Pirates, Wits fly into future champions semis
17 March 2016
Two local Under-17 soccer teams – Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits – yesterday stormed into the semifinals of the Future Champions International tournament being held at the Nike Centre in Klipspruit, Soweto, this week.
Pirates’ semifinal berth was secured after they held bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs to a 1-all draw in a Soweto derby, increasing their points tally to seven after two great victories earlier in the week.
Wits proceeded to the semis after topping their group with seven points in the bag following a 3-1 victory against Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng yesterday. The tournament was organised by Global Sports International in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government, South African Football Association and the City of Johannesburg.
The Buccaneers’ next is assignment is against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, widely seen as the favourites to win the title after collecting all nine points in their group. Atletico Madrid have won the tournament three times since its inception about eight years ago.
Wits will take on Mexican side Club Tijuana in the other semifinal. Both matches will be played tomorrow, Friday March 18. It is the first time in the tournament’s eight-year history that local sides have reached the semifinal stage, which bodes well for the future of the game in South Africa.
Some of the international teams that took part in this year’s tournament included Italian outfit and defending champions Torino FC, Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro and Mozambique’s Clube Ferroviario. Local sides Chiefs, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Mamelodi Sundowns failed to progress to the next round.
Hundreds of local soccer fans who descended on the tournament venue enjoyed beautiful football with contrasting styles. Fans are hoping for a South African final but both Pirates and Wits have to pull out all stops to make this a reality.
“We don’t intend to disappoint,” Pirates coach Augusto Palacios. “There is everything to play for. We have to fly the South African flag high.”