- The Mitchells Plain Youth Cup is bringing 16 local under-18 football teams together in a bid to restore the Lentegeur Sports Field.
- The tournament aims to provide a safe space for young people to showcase their talents and avoid gang violence.
- With R12 million in upgrades, the event is set to be a key moment for the community’s youth and football culture.
The Mitchells Plain Youth Cup kicks off on Saturday and will see months of planning come to fruition with 16 local u-18 teams playing for cup glory.
With the tournament being the brainchild of ward 76 councillor Avron Plaatjies, playing on this very field as a young child is what he wants to see restored for the current generation.
As tournament director of the inaugural cup, he says becoming the Ward councillor in November 2021, he wanted to make a lasting impact and restore the Lentegeur Sports Field to its former glory.
Having been the home ground to produce several Bafana Bafana and Premier Soccer League players, he continues that the revitalisation project will see the field again become a hub for talent.
“It is our responsibility to create a platform for that talent to flourish,” he says.
Restoring Lentegeur
With the field run-down by vandalism and land invasion attempts, the field has since been going through extensive upgrades by the City of Cape Town to the tune of R12 million.
But this did not come easily. With extortion and security and officials being threatened at gun point, the facility is still on its way to being fully restored.
The inaugural cup was opened only to teams from the Mitchells Plain area, with hope to expand beyond its borders next year.
WATCH | Mitchells Plain Youth Cup kicks off
Lentegeur FC will return to their home ground playing alongside Rockafellas, Westridge, Barcelona, New Foresters, Strandfontein, Ikapa, Milano, Red Rovers, Bayview, Bayhill, Stanturf, Kenpark United, Beacon City, FC Tafelzucht and Beacon Spurs who round out the 16 teams.
“Our primary objective is to bring sports back to Lentegeur,” he says. “What is thought to be a violent place, we will change that around to be a football place.”
Gilbert Kruger, Local Football Association Mitchells Plain (MPLFA) chair says the tournament is delivering to one of the most underprivileged areas in Mitchells Plain.
He continues that with eight clubs in the vicinity, once the fields are restored, the LFA will make use of this facility in future. South African Football Association (SAFA) Cape Town chair and national vice chair Bennett Bailey says soccer offers so many benefits to youth, including discipline, grace in winning and defeat and strategy.
Everything to play for
Lentegeur Football Club chair Johan Van Wyk, who started the club in 1992 after the death of his brother, says the road to this tournament was a long, but rewarding one.
“In 2018 or 19, 22 youngsters were killed in my area, ranging in age from 14 to 22 in the space of six months,” he says.
Lentegeur is plagued by gang violence, but with the respected position of the club among gang leaders, they have been able to restore and assist in keeping peace, says Van Wyk.
This tournament will offer an opportunity to keep youth occupied and out of the grips of gangs, he continues.
Mark Rodrigues, chair of Bayview FC – one of the clubs participating in the tournament, says they support Lentegeur as good friends to Bayview.
“It made sense for us to join this tournament, because the u-18 age group is very vulnerable to gangsterism and other community illnesses,” he says.
Milano United FC coach, Christopher Isaacs says winning would ease financial burdens and be a significant boost.
“Participating in this esteemed tournament is an excellent opportunity for Milano to showcase our talent in the division, and we are honoured to be a part of it,” says Isaacs. “Tournaments for this age group are not as common, so it would be beneficial to have more such events to provide our players with increased opportunities. It’s important to consider that not all players may qualify for other tournaments.”
Sponsors and supporters of the event is Watergate Centre, Kwena Group Holdings, Liberty Promenade Mall, MTN, Peninsula Beverages, Albany, Comtel, Elements Garden and Winelands Productions. The tournament is also supported by SAFA Cape Town, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government. Lentegeur Football Club is the 2024 football partner.
TygerBurger is the official Print Media partner.
- With the tournament kicking off on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October, spectators are welcome. An entry fee of R10 per person and R10 per vehicle is applicable per day.
