Soccer Talents (CBS) recently returned from the Bayhill Premier Cup U/19 football tournament after getting knocked out in the group stages.

CBS was drawn in Group H alongside defending champions Cape Town Spurs FC, Stantfurf United and FC Porto. 

CBS opened their Bayhill Premier Cup campaign with a 1-all draw against Stanturf United FC. Mitchell’s plain-based team found the back of the net in the starting half, and Andriano Gawab came through with the equaliser. They lost 3-0 against Cape Town Spurs, and lost 1-0 against FC Porto. 

Coach Henrico Botes felt that they did not reach the goals they set out before the start of the tournament. 

“The competition is right up there, and I think we were on par with some teams, but there were teams that were a pleasure to watch and well above our level.”

Director of CBS Collin Benjamin believed the boys could have done better, but also thinks the nerves got the better of the boys as they played the opening game of the tournament. 

“Taking into account that the occasion got the better of them playing the opening match on Friday evening, under floodlights in front of 10 000 home spectators is a nerve-wracking experience against Cape Town Spurs,” he said.

“In the other two group matches, even though we created the better chances, we lost because of the experience of high-level tournament soccer the boys didn’t have. 

But we are optimistic about the future.” Botes felt that they learned valuable lessons from the 36th edition of the tournament that took place over the Easter weekend, with a total of 32 teams competing in eight groups. 

If you go and compete in these tournaments and are not willing to learn, then you are a little lost in my opinion. Our performance for the tournament was a combination of jitters, being a little bit complacent and lacking some ruthlessness.

“I am of the opinion that we need to expose the players in our academies to high-level competition on a regular basis. 

We also need our youth coaches to equip themselves with coaching licences in order to give our young boys and girls the best coaching.”

Next year, the whole CBS team will be eligible to play in the Bayhill Cup again, which will be another ball game because of the experience they have now gained.

“Namibian youth wishing to play soccer at an international level need to be athletes. They need to work on their physicality, and get stronger on their own before the coaches can add tactics and techniques. 

Physically and athleticism is most crucial , especially at the elite youth levels,” Benjamin said. “We are optimistic about the future. Post-analysis on what we did good and not done that good, learning to minimise the mistakes and work on getting better for the next chance CBS might get,” he added.

Ubuntu Football Academy were crowned the 2025 Bayhill Premier Cup winners after beating Randburg AFC 2-0 in the final at Athlone Stadium.

 It was Ubuntu’s first-ever Bayhill victory, as they lifted the Roger Clayton trophy after a hard-fought final.

The Bayhill U/19 Football Tournament is arguably South Africa and Africa’s most prestigious youth football event. 

The Bayhill Premier Cup celebrated 36 years of youth development in 2025.

-slunyangwe@nepc.com.na