Pirates first SA winners
ORLANDO Pirates FC became the first South African winners of the Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament when they edged Russian visitors FC Spartak 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto at the weekend.
It brought to an end a magnificent six days of action, where some of the top young players in the world competed for the prestigious Under-17 prize.
Pirates took the lead in a tense decider through Thabani Gumede, when he turned home the loose ball after Spartak failed to clear.
But the visitors hit back in the second period when leading scorer Magomedemin Rabadanov headed home a cross, to send the game to spot-kicks.
Both sides produced some excellent penalties, but in the end Pirates goalkeeper Blake Franzen saved two spot-kicks to give his side the historic trophy win.
Clube Brugge secured the bronze medal when they edged Safa Gauteng 2-1 in the third-place play-off.
The final of the girl’s competition was also played on Saturday, with Safa Johannesburg running out 2-1 victors over Dr BW Vilakazi Secondary School in a battle between two sides who had won their place in the show piece fixture at the Future Champions Gauteng Cup.
The winners of the Future Champions Gauteng Talent Search were also announced, with Ayeesha Moosa from Nirvana Secondary School in Lenasia taking the girls’ spot, and Bulelani Mkhwanazi from Emshugantambo High School in Pimville and Mpho Maikhoso from Reashoma Secondary School in Protea North, the boys’ winners, while the Future Coaches winner was Setshedi More from Pimville.
The trio will have a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spain, courtesy of Laliga, where they will learn what it takes to play at the highest level.