BUCS WALLOP NEW ENGLAND

ORLANDO Pirates got off their Gauteng Under-17 Future Champions International Cup off to a flying start with a resounding 3-0 win against New England Revolution here yesterday. Played at the Nike Football Training centre in Pimville, the young Buccaneers dominated the encounter in this tournament organised by Gauteng MEC for sports, arts and culture Lebogang Maile’s department. Siyanda Ngcobo was the star of the match after scoring a brace. The third one was netted by Nhlakanipho “Nanana” Ntuli. Pirates’ academy technical director, who is also the senior side’s caretaker coach, Augusto “Njenje” Palacios, was calling the shots from the bench. “We played well and I’m proud of these boys. Our aim is to go all the way to the final and win the tournament, but we will take each game as it comes,” Palacios said. Pirates play Uruguay’s Nationale in their second match of the tournament at the same venue today. The match kicks off at 5pm. The South Americans played to a 1-1 draw against Abed! Pele’s FC Nania from Ghana in their opening match yesterday. The match between BidVest Wits, guided by Eric Tinkler and Ashley Makhanya, and Aspire from Qatar also ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Defending champions Athletico Mineiro of Brazil beat Mohloli High from Sharpeville 4-0 in a one-sided match. Another match that ended in a 1-all draw was between Holland’s PSV Eindhoven and Young Zebras of Botswana. In the last match of the evening, Zambia’s K Stars walloped Transnet Football School UTURE of Excellence 3HAMPIONS 1. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Maile said: “We are delighted with the support we are getting from the community for this tournament. “I will be very happy to see some of these youngsters playing for Bafana Bafana in future. I have no doubt that these youngsters will represent the country at the highest level in the future.” Today’s fixtures: K Stars vs FC Nania (11.15am), Spire vs Young Zebras (12.30pm), Transnet School of Excellence vs New Engine Revolution (1.45pm), Wits vs Athletico Mineiro (3pm), Pirates vs Nationale (5pm) and Mohloli vs PSV Eindhoven (6.30pm). EYES ON THE BALL: SuperSport United’s Thandokuhle Maphumulo and Thabo Zungu of Orlando Pirates during last year’s Gauteng Under-17 Future Champions International Cup at Marks Park in Emmarentia. PHOTO LEFTY SHIVAMB11 VODACOM ORLANDO PIRATES

  • We had a wonderful football and cultural experience in Gauteng. The tournament and activities were very well organized and we found everyone involved extremely helpful and accommodating. We have all returned home with fantastic memories of our time in South Africa, both on and off the pitch, and have made many new friends as a result of the trip. I hope that we are invited to participate in future tournaments.

    Everton Academy Head Coach

  • The experience both on and off the field for our players during the Future Champions tournament in Gauteng was life-enriching for all those who participated. We were privileged enough to win this edition but what will be bringing us back in future is the cross-cultural education our players receive from spending time with athletes from all over the world. They are human beings before they are football players and enriching them with other cultures is as rewarding as the experience they receive on the field.

    Club Tijuana Director of Football

  • After twenty years of experiencing tournaments around the globe, Future Champions is hands down the best organized, well run International Tournament we have ever participated in. Bringing teams from dozens of different countries provided our boys exposure to cultural diversity they only read about in textbooks. It’s amazing how sport can be the cultural link that provides the opportunity to interact with each other and discover that our global community is a bit smaller than they realized. We had a football and cultural experience that will be cherished for the rest of our lives.

    Director of USYSA Select

  • For us to compete in Future Champions is much more than playing a series of matches. It is an opportunity to compete and contrast our level against the best teams from around the world and the possibility of living in another culture and environment for an unforgettable week, learning about the history of the fight for human rights.

    Director of Aspire Academy

  • The addition of a girls’ competition this year is a natural expansion for what has become a hugely popular event. Over and above the football, the players are also exposed to life-skills courses and HIV/AIDS awareness that could end up saving their lives in the future. We have had an amazing partnership with the Gauteng Province over the last decade and we thank each and every stakeholder for making the Future Champions Gauteng campaign such a huge success

    Tournament director