Hayden Booysen shines as Ubuntu Football Academy reaches their first-ever Bayhill Premier Cup under 19 final, over the six-day annual Easter tournament.
Booysen has done what no one expected, and he’s only 15. In a thrilling Bayhill Premier Cup semi-final clash, Ubuntu defied the odds to edge out Betway Premiership side Cape Town City by a 1-0 scoreline, in what was described as a difficult, gritty showdown. For Booysen, who played a key role in the historic victory, it’s a moment he says he’ll never forget.
“It was a difficult game, it’s Cape Town City, a tough opposition,” Booysen told The South African.
“We were a bit down, but we came through. We scored the goal in the first half against the wind and it just shows the hard work that we’ve put in. I’m proud of the boys, tomorrow we go to Athlone and we do our thing again.”
‘We had to compromise with what we had’
Going into the semi-final, Ubuntu had a plan: attack. But as the match unfolded, Booysen says that plan had to change quickly under pressure from Cape Town City.
“We wanted to attack but we could not, but we had our chances. It’s not like we didn’t, and that’s where the goal came from,” he explained.
“We were just building up with possession, but we couldn’t, so we had to compromise with the things we had.”
Despite not executing their initial game plan to perfection, Ubuntu’s grit and adaptability earned them a hard-fought win, and a place in the final.
Athlone Awaits: Historic moment for Ubuntu
The Bayhill Premier Cup final is set to take place at the Athlone Stadium, a dream come true for Booysen and his teammates, who have already etched their names in Ubuntu’s history books.
“It’s a nice stadium, wonderful field and it’s special because we are the first Ubuntu team to go to the Bayhill Premier Cup final, to get this far.”
For Booysen, the moment carries even more weight, not just because of the match itself, but because of what it represents for young footballers across South Africa.
From national colours to Bayhill Premier Cup
Booysen is no stranger to the spotlight. At just 15, he’s already worn the green and gold, representing South Africa at the AFCON U17 tournament, an experience that, he says, was only made possible through hard work and relentless support. They have also qualified for the FIFA World Cup U17.
“It’s been a tough road so far and it’s just hard work. My coaches, my family and my teammates are just pushing me. Without them I wouldn’t have done it – and I give all the glory to God.”
Bayhill Premier Cup dreams realised
This year marks Booysen’s second outing at the Bayhill Premier Cup, a competition many consider the pinnacle of youth football in the country. The magnitude of the moment isn’t lost on the young midfielder.
“So obviously it’s my second year playing in the Bayhill. Last year I was 14 playing in the Bayhill and this year I’m 15. It’s just unbelievable and for me it’s a dream because many young children want to play in the Bayhill Premier Cup. So I’m just fortunate to be in this setup – thank you.”
With Ubuntu one game away from lifting the Bayhill trophy, all eyes will be on Booysen. Calm under pressure, grounded in gratitude, and driven by purpose, the young star is leading a new generation of South African talent.
The match between Randburg AFC and Ubuntu will take place at 15:00 today. Where a new winner will be crowned.
Stay tuned with The South African as Hayden Booysen shines with Ubuntu Football Academy reaching their first-ever Bayhill Premier Cup under 19 final.
Will Booysen shine again and Ubuntu clinched their first title or will Randburg upset the entire Cape Town?
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