Premier Cup stalwart a soldier till the end

Friends, family, and extended Bayhill United family, organisers of the annual Premier Cup, paid tribute to tournament stalwart Patrick Connolly, 82, who died last week. His funeral service was held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Castletown Road, Wynberg, followed by cremation, on Monday June 23.

Club chairman John Rangoli fondly remembers the early days, the late-night meetings at Connoly’s former home in Wynberg, and before that, their weekly gatherings at the Mitchell’s Plain Town Centre branch of Metropolitan Life, where Connolly worked as a manager. 

The tournament, which celebrated its 36th anniversary this year, has become synonymous with football development and a platform to unearth new talent, a rite of passage for players moving from amateur to pro ranks. And, says Rangoli, his mentor and fellow organising committee member, has helped to pave the way for many and was the vital link between the club, the branch office, and the head office, resulting in a long-standing relationship with the life insurer.

“His death comes as a big blow, if only we knew that this year would be his last tournament,” he said.

“But I’m thankful that he has lived to see many of the things he had suggested, envisioned, things we discussed in our meetings and implemented over the years,” Rangoli said.

“He was always pushing for young people to come through, to take over. The only thing he asked for was that they be passionate about the tournament.”

“Mr Connolly was a family man who loved his wife and children,” Rangoli said. “Öften he’d ask to be excused from meetings to take a call from his children who lived abroad,”

“I often attended meetings with him and former tournament director PJ Williams under whom he served as deputy. I was the youngest of the two wise guys and learnt so much from them,” he said.

An ardent Liverpool fan, Connolly and Williams, a Manchester United supporter, would always share a bit of banter between them whenever their sides clashed but when it came to Premier Cup business, they’d be on the same page, said Rangoli.

Williams, who has also known Connolly since the early days of the competition, said his calm approach and constructive input at meetings will surely be missed.

“My view at the time was that we must separate the running of the club from running a tournament.

“I then invited individuals to be part of the tournament committee. As Mr Connolly was part of Metropolitan and supported the tournament, I approached him to be part of the committee. The late Roger Clayton, the Bruynses, Mr. Connolly, the late Martin Ekard, Abe Witten and Ganief Abrahams were the first members of the Bayhill tournament organising committee,” he said.

“Mr. Connolly played a huge role in negotiating with Metropolitan and other sponsors. The two of us attended meetings with various stakeholders. Mr. C later took charge of the adjudication process at the tournament. He served the tournament until 2023 when we, Mr.Connolly and I, stepped aside in order for the succession plan to kick in,” Williams said.

Current tournament director Rayaan Allie called Connolly a soldier till the end. In his honour, said Allie, the mid-section of the tournament, as well as the trophy for the section was named the Pat Connolly Mid-Section and Pat Connolly Trophy, as is the case with naming the plate Section final and championships final after fellow long-serving members Michael Bruyns and former media liaison, the late Roger Clayton, respectively.

“His quiet and demure personality in the boardroom, in contrast to his vibrant and jovial personality on event days will be missed and remembered by all who have come to know him,” said Allie, who along with deputy director Liam Rangoli represents a new generation entrusted to keep the Premier show on the road. 

“A large part of the accolades of the event and the celebration of its participants can be accredited to the devotion and on-going service of Mr Connolly,” said Allie.

“He was still attending meetings and contributing to the organising of the event. He has seen the event grow from humble beginnings in 1989 to securing record-breaking sponsorship deals which has cemented the Bayhill Premier Cup as arguably the best under 19 youth football competition on the African continent,” he said.