Project Playground (PPG) Langa qualified for their third successive Bayhill Under-19 Premier Cup following a convincing display during the last round of qualifiers in Mitchell’s Plain, a fortnight ago.
The Langa-based outfit found themselves in a tough Group F alongside neighbours Everton FC from Nyanga, Mitchell’s Plain’s Bayview and Parkwood’s Southampton FC. The group was a tricky one but the Langa side, coached by former professional player Mabhuti Gareth Ncaca, have been in similar situations before.
Using their street-smarts they know how to get themselves out of tight corners.
PPG, in the end, qualified as winners of the group after collecting eight points from two wins and a scoring draw.
They started their campaign on a high, beating an equally impressive Everton side 1-0 in a highly charged opening match. The sidelines were divided into Nyanga and Gugulethu as the two sets of fans urged their players on. On the field, the youngsters produced end-to-end stuff.
The front runners tried their best to find openings but the defenses, held their ground. A single goal, in the end, was what separated the two sides.
That was the start the PPG side were looking for. Despite that good start, however, the side couldn’t continue where they left off as they were held to a 1-all draw by Bayview in their second match. To their credit, however, PPG bounced back to beat Southampton 2-0 to make their third Premier Cup appearance, in a space of three years.
As a completely unknown side, PPG caught everyone by surprise when they qualified for their first ever tournament in 2015. They showed little respect for their more fancied opponents with the players, from goalkeeper to strikers, playing confidencly on the ball. Throughout the qualifiers, the players entertained the fans with what die-hard football lovers call “Tsamayas and Shibobos” – a brand of football made famous by the likes of Jomo Sono.
Their fairy tail continued in the in the tournament proper where most critics were convinced the side were just there to add up numbers. Those critics could be forgiven for thinking that way as PPG were, after all, up against some of the country’s best in that age group.
What made things even more difficult for them was the fact that they were up against the then defending champions Ajax Cape Town, Vasco da Gama and Berea Albion. The side didn’t just qualify for the knockout stages, they did that at the expense of Ajax, after topping the group with six points having recorded a win, a draw and a scoring draw.
People started to take note – PPG meant business. The same happened in last year’s tournament where they topped Group G – which had English Premiership side Swansea, Stephanian Ottery and Glenwegians – with seven points after recording a win and two scoring draws. However, as it was the case a year before, the side couldn’t take that good form over to the knockout stages. They went on to 1-0, after extra time, against Ikapa Sporting, who were eventually named the tournament’s best amateur side.
Ncaca said they have more experienced players, who know what to do in such situations, this time around.
This year’s event, he said, is going to see an even better PPG side. “Our performance was very good, from the first game to the last game, teamwork got us through. Before the playoffs we worked hard on the shape of the team and work rate. We also emphasised the fact that the players had to have freedom on the ball. So, yes, people will see a much improved PPG in Belhar,” he said.