SAFA EC Laud Exciting Return Of Engen Knockout Challenge To Eastern Cape | Soccer Laduma


Action from the quarterfinal between Real Aces FC (white) and Maletswai Jets (blue) during day one of the 2024 Engen Knockout Challenge Eastern Cape at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha on 22 June 2024 © Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

The return of
the Engen Knockout Challenge to the Eastern Cape province was welcomed with
huge excitement by the South African Football Association’s Eastern Cape
office, after the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University kicked off the opening
day of the tournament in Gqebhera on Saturday, 22 June.

South Africa’s
largest youth football tournament has made an exciting return to the province,
having last being played in 2019.

A total of 24
teams, equally divided between Boys U-18 and Girls U-20 kicked off the two-day
competition to the high appreciation of SAFA National Executive Committee
Member, Mzimkhulu Fina, who hailed Engen’s efforts of partnering with SAFA in
developing youth football.

“We are excited
to be having this tournament taking place here again. As SAFA, we want to thank
Engen. The province has just celebrated the qualification of Highbury FC to the
ABC Motsepe League, and most of those players are a product of this tournament.
So, it means a lot for us and our government of Eastern Cape when they (Engen)
invest in us as it helps us produce players” said Fina.

Engen’s tireless
efforts in providing a platform for talent identification was also credited for
the ongoing emergence of South African football talent is even represented at
international competitions.

“We look at key
Bafana Bafana players such as Ronwen Williams, they played in this tournament.
The province will be hosting the COSAFA Cup next week, most of the players that
will be playing there have played in this tournament. So, it means a lot to see
such because most people see the result but are not aware of the process, and
this is where it all starts, where you have partners like Engen leading the way
when it comes to development” he added.

The tournament’s
return to the Eastern Cape also coincides with the first official appearance of
one of the tournament ambassadors’ first appearance, in Akhona Makalima – a
native of the Eastern Cape province.

Makalima, a
FIFA, CAF and SAFA accredited referee forms part of the Engen Knockout
Challenge team of ambassadors, with the primary role of helping in the
identification and guidance of young referees at the Engen Knockout Challenge.

“It is an
absolute honour for me to be joining the Engen Knockout Challenge family. I am
particularly excited in the effort being made to afford young and aspirant
match officials an opportunity to learn and acquire the experience needed. Such
opportunities are rare for match officials, so the role being played by Engen
is quite critical for match officials at grassroots level” said Makalima.

As expected, Day
one of the competition produced interesting encounters, with teams in both the
boys and girls putting their best foot forward.

The tournament
concludes on Sunday, 22 June with the winners in both the boys and girls’
division guaranteed a place at the Engen Champ of Champs in September this
year.

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For a full
list of Day 1 results and Day 2 fixtures –
CLICK HERE

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