Stage set for mouthwatering quarter-finals
Mark Ward
Two former champions, Young Idols and Young Pirates, have joined last year’s losing finalists, Goulburn Athletic, in the quarter-final stage of this year’s Safa Cape Town Coca-Cola Amateur Cup.
While neither of them will be at each other’s throats in the next round, Goulburn from Bonteheuwel, have set-up a potentially explosive encounter against Vasco Da Gama, while Idols will come up against Bluegum United, and the impressive FC Tafelzucht of Mitchell’s Plain will meet the 2016 winners, Pirates.
Goulburn made it thanks to two second-half strikes from David Booysen and Safwaan Christians. They beat FC Salvo from Manenberg 2-0 in their last round of 16 encounter at the Rooikrans sports complex, in Ninth Avenue, Grassy Park, on Sunday. All matches in the round of 16 were played in windy conditions.
After a goalless first half, Goulburn coach, Sardick Barends’ men strung together sublime passes to show their determination of emulating their exploits of last season when they lost 1-0 to Diadora in the final at the Athlone Stadium.
But it was 2015 winners, Young Idols who stole the show when they edged Only the Brave from the Rygate LFA in a closely contested affair. The match was heading for the penalty shootout when Keenan Langeveldt volleyed home the winner to earn his side a deserved 1-0 win.
However, Idol’s goalkeeper, Jessie Pasens, emerged as the hero of the day when he stopped a late second-half penalty.
“Its my job to stop any shots from entering our goals. I guess this was just of those,” said Pasens as he sprinted off to join his celebrating teammates.
They will now prepare to meet Bluegum United of Bonteheuwel in the next round.
In other action, 2009 and 2012 winners, Hanover Park’s, ambitions to add a third title to the club’s list of achievements suffered a set-back when they lost 2-1 to FC Tafelzucht.
Lionel Saal put the Brasse Vannie Park 1-0 up after getting a second chance when his initial penalty kick was bravely parried by the Tafelzucht goalkeeper, Mujahid Sabera who unfortunately could not hold onto the ball. But their midfielder, Yaseen Hartley took charge of matters in the centre of the park and finely orchestrated several attacking moves to place to the Hanover Park goal area under huge goalmouth pressure.
He then put his side equal terms from a well struck free kick from just outside the penalty area. But it was Keano Josias’ late strike which secured Tafelzucht an historical place in the quarters.
In the women's competition it was last season’s runner-up The Magic Ladies, who went on the rampage to beat Rygate Ladies by 9-0 with Jade Jones bagging a hattrick.
Defending women's champion Dangerous Heroes however were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Cape Town Roses.
