Cape Town Spurs are steeped in history

AFTER failing to regain professional football status in South Africa, the 51% stake Ajax Amsterdam held in Ajax Cape Town has been sold to Cape Town Stars, a minority shareholder of Ajax Cape Town.

The franchise will be re- branded and revived as Cape Town Spurs FC. Spurs’ history has vanished from the memory of the current football fraternity, and you will have to be of my generation to remember that this dynamic club birthed such stars as Shaun Bartlett, Andre Arendse and David Kannemeyer.

Cape Town Spurs is a product of the now defunct Federation Professional League ( FPL) formed in 1969 to promote football among Indians and Coloureds. It folded in 1990 when it merged with the NPSL to form a unified professional soccer league.

Who can forget how former FPL team Manning Rangers won the inaugural league title? The name CTS evokes memories of the FPL heydays when they ran amok, taking seven league titles between 1970 and 1981. They produced three Player of the Year recipients in Danny Abraham in 1973, Bernie van Niekerk in 1977 and Boebie Solomons in 1980.

The FPL’S top goal scorer awards went to Bernard Hartze in 1970/ 1, Neville Londt in 1974 and Kader Sulaiman in 1979 and 1981.

CTS was the epitome of “struggle football” and at the forefront of fighting racism in football.

I also remember the 1974 Coca Cola Knock- Out Cup Final between CTS and Manna Govender’s Berea, which must rate as an all- time classic.

There was always a carnival atmosphere on Cup Final days at Curries Fountain, the mecca of nonracial football.

In a nail- biting match, Berea eclipsed CTS 4- 3. Daya Maistry, Ficky Valley, Duda Munsamy and Scampy Bissessor shone for the Durban side, while Peter Sables, Clive Darries, Seraj Abbas and Solomons put in a gallant effort for the Capetonians. KEVIN GOVENDER | Shallcross