UCT gear up for Coke Cup finals

Mark Ward|Published 6 months ago

UCT’s women’s team celebrate gaining promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League following a week of drama on and off the field, at the play-offs in Knysna. Picture: Supplied

The University of Cape Town’s women's football team has gained promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League on the eve of them contesting for Safa Cape Town’s Coke Cup, at Athlone Stadium, at the weekend.

After a dramatic start to the national tournament in Knysna in the Southern Cape last week, where they had to endure accommodation challenges while the management team were involved in a motor vehicle accident on their way to the week-long event, the team celebrated one of its finest moments.

The teams coaching staff of Ahmed Parker (head coach), Shaquille Williams (assistant) and Mark Kapman (goalkeeper coach) were involved in an accident en-route to the Eden region. While Kapman and Williams rejoined the side, Parker returned home due to the injuries he sustained.

Although the team lost in the final against Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal in the final National Championships at Loerie Park Sports Grounds on Sunday, both teams have been promoted to what is effectively South Africa’s professional football league for women. They will join the University of the Western Cape (UWC) as the Cape representatives in the competition. UCT beat Kovsies 4-0 in the semi-final.

The UWC-side recently won the Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Zone after defeating Botswana’s Gaborone United 9-8 on penalties in Malawi and will now compete in the CAF Women’s Champions League finals along with Mamelodi Sundowns, later this year.

UCT head of sport Mark Bashe. Picture: Supplied

“This is indeed one of our finest moments in our endeavours to promote and transform especially women's sport at the university,” said Mark Bashe, the institution's head of sport.

“Firstly, congratulations to our team and management for producing the success which is in line with our strategy to advance women's sport. Just to add, we have also put great effort into establishing a women's rugby team to emulate the success of our men’s rugby team. While our next focus will be on becoming a force in netball,” said Bashe.

UCT’s Genevieve Jaftha, left, and Magic Ladies FC’s Tyauna October tussle for possession during their sides’ Coke Cup semi-final fixture, in Mitchell’s Plain, earlier this month. UCT beat The Magic 2-0 to set up a cup final date with Dangerous Heroes. Picture: Fuad Esack

According to Bashe, they will now sit down with the football team’s management and plan the way forward as they prepare to enter a new era of the team playing in a professional environment where they will need more resources and money for the next phase in the development of the team.

“We will also have to engage with Safa on what the requirements are with regards to our participation in the league which as we have seen is tough competition and if you see the strides which our counterparts at the University of the Western Cape have made then we need to bolster our efforts to recruit new talent and create opportunities both on the academic and footballing side,” added Bashe.

UCT’s Basheerah Esmael and The Magic’s Zoe van der Ross challenge for the ball during their sides’ Coke Cup semi-final match, at Westridge, Mitchell’s Plain, earlier this month. Picture: Fuad Esack

UCT’s Serenity Warner, in mid-air, gets the ball away to Basheerah Esmael, while under from Magic’s Keerah Gentry, during their sides’ Coke Cup semi-final, in Michell’s Plain, earlier this month.Picture: Fuad Esack

The UCT side will have little time to recuperate for their six-hour trip back from Knysna to prepare for the final at the Athlone Stadium against Dangeroes Heroes, on Saturday October 26.

Gates open at noon, kick-off at 1pm (under-18 division); 3pm (exhibition match), 4.30pm (women’s division) and 6.30pm (senior men’s).

Tickets cost R10 for children under-12, adults R20. Visit quicket.co.za to purchase.