The three-day tournament saw 16 professional and amateur teams competing for the coveted title. Newcomers eThekwini United from Durban and Vasco Da Gama from Cape Town added to the competitive play, while Soweto FC and Old Mutual Academy did not disappoint in their first appearance in the competition.
Old Mutual Academy were named recipients of the Fair Play Award, sponsored by the Gauteng Provincial Government. They received their trophy at the official closing ceremony and prize-giving on Sunday afternoon.
Nike athletes Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa and current PSL player of the year Thulani Serero were all in attendance to show support to the finalists and assisted with the prize-giving ceremony.
Sunday 12th June 2011:
Semi-Finals
Orlando Pirates 3-1 eThekwini United
Vasco Da Gama 1-3 Bidvest Wits
3rd/4th Place Play-Off
eThekwini United 3-0 Vasco da Gama
Final
Orlando Pirates 2-0 Bidvest Wits
Individual Awards
Player of the Tournament : Ethan Swartz – Ajax Cape Town
Goalkeeper of the Tournament : Suhail Bismilla – Bidvest Wits
Top Goal Scorer : Siyanda Ngcobo – Orlando Pirates
Fair Play Award : Old Mutual Academy
“The Manchester United Premier Cup tournament returned home to Soweto and the Nike Training Centre was a perfect host for a competition of this magnitude,” says Seruscka Naidoo Nike Communications Manager South Africa. “This is the longest running junior football competition in the country and reiterates Nike’s commitment to development and leaving a legacy.”
“The tournament was superbly run and the organizing committee did everything within their area of control to ensure that all criteria was met and the competition was administered within the rules of fair play,” concluded Seruscka Naidoo.
+ comments + 3 comments
what happened to african renaisance when we are crowned by enlish status. we will soon say we are black white people. shaka zulu is rolling in his bosom. maybe ho knowws man u play for orlando pirates cup. anyway design us t-shirt in memoriamm of our treble to wear next season. fans are also good artist and can open a competion and have a system where the best t-shirt designer wins something.
uncle kombers
please check the age because i feel we were cheated.. some of these players were playing in the tournament last year and last year they were supposed to be 15 now they playing again.
i agree with the comment on age - a big tournament like this surely the guys hosting the tournament should actually check birth certificates before the tournament actually starts....we need fair play here .With our guys being only 15 they need to be treated fairly.