf United 3-2 Reyersdal FC
Group B
Hellenic FC 2-0 Good Hope FC
Ubuntu Academy 1-0 Masithandane FC
Group C
Young Bafana FC 1-1 Jomo’s Power FC
Dunoon Sporting Academy 2-0 Delft FC
Group D
FC Porto 1-0 Maties FC
JL Zwane FC 2-0 Aberdeen SC
Group E
Antalyaspor JPM CT 2-1 Manenberg Sporting Academy
FN Rangers St Agnes 3-0 Kensington AFC
Group F
Junction Rovers AFC 2-0 Premier United FC
Eagles Performance Academy 2-1 Valhalla United
SUNDAY
Group A
CR Vasco Da Gama 0-0 Stanturf United FC
Rygersdal FC 2-0 Ulana Academy
Rygersdal FC 0-0 CR Vasco Da Gama
Ulana Academy 0-0 Stanturf United FC
Group B
Hellenic FC 1-1 Ubuntu Academy
Good Hope FC 2-0 Masithandane FC
Masithandane FC 1-1 Hellenic FC
Ubuntu Academy 3-1 Good Hope FC
Group C
Young Bafana FC 3-2 Dunoon Sporting Academy
Jomo’s Power FC 3-1 Delft FC
Jomo’s Power FC 2-0 Dunoon Sporting Academy
Young Bafana FC 3-1 Delft FC
Group D
Maties FC 0-0 Aberdeen SC
JL Zwane FC 1-1 FC Porto
Maties FC 4-0 JL Zwane FC
Aberdeen SC 2-0 FC Porto
Group E
FN Rangers St Agnes 1-0 Manenberg Sporting Academy
Antalyaspor JPM CT 3-1 Kensington AFC
Antalyspor JPM CT 2-1 FN Rangers St Agnes
Manenberg Sporting Academy 3-2 Kensington AFC
Group F
Eagles Performance Academy 1-0 Junction Rovers FC
Valhalla United FC 2-0 Premier United
Eagles Performance Academy 1-0 Premier United
Valhalla United FC 3-0 Junction Rovers FC
