Kaizer Chiefs U18s have been drawn in Group A for the first round of the 2026 Engen Champ of Champs competition, to be held at the University of Pretoria High-Performance Centre from 2-4 October.

The event brings together the winners of the regional Engen Knockout Challenge provincial champions. Amakhosi won the Gauteng leg by beating Kathorus Hyper Academy 2-0 in the final at Marks Park in Johannesburg back in July. They will do battle against Tshepo Academy (Limpopo), EastHigh Boys Academy (Mpumalanga), TenPont Academy (Free State) and Pixley Youth Academy (Northern Cape), from which the top two will qualify for the semifinals.

Speaking exclusively to www.kaizerchiefs.com, coach David Mathebula shared some insights into how the competition is viewed within the Club and the determination to repeat their achievement of two years ago. “I have been involved with the Engen tournament for the past five years, and it brings back great memories for me. We won this title in 2024 and have won the provincial title three times in the past four years, which for us, as development coaches, is very good. For the players too, this tournament is a good test for them as developing footballers and can be a stepping stone for inclusion in national squads or promotion to our DDC (DStv Diski Challenge) team,” says the former Amakhosi midfield maestro who has embarked on a successful coaching career since retirement.

“Our preparation has been going well. We had a few injuries, but they were minor knocks, and all the players are fit, except for Egan Freese, who is writing exams he missed when on national duty, which is unfortunate because he is an important player for us. We still have a strong squad of players who are capable of delivering on the field,” he continues.

Chiefs find themselves in a group containing a few unfamiliar teams from other provinces, yet the coach is planning for his team to take the initiative and dominate opponents by playing front-foot Amakhosi-style football.

“Some of the teams we are drawn against in Group A are a bit of a mystery to us. Footage of the teams has been hard to come by. However, we are focused on imposing our game on the opposition from the first minute. Our players know the demands of playing for Kaizer Chiefs and the expectations attached to that, and we are ready to represent the Club to the best of our ability,” Mathebula concludes confidently.