Springs Premier U9 were crowned the 2026 Eastern League Plate Tournament winners on September 27.

Team manager Gabisile Ndlovu told the Springs Advertiser that the club is proud of the boys and their achievement.

She added that winning the tournament is a reward for the hard work, commitment, and determination shown by the players throughout the competition, and that victory reflects the effort put into their development.

Ndlovu explained that the squad demonstrated exceptional commitment throughout the event.

“Every match presented a different challenge because we were not only playing at our level, but also against all U9 teams. We were competing across the entire division, from premier to entry level,” she said.

“The team continued to work hard, support one another, and apply what they had learned during training.

“Reaching the final and ultimately winning the Plate was the result of their collective effort, teamwork, and willingness to keep pushing until the end.”

She explained that the team aims not only to develop footballers, but also to teach young boys discipline, respect, teamwork, and resilience.

She added that the players showed a willingness to learn, listen to their coaches, and fight for one another, saying their determination throughout the competition was a pleasure to witness.

Ndlovu shared that the final was the match that stood out the most.

“We were constantly trailing by a goal, but the boys never gave up. They continued to fight, showed great determination, and believed in themselves until the very end. Their hard work and persistence paid off when they scored the winning goal in extra time,” she said.

As team manager, Ndlovu believes the group has tremendous potential. She noted that during the tournament, management observed improvements in the players’ technical ability, understanding of the game, teamwork, and confidence.

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She added that preparing young players requires significant effort, explaining that training involves honing technical skills, improving positional understanding, building teamwork, and instilling discipline.

Ndlovu credited the entire club for the triumph.

“The coaches and technical team play an important role in preparing the players, but we must also recognise the parents and guardians who consistently support the boys, bring them to training and matches, and encourage them along the way.

“The club management and everyone who contributes behind the scenes also deserve recognition,” said Ndlovu.

With the season and tournaments concluded, Ndlovu shared that the primary goal remains developing the boys as both footballers and individuals.

She highlighted that while winning the tournament is a wonderful achievement, it is only one step in their journey.

“We want them to remain humble, disciplined, committed to training, and eager to learn. We will continue working on their technical skills, tactical understanding, and teamwork while ensuring they enjoy the game,” concluded Ndlovu.

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