Posted in News, Youth Academy on Sep 29, 2024.
Kaizer Chiefs lifted the 2024 Engen Knockout Champ of Champs trophy on Sunday afternoon after beating Stellenbosch FC 1-0 in the final of the annual tournament, held at Marks Park in Johannesburg.
The exceptional Neo Bohloko scored the matchwinner, in the process securing the top goal scorer award, while another potential star in the making, Tashiel Rugunanan bagged the defender-of the-tournament, as well as the overall player-of-the-tournament. The team’s mentor, David Mathebula, was given the coach-of-the-tournament honour.
Featuring the winners of each of the nine provincial elimination tournaments in the Engen Knockout competition contested during the year, Amakhosi can now rightly be recognised as the national U18 champions, having seen off the best the rest of the country could offer.
Amakhosi began the tournament somewhat slowly, drawing both of their opening games, 2-2 with Ebayi FC and 1-1 against Tlhothokwe, on Friday. However, they came out guns blazing on Saturday to beat Virginia Sports Academy 5-0 and then despatched Shayamoya by 3-0, to finish the round robin phase unbeaten atop Group 1 and book a place in the semifinals.
On Sunday morning, Chiefs defeated Group B runners-up, Galeshewe 2-0 to earn a place in the final against last year’s champions, Stellenbosch FC, who had topped Group 2.
Meanwhile, in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) Kaizer Chiefs Reserves scored an impressive 1-0 away win over Magesi thanks to a 76th minute goal from Manqoba Ozoemena. The result takes them back to the top of the table, on 12 points from five matches, two ahead of Cape Town City, who have a game in hand. Next Sunday, 5 October 2024, Amakhosi face Stellenbosch FC at the DDC Festival to be held at the Lucas Moripe stadium in Tshwane.
With school resume this week, so too does the SAFA Gauteng Development League (GDL), where the U13, U15, U17 and U19 teams from the youth development academy head to Tsakane stadium on Saturday for a series against East Rand Athletic Club FC, kicking off at 9:00, as usual.
