{"id":61930,"date":"2024-12-17T15:43:20","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T13:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=61930"},"modified":"2024-12-17T15:43:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T13:43:20","slug":"ibercup-winners-crowned-champions-reactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=61930","title":{"rendered":"IberCup winners crowned, champions’ reactions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Highlands
Highlands Park celebrated winning the 2005 title at the inaugural IberCup South Africa on Monday, 16 December 2024. Photo: IberCup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After five days of action in the inaugural IberCup South Africa, <\/strong>the champions of the different age groups were crowned on Monday at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) AW Muller Stadium.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of South Africa’s top teams were joined by global household names, like Paris Saint-Germain F.C<\/strong>, PSV Eindhoven<\/strong>, and Benfica.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paris Saint-Germain – 2010 age group champions<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the highly anticipated 2010 age division final, PSG halted high-flying Kaizer Chiefs<\/strong>, beating them 2-0 in the final in front of a packed venue.<\/p>\n

Valentin Houdou<\/strong>, the goalkeeper coach for PSG, expressed his gratitude following the match, thanking South Africa for welcoming the French club. “We are very happy for the team (PSG) to come here for the first time, and we hope to come back quickly for the second time,” he said.<\/p>\n

Houdou also reflected on PSG’s win over Chiefs in the title decider. “The game against Kaizer Chiefs was very difficult for us because we lost to them in the group stages<\/a>,” he said, “but the final was a little bit different. Maybe our players were motivated and fresher.”<\/p>\n

While joyfully celebrating PSG’s IberCup South Africa win, he also expressed the hope that the event would continue to grow and said he looked forward to the 2025 edition of the tournament. Houdou said it was good to also have The Netherlands’ PSV and Portugal’s Benfica participating, and he hoped to see even more international clubs added in the coming years.<\/p>\n

It was a frustrating day for Kaizer Chiefs, who had three sides lose finals, with the 2011 age group team also going down 2-3 to SuperSport United<\/strong>, while Warriors<\/strong> scored a narrow 1-0 win over the Amakhosi<\/strong> in the 2008 age group final.<\/p>\n

\"The
The winner of the 2009 competition at the 2024 IberCup South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: IberCup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mamelodi Sundowns – 2009 age group champions\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the 2009 boys’ division title with a hard-fought 1-0 Pretoria derby victory over Tuks<\/b>, their coach Surprise Moriri<\/strong> said he was excited for his boys. He also said their title-winning success belongs to them and not the coaching staff.<\/p>\n

“I just want to say congratulations to them. I know they have been working hard, and they really wanted to make sure that we played well, so they deserve this moment,” he said.<\/p>\n

Moriri also praised his colleague, Sundowns’ u15 coach Selekedi Mogale<\/strong><\/a>, who guided his team to the GDL title. Moriri said Mogale achieved outstanding results with the team and he wished to extend his congratulations to him for the outstanding work he had done.<\/p>\n

“I want to congratulate him because it’s not all about me. All the other academy coaches have done really well.”<\/p>\n

Moriri thanked the organisers of IberCup South Africa for their efforts in hosting this tournament. He said he hoped it would grow even larger and become even more competitive in 2025.<\/p>\n

Highlands Park – 2005 age group champions<\/strong><\/p>\n

The “Lions of the North”, Highlands Park FC u19<\/strong><\/a> concluded their year by adding the IberCup title to their list of achievements. The victory followed a successful defence of the GDL title, which was confirmed only on the last day of the season.<\/p>\n

Tarrias Sharpley,<\/strong> one of the development coaches at Highlands Park, was delighted after the team edged out Time Tigers<\/strong> 9-8 on penalties, which had taken place following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.<\/p>\n

“It’s a nice reward for the boys. They deserve this moment after a long season of football,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We had a good mixture of boys from 2005 up until 2009 in this squad and they all played like the champions they are. So, it’s a nice incentive for the boys. It was a good tournament. We were able to see how they could cope at a high level.”<\/p>\n

Tarrias said one of the main challenges that Highlands Park had to overcome was their late entry into the competition, which meant some of their players had already departed for their homes in other provinces. They also had to contend with an injury during the event.<\/p>\n

\"Clapham
Clapham High was the convincing winner of the 2006 age group, defeating the RCD Espanyol Academy in the final. Photo: IberCup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, preparations were further hampered by exams, which meant those boys who were writing were left to concentrate on their school work, with education being the top priority at Highlands Park.<\/p>\n

That, though, allowed the club to give some other players an opportunity and they rose to the occasion, which spoke volumes about the good work being done by the coaches at Highlands Park.<\/p>\n

‘What we are doing at Highlands Park is a holistic team effort – from management, to coaches, players, to parents. Everybody adds value to what we do, and we just need to continue with it,” Sharpley said.<\/p>\n

He admitted, though, that the club is disappointed that its players have not received more attention from the national team despite their title-winning pedigree. Nonetheless, said Sharpley, the coaches maintain confidence in their players and trust them to perform well.<\/p>\n

Next, he added, it was time for the club’s players to embrace the moment and enjoy it, take some time to rest and recuperate, and, then, return stronger than ever in 2025.<\/p>\n

2008 Girls’ Age Group\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

University of Pretoria (Tuks) (5) 1-1 (4) JVW<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final, between Tuks<\/strong> and JVW<\/strong>,\u00a0 captivated the spectators as the sides traded blows in a tension-filled clash.<\/p>\n

