Stellenbosch FC along with Cape Town Roses FC are the two sides that will represent the Western Cape at this year’s Engen Champ of Champs.
United and Roses were crowned champions of the Western Cape leg of the Engen Knockout Challenge, concluding yet another exciting edition of the tournament in Cape Town played at the Rooikraans Sports Complex.
As expected, the competition was at an all-time high in Cape Town in both the boys and girls’ divisions.
Roses, who won the girls division of the tournament will be going to the Engen Champ of Champs for a second year running after coming into the tournament as defending champions.
Emerging from a tough group and knockout stages, the two-time champions had to dig even deeper in the final when they faced a resilient RV United who held Roses for most parts of the match but eventually succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
Looking at the boy’s division, the tournament favourites and former champions, Cape Town City were knocked out in the quarter-finals by cross-town rivals, Cape Town Spurs who were then knocked out by Stellenbosch in the semi-finals.
Stellies, who were clinical in front of goal had to come up against Cape Ubuntu in a highly entertaining final that concluded with a 0-0 scoreline for the champions to be decided on penalties, which went 5-4 in favour of Stellenbosch.
Concluding yet another successful provincial leg of the competition, Tