Latest news with #2025EngenKnockoutChallenge
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Draw revealed for 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge in Gauteng
The draw for the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge Gauteng leg took place at Wits Sturrock Park in Johannesburg on 15 July. Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs (boys) and Mamelodi Sundowns (girls) return to defend their titles. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied The official draw for the Gauteng leg of the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge took place this past Tuesday at Wits Sturrock Park in Johannesburg. Top Under-18 boys and Under-20 girls teams will compete for provincial honours and a place at the Engen Champ of Champs, which is scheduled for early October at the High-Performance Centre in Pretoria. Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns return as defending champions in the boys and girls categories, respectively, and will be looking to hold on to their titles in what is expected to be a competitive and exciting weekend of youth football. Engen Brand and Sponsorship Manager Tsholo Tiro emphasised the importance of the tournament for youth development: 'The Engen Knockout Challenge continues to be a platform that allows us to make a real difference in the lives of young people. "Our goal is to support development both on and off the field by giving young players, coaches, referees, and administrators the chance to grow." 'This year's theme, 'It's Your Moment, Future Diski Legends', is a call to young people to believe in themselves and capitalise on the opportunity the tournament provides. We've seen many alumni of the tournament go on to become legends of the game, and so this year we encourage aspiring football stars to write their own stories in the rich tapestry of the Engen Knockout Challenge. 'Beyond the playing field, we're also proud to provide a platform for our inaugural 2024 Sportscaster, Princess Mobeng, to continue learning and growing in sports journalism. 'Our strategic partnership with Qrate continues to go from strength to strength, helping to educate and empower young women beyond the football field.' The Gauteng play-offs will take place this weekend at the Wits Marks Park Sports Ground, where teams will battle for a chance to represent the province on the national stage. Fifa talent coach and tournament ambassador Thabo Senong praised the high standard of football seen across the provinces. 'This year's tournament has shown just how much talent there is in South African youth football. The level has been high across all provinces,' said Senong. 'What I appreciate most is the theme, 'It's Your Moment, Future Diski Legends.' It's not just a message; it's something the players are really taking to heart. You can see it in how they play with purpose and belief.' 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge Gauteng Draw Outcome: Girls' Draw Group A: Randburg FC, SAFA Academy, FC Rayacon, Joburg United Ladies Group B: Mito Stars Ladies, Kempton Park Ladies, Wits University, JVW Group C: University of Johannesburg, Blue Birds Ladies, Mamelodi Sundowns, University of Pretoria Group D: Diepkloof Ladies, Future Stars, Thembalethu FC, Panorama Ladies Boys' Draw Group A: APPA, TS Galaxy, Kaizer Chiefs, Joburg City Group B: Florida Albion, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Panorama FC Group C: Mamelodi Sundowns, SAFA Transnet School of Excellence, Randburg AFC, Katlehong Hyper Academy Group D: Wits University, Highlands Park, University of Pretoria, RESA
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Easthigh girls' soccer advances to the next stage of Engen Cup
Easthigh girls' soccer advances to the next stage of Engen Cup Easthigh Ladies Academy defeated Super Strikers FC on penalties in the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge, dubbed the Engen Cup, in the U18 women's football Mbombela stream. The teams played to a 0-0 draw, but Easthigh won 4-2 on penalties at Lowveld High School sports ground on Saturday, June 28. Strikers defeated Crystal Lake Ladies and Easthigh Academy won against Butterfly Ladies earlier in the day. In a thrilling display of grassroot soccer, both Easthigh Ladies and Super Strikers played well. Easthigh's defence was tested by a shot on target from Super Strikers' Naledi Nkosi in the 11th minute. Strikers continued to look for the opening goal using their right winger, Dimakatso Rakolle, but Easthigh defender, Whitney Havene, made sure that Rakolle did not succeed. Late in the first half, Easthigh bounced back by creating opportunities, but failed to score. In the 44th minute, Gift Shabangu of Super Strikers hit the woodwork from just outside the box after teammate Banele Fakude of Super Strikers was fouled by Khethiwe Mthombeni. ALSO READ: UMP raises Mpumalanga flag at university sports games The second half started with intense play from both teams. Easthigh attacked directly in attempts to score a goal, while Strikers used their wingers, Shabangu and Rakolle, to attack and were rewarded with numerous corner kicks. In the 71st minute, Kamogelo Marogo of Easthigh missed a long-range shot. Marogo was fouled in the box in the 79th minute after a corner kick, but the referee, Siphephelo Mlotha, denied them a penalty. Mlotha awarded a red card to a member of Super Strikers' technical team, Njabulo Nkosi, for using unsporting language in the 85th minute of the game. Easthigh Ladies advanced to the next stage of the knockout cup. The U17 boys games took place at the Valencia Sports Complex and St Mark's International School sports grounds. The results of the Mbombela stream were: • Mpumalanga School of Excellence 4-1 TS Galaxy Academy • TS Matsulu 0-3 Sinani FC • Junior Spurs FC 0(1)-0(2) FC Thando • Black Medal FC 0-2 Black Pain • Mataffin Hot Spurs 1-4 Easthigh Academy • Fortune Academy 1(4)-1(2) Barberton Academy • Mthimba FA 2-0 Game United. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Men's Conference encourages leadership The 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge comprises of three streams – Mbombela, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge. The top eight teams remaining in each stream will compete against one another. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
KZN SAFA President slams PSL clubs' scouting failures as top talent leaves the province
SAFA KZN President Mazwi Mkhize @Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix KwaZulu-Natal SAFA President Mazwi Mkhize has issued a stinging rebuke to the province's Premier Soccer League clubs, accusing them of failing to properly scout and retain local talent. His comments come as the province prepares to welcome a fourth club into the Betway Premiership for the 2025/2026 season, with the return of Durban City — formerly known as Maritzburg United — to the top flight. But Mkhize has warned that merely having representation in the league is not enough if clubs continue to overlook the wealth of talent on their doorstep. Speaking to Ukhozi FM following the launch of the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge, Mkhize praised the return of Durban City but expressed deep frustration at a trend that has seen the province's brightest footballers thrive elsewhere. 'It's important, very important, that clubs gain promotion but we have a big problem with clubs in our province. I'm not sure if Durban City will follow the same route as AmaZulu and Golden Arrows,' said Mkhize. 'They go out there and sign over 30-year-old players whilst there are 21/22-year-old players that they ignore, and when those young players go to Gauteng and shine, they want to buy them back with millions in transfer fees.' KwaZulu-Natal has long been a hotbed of football talent, producing players who have gone on to feature at the highest level both locally and abroad. However, Mkhize pointed out that clubs within the province continue to lose out on these talents due to ineffective scouting and poor development structures. 'You ask yourself why Thabo Cele and Thalente Mbatha are both from KwaMashu but are at Chiefs and Pirates, and how Richards Bay missed Mbekezeli Mbokazi who is from Hluhluwe,' he said. The SAFA KZN boss didn't mince his words, going as far as to suggest clubs take drastic action if their scouting departments continue to fail. 'If these clubs do have scouts at the moment, then they should fire them because how are they letting the best players in the province slip through their fingers.'
