FC Tafelzucht rounded off a wonderful season, collecting key trophies at the weekend’s Safa Cape Town awards presentation at Cape Town Civic Centre and at the LFA Mitchell’ Plain awards evening a fortnight ago.
Established in 2013, the club celebrated its 10th anniversary amassing a collection of trophies across various competitions and divisions.
Yaseen Hartley, 23, comfortable in the midfield or striker’s role, is one of a number of key players in a side filled with quality players and was named Safa Cape Town’s Coke Cup player-of-the -series at the weekend’s gala awards presentation.
The former Portland High pupil, grew up in Delft and has been with FCT for the past three years following spells with Beacon Spurs, Bishop Lavis United, Hellenic, Ajax Cape Town, Durban-based ABC Motsepe outfit Greenwood Park and Hanover Park FC.
No stranger to big occasions and the pressure that comes with it, Hartley prefers to let his feet do the talking and counts a stunning free kick in his side’s 2-1 win against Hanover Park FC, in a Coke Cup last round of 16 fixture, as one of the most memorable goals he scored in this year’s competition.
“My pre-game rituals consists of listening to music and tuning out the noise around me and just trying to get switched on. Before every game I always make dua (prayer) as I step onto the pitch,” he said.
“Winning Coke Cup male player-of-the-series came as a big surprise to me but I felt honoured to have been nominated and to win it as well,” he said.
“Playing with the guys has been a great experience and I’ve learnt a lot of things from them over the these past three years,” he said.
“We had our ups and downs, you know, which any other team have, but we managed to overcome it and luckily enough we made history at the club,” he said.
Junior coach, Rafiek Hanslo was named LFA-MP cubs under-10 coach of the tournament, the under-14s finished league runners up and the over-40s League Runners up behind winners Ashley Rovers.
However, the club’s senior side impressed most, finishing top of the log in the LFA_MP’s Champions League and crowned first round, second round, knock-out and overall league winners.
Coach Oswald Sauls and manager Nigel Hawyn walked off with the top awards at the recent LFA presentation while Hartley and shot-stopper Mujahid Sabera was named LFA-MP player and goalkeeper- of-the-year respectively.
Hartley and Hawyn were also among the big winners at Safa-Cape Town’s awards ceremony, winning Coke Cup player-of-the- series and manager of-the-year respectively. Chairman Kenny Hendricks duly received the President’s Award at Saturday’s presentation.
“Wow, reaching the Coke Cup finals was definitely one of the highlights of the year,” said Hendricks. “Just the atmosphere and the Zucht Gees brought to Athlone Stadium by the Tafelsig community, was amazing,” he said. “We are thankful for the support from Mitchells Plain and not forgetting those other areas and clubs as well,” he said.
“Our aim and vision was to win the LFA-MP league and get into the Safa-CT LFA play-offs and get promoted, said Hendricks. ”We won the LFA-MP league but fell short of advancing to the knock-out stages by ending runner-up in round robin to Mighty United, he said.
Hendricks said it was not all plain sailing for the club as they, like many others, battled with a lack of proper training facilities.
“We had to make use of smaller indoor facilities, and was it not for the City’s Recreation and Parks facility officer, Nolita Tungata, and ward councillor Washiela Harris, we would’ve had to do our physical sessions during the rainy nights and fives courts which was very costly,” he said.
“Next season, we are going to give most of our attention to our juniors, hence the reason the club have sent four coaches for their CAF-C Licences,“ he said.
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