The draw for the 2026 FARPost Cup was conducted at SAFA House on Thursday, with eight Under-17 teams in the bowl for the September 12 final pencilled in for the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto.
Now in its fourth edition, one of the FARPost Cup products is Stellenbosch FC reserve side attacking midfielder Cazwill ‘Messi’ Williams, who has been knocking on the first-team door. Having participated in this tournament two years ago, the former Eldo Spurs FC player has been on the rise.
Williams was also part of the South Africa Under-20 national team training camp in Pretoria in March. FARPost is delivering this competition in partnership with Lucky Star.
“Our boys really do appreciate this tournament, even the scouts. We have one of our own boys, Cazwill Williams, who is now playing at Stellenbosch and came from this tournament,” said Herman Lubbe, the Eldorado Football Association technical head.
“This tournament has been a blessing to our kids, and they really look forward to it. Since the FARPost Cup started, our expectations have always been the same. It has always been a good tournament all about our kids.
“The Cup has grown every year; it’s been better. So we expect something exciting. Community-wise, this is very important, especially for the people of Eldos. It brings the community together. The support has always been there, and we are looking forward to this year’s tournament.”
WHO MEETS WHO IN THE FARPOST CUP?
Now, the FARPost Cup will see new starlets from Gauteng out to showcase their talent. Eldorado were drawn against KwaThemba while Mamelodi face Kagiso. Olievenhoutbosch will come up against Riverlea, and the much-anticipated tie will be between Soweto and Vosloorus.
Olievenhoutbosch coach Mlungisi Ngubane [not the legendary Mlungisi ‘Professor’ Ngubane] is already seeing future Bafana Bafana stars in his team.
“I’m looking for my young players to get opportunities that are lucrative because we do not have access to such platforms all the time. So, this is a good initiative by FARPost and Lucky Star, he declared.
“There is raw talent which is yet to be unearthed, but I think much will be said by the work shown by the kids on the day. I see [Mbekezeli] Mbokazi in both my centre-backs, and I also have a Relebohile [Mofokeng], plus our goalkeeper is so good.”
WORD FROM SAFA AND LUCKY STAR: OPPORTUNITIES UNLOCKED
Brand manager for Lucky Star, Busisiwe Mkhize, has emphasised the importance of communities giving their all to young players who could grow in the game to represent Bafana in the future.
“For us as Lucky Star, it’s important that we invest in the youth and do our best in the communities that made us who we are. We hope with such partnerships, we can nudge more of the communities to come together and invest in the youth, pour back into the communities and enable the youth to see a future,” Mkhize emphasised.
“We should give them hope because we are very big in giving people hope, and hopefully one day they will play on the global stage and represent South Africa.”
Teams in the FARPost Cup are drawn from SAFA Local Football Associations to help organise and elevate grassroots football.
“We want our children to play sports in a well-organised structure. This has created a platform where we have areas like KwaThema, Kagiso and other regions that are becoming part and parcel of this,” said SAFA Johannesburg president Phil Mogodi.
“Thanks to FARPost, Lucky Star and FUTPRO for making sure that children of this country get better space to show their talent and be able to grow in the football arena.”
FARPOST CUP ADDRESSING SOCIAL ILLS THROUGH FOOTBALL
“It’s a prestigious tournament, and the children of Westbury and Riverlea will get an opportunity to enjoy themselves and make a lot of friends,” said Riverlea coach Craig van Dorsea.
“It’s a life-changing experience for these kids, especially with what’s happening in our communities with all the shooting, gang violence and drug abuse, as well as alcohol abuse. The tournament makes a big change for the children. We can’t have them killing each other and not playing sports.”
FARPOST CUP DRAW
Eldorado vs KwaThema
Mamelodi vs Kagiso
Olievenhoutbosch vs Riverlea
Soweto vs Vosloorus
RELATED STORY: Why Zwane backs the FARPost Cup
