Ashraf Calvert: Nedbank Cup has not sunk in yet

Clarewood JPM Head Coach Ashraf Calvert has been making noise in the Football fraternity

Clarewood JPM Head Coach, Ashraf Calvert says that being in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup has not sunk in yet.

The newly based Edgemead side took on Whale Coast City in Bredasdorp, beating them by a two nil score line, which in turn qualified them for the Nedbank Cup main tournament. Ashraf Calvert has been making a noise in the Cape football fraternity, after also guiding Vasco Da Gama ladies to the Hollywood Bets Super League.   

“Yip we are in the last 32, nope it has not sunk in yet. It will only really sink in when we see Clarewood JPM in the draw,” Ashraf Calvert told ThisIsFootball.Africa.

“And seeing who we’ll get in the last 32, and that will be the moment it becomes a complete reality. I wouldn’t mind anybody besides Sundowns hey, obviously if we could get another ABC team that would be the first prize. Second prize, a Motsepe Foundation team, last prize a PSL team because we want to progress as far as we can. The chances will be better against teams in the similar league as us.”

Clarewood JPM FC entered into partnership with Turkish Superlig Club Antalyaspor recently, when on October the 27th, the deal was struck between the President of Clarewood Justin Paulsen and the President of Antalyaspor Aziz Cetin.   

“Clarewood has a rich history behind them, with some big names coming through like Mark Williams the Bafana legend. So we know the club has come a long way already, Justin Paulsen was a Clarewood junior who is giving back and has come on board and bought an ABC Motsepe league franchise for Clarewood, hence the name Clarewood JPM. His main ambition is to create a legacy, and to create opportunities for the next generation of talent. We will see where the future takes us, the Antalyaspor deal and partnership is in place so let’s see what the next couple of weeks and months have install for us. “

Clarewood JPM is backed by Justin Paulsen who is the owner of JP Markets, a multiple award-winning forex broker. It shows in the squad that has been assembled by all involved, in making the newly named Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town a formidable team in South Africa, as per their agreement. They have recruited the likes of former Kaizer Chiefs defender Mario Booysen, former Ajax Cape Town youngster Riyaaz Koopstadt, and former Cape Town City midfielder Duncan Adonis.   

“It was a team effort between myself, agent Bevan Dicks, Bevan Fransch and Roscoe Hendricks, my assistant coach, we collaborated with our network of players that we know, and we managed to assemble the team that we have now.“

Clarewood JPM will go into the pot as one of the Western Cape representatives in the Nedbank Cup, with their new name coming into existence once SAFA completes the necessary changes.

Clarewood JPM
Clarewood JPM Photo Credit : Conray Swail