Tuks took the lead in the first half, but JVW equalised towards the end of the second half to force the contest into a penalty shootout. Tuks, then, claimed the IberCup honours, winning it 5-4 from the spot.<\/p>\n

SuperSport Schools Plus<\/strong> spoke with rising star Katlego Malebana<\/strong> after the match as she celebrated her team’s win. It’s been a big year for Malebana, which has included leading the national team to victory in the u15 CAF African Schools Football Tournament<\/strong> <\/a>in Tanzania and winning the School Star of the Year Award from GSports4Girls<\/strong><\/a>. She also helped Mamelodi Sundowns win the Engen Cup Tournament,<\/strong><\/a> before joining the Tuks’ first team in the Hollywoodbets Super League.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Monday’s final, Malebana excitedly recounted Tuks’ efforts and highlighted a crucial 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the group stages that resulted in Sundowns’ elimination from the gold championship. Despite feeling emotional playing against her former club, she stressed that composure won it for Tuks.<\/p>\n

“I felt very emotional and I am still feeling emotional even now. We’ve been training so hard, and we’ve been preparing for this moment. I feel very proud of our team and what we have accomplished today”, Malebana said.<\/p>\n

It also felt good to claim another title, she added. “It means a lot because I’ve been in different teams and structures throughout the year, coming from Mamelodi Sundowns where football is different compared to Tuks. I had to quickly adjust, so I think winning this cup (IberCup) has motivated me to work even harder.”<\/p>\n

In a rare setback for her in 2024, the South African u17 girls’ team<\/strong>, Bantwana<\/strong>, failed to win the Cosafa tournament<\/strong><\/a>, which went the way of Zambia<\/strong>. “I want to win everything,” she admitted, “but it’s football. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Losing is also good, as difficult as it is to accept, but I learn from losing, too.<\/p>\n

“So, coming back from Cosafa, I just told myself, let me try to win this cup (IberCup South Africa) and recover my emotions from the Cosafa tournament because I don’t like losing. No one does.<\/p>\n

“As an individual and as a team, we have taken lessons from the Cosafa tournament, and I know next time were are going to do better and we will fight hard to go to the World Cup<\/strong> as the u17 national team representing South Africa.”<\/p>\n

It’s easy to forget that Malebana is still only 15 years old. She is, after all, one of the country’s standout players. “Sometimes I do feel the pressure, but I keep pushing myself to do better,” she said. “In the Cosafa tournament, I learned so much from my teammates, from the opposition and we all did, so I think that experience gave us a lot of motive to work hard.”<\/p>\n

She said she also finds great value with and learns a lot from the Tuks’ first team in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Malebana said she continues to enhance her skills by gaining insights from her fellow Tuks’ squad members.<\/p>\n

\"The
The SuperSport United team that won the 2011 competition was one of three of the club’s sides that claimed titles. Photo: IberCup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boys’ List of Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n

2016 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tshiama Academy A 3-1 Kempton Park FC<\/p>\n

Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Durban Eagles 2-0 Benoni Northerns<\/p>\n

2015 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SuperSport United 4-2 Tshiama Academy A<\/p>\n

Silver Final<\/strong><\/p>\n

Benoni Northerns 2-0 Tuks<\/p>\n

2014 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SuperSport United 2-1 Highlands Park FC<\/p>\n

Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Central Schools FA 5-3 Rovers FC<\/p>\n

2013 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SuperSport United 2-0 Highlands Park<\/p>\n

Silver Final\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hola Skoko FA 1-0 Mangaung Metro FA<\/p>\n

2012 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 SuperSport United FC<\/p>\n

Silver Final\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Total Football Excellence 3-0 Hola Skoko FA<\/p>\n

2011 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SuperSport United 3-2 Kaizer Chiefs<\/p>\n

2011 Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Future of Africa 6-5 Tuks<\/p>\n

2010 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

PSG 2-0 Kaizer Chiefs<\/p>\n

Silver Final\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Socca Dream 2-1 Riverside<\/p>\n

2009 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Tuks<\/p>\n

Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Randburg AFC 2-0 Langalibalele Sports Academy<\/p>\n

2008 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Warriors FC 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs<\/p>\n

Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biya4 Academy 2-1 KZN Lyons FC<\/p>\n

2007 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stars of Africa 5-4 Tec4kkers<\/p>\n

Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

West Youth Academy 4-1 Future of Africa<\/p>\n

2006 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clapham High School 3-0 RCD Espanyol Academy Johannesburg<\/p>\n

2005 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Highlands Park (9) 1-1 (8) Time Tigers Executive FC<\/p>\n

Girls’ List of Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n

2012 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nkabinde Primary School 2-1 Dlala Ntombazana A<\/p>\n

2010 Gold Final\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Team Gauteng 2-0 JVW FC<\/p>\n

2008 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuks 5-4 JVW FC<\/p>\n

Silver Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mamelodi Sundowns 5-0 Panorama FC<\/p>\n

2005 Gold Final \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

JVW FC 4-2 University of Johannesburg<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After five days of action in the inaugural IberCup South Africa, the champions of the different age groups were crowned on Monday at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) AW Muller Stadium. Many of South Africa’s top teams were joined by global household names, like Paris Saint-Germain F.C, PSV Eindhoven, and Benfica. Paris Saint-Germain – 2010 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":61969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=61930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61930\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=61930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=61930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=61930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}