South African club Stellenbosch FC secured the Premier League Next Gen Cup 2024 title, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final. Shaakir Ahmed’s early goal and Kyle Bailey’s second-half strike sealed the victory, as Stellenbosch FC avenged their last year’s final loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Punjab FC, the first Indian team to defeat a Premier League youth side on foreign soil, continued its strong performance at the Premier League Next Gen Cup, beating Aston Villa 2-0 to finish third. Meanwhile, East Bengal and Muthoot Football Academy faced heavy defeats against Crystal Palace and Everton, respectively, highlighting the significant gap between the Indian clubs and their Premier League counterparts.
Bino George, once a villain in West Bengal for helping Kerala win the Santosh Trophy, has become a valuable asset to East Bengal. As the reserves team coach, he’s leading the club’s under-21 side in the Next Gen Cup, where they’ll face Premier League giants like Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton. In this interview, George discusses his scouting experience, the importance of early development, and his hopes for the tournament.
