Magic of the Nedbank Cup
Cape side out to dim Stars
THEMagic FC’s participation in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup is a perfect illustration of what the competition stands for.
Based on the English FA Cup, it affords unknown, unfashionable clubs, with youthful, hopeful players, the opportunity to test their skill against the best teams in the country, and providing them with a chance to pull off a few surprise results.
The competition offers the eventual winners a R7 million prize, and includes the 16 Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs, eight National First Division (NFD) sides and eight lower-tier teams.
For Second Division The Magic, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. The philosophy of the club is about developing young players, and preparing them for a career as successful professional footballers. And there are quite a few of them hoping to use the Nedbank Cup as a stage to exhibit their ability, and possibly catch the eye of a top-flight club – like 22year-old striker Shane Petersen.
From Ocean View, Petersen attended the Western Cape Sports School, though he only took to football at the age of 13. Volleyball was always his first love. He played at Glendene, Milano United and Ikapa Sporting before finding his way to The Magic.
Last year he spent some time on trial in Thailand, only to return injured, and that slowed his progress this season.
“I’m back fit again now and the goals are also starting to come,” said Petersen. “The Nedbank Cup is a great chance for us to show what we are capable of.
“I’ve watched a bit of Platinum Stars and they have lots of experience and a good team. But this is a huge opportunity for us, we are hungry and we are backing ourselves to cause a surprise.”
Another player looking forward to the exposure of the cup competition is 22year-old midfielder Iviwe Seti.
A few years ago, Seti, from Site C in Khayelitsha, was in the SA national under- 15 squad, but he has since lost his way.
The Magic is his way back to prominence – and he cannot wait to get on the field on Saturday.
“Platinum have the experience, but that also means that some of their players are getting on a bit,” said Seti. “They are slow in defence and the plan is for us, as young players, to use our pace in going forward to trouble them.”
Gerald Stober, head coach of The Magic, also spends a lot of time watching amateur football, in the hope of picking up players the other professional clubs in the city have missed. The former Bafana Bafana striker believes that, in 20year- old Keenan Dickson, he has discovered a rare gem.
Stober saw the central defender from Garden Villageplaying for his community team against Rygersdal last year. He kept monitoring the player, was eventually convinced, and brought him to The Magic.
“He’s one of those players who has hardly had any proper coaching,” said Stober. “He’s still raw and technically has a lot to learn, but he’s a talent. He’s one to watch in the future.”
Then there’s left-back Rodwell Bezuidenhout, who spent three months last year training with PSL club Wits. He’s already on top clubs’ shopping lists and likely to be another of The Magic’s success stories.
Rehabilitating players who have fallen off the track, is also a key aspect of the club’s philosophy, like Kaylin Mentoor.
From Manenberg, 23-year-old Mentoor was in the Ajax Cape Town youth academy, but his career stalled, as it so often does with many talented kids in the Cape Flats townships.
An intelligent footballer, with a keen football brain – according to Stober – Mentoor came to The Magic drastically overweight and out-of-sorts, but they’ve pared him down. They’ve got him hungry again and they’ve got him playing well again.