Bidvest Wits U17 football team came close to being the first South African team to win the Future Champions tournament when they were defeated 2–1 in the final by Atletico Madrid at the Nike Football Centre.
Future Champions is a project of inspiration and development that has been staged in countries across the globe, utilising the power and popularity of football as a catalyst for growth.
The competition saw some of the world’s best academy teams compete against each other for the prestigious Future Champions U17 trophy.
Atletico opened the scoring as early as the third minute when Wits’ defence was caught napping by Munoz Joaquin who slotted the ball home from close range following great play from the midfield.
However, Wits settled in and began to take control of the game and Shungu Dutiro came close to putting the young Clever Boys level in the 15th minute but was denied by Atletico goalkeeper Alexandra dos Santos.
Both teams did not create any further clear-cut chances in the first stanza and Wits went into the break trailing 1–0. Whatever Wits coach Dillon Sheppard said at halftime seemed to have inspired the team as they came out blazing in search of the equaliser.
Wits’ prolific striker Dutiro produced a moment of brilliance in the 59th minute when he outmuscled two defenders to score from a tight angle to put his team level.
A few minutes later, Dutiro was once again in the thick of things and could have put his side in front when he found himself with only the keeper to beat, but his shot went inches wide.
Wits goalkeeper, Daniel Mayer kept his team in the game when he tipped a powerful shot over the bar from Joaquin in the 70th minute.
The game was not short of drama when Atletico keeper, Dos Santos received his marching orders in the 75th minute after he fouled Dutiro outside the box.
When the game looked to be heading for penalties, Atletico’s number 10, Oscar Clement, scored in the dying minutes of the game.
Sheppard was delighted with his team’s performance throughout the tournament and said they would learn from their mistakes from the final.
“I am very happy with the team’s performances… and I really think the boys outperformed all expectations. To lose to a club like Atletico Madrid in the final, there are no hard feelings,” he said.
