Ghan Kilburn City aims to upset White City in FFA Cup SA soccer

A SECOND-TIER amateur club formed just 16 years ago by a group of Afghan immigrants is plotting FFA Cup history against a traditional powerhouse of SA soccer.

Ghan Kilburn City players Masoud Teymouri, Lyon Varney and Javeed Zamini with coaches Rahim Zaidi and Desmond Tucker. Picture: AAP Image/Brenton Edwards

A SECOND-TIER amateur club formed just 16 years ago by a group of Afghan immigrants is plotting FFA Cup history against a traditional powerhouse of SA soccer.

Ghan Kilburn City meets five-time cup-winner White City in the national knockout competition’s David versus Goliath clash at the Parks on Wednesday (8pm kick-off).

Ghan assistant coach Desmond Tucker said his players had nothing to fear as they bid to become the lowest ranked team to reach the state-based round-of-16 in its tournament debut.

“This is one of the biggest games in our history,” said Tucker, of Sunday division two amateur outfit Ghan.

“But just because White City is a big club, it doesn’t mean that they can play better than us.

“We’ve seen in the FA Cup in England, where the smaller teams can beat bigger teams all the time.

“We are ready to make history and that’s what the boys want to be part of.

“They are willing to give their blood and their sweat for the club.”

Ghan saw off Collegiate League Mercedes Old Collegians 1-0 in last month’s preliminary round, after it was one of 10 SA amateur sides to enter the FFA Cup for the first time.

It represented a rapid rise for the club, which was born in the fifth-tier Sunday competition in 2002 having being established by members of Adelaide’s Afghan community.

Tucker said the Blair Athol-based outfit, which had introduced junior and women’s programs, had a broad multicultural base.

“We have people from all different nationalities now – Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, all over Africa and Australians,” said Tucker, who hails from Sierra Leone.

“It’s an open club and we welcome everybody. It’s like a family.”

The club achieved its best-ever finish of fourth in division two under coach and founding member Rahim Zaidi last season.

Second-tier amateur side Ghan Kilburn City will met five-time SA cup-winner White City in the FFA Cup. Picture: AAP Image/ Brenton Edwards

It boasts back-to-back league leading scorer Masoud Teymouri, who notched 19 goals in 2017, as well as midfield general Lyon Varney and long-serving defender Javeed Zamini.

Tucker said his charges were ready to demonstrate their quality against State League One White City, which last won the SA cup, then known as the Federation Cup, in 2005.

“We have very good players at our club and professional players at our club.

“These boys give their heart and their soul to the club, and they play better when they come up against bigger teams.

“With the intelligence and experience they have, I think we can play against any team.”

Top-flight Sunday amateur club Elizabeth Vale also hosts State League One Seaford Rangers in their round-of-32 match at Mofflin Reserve on Wednesday (7.30pm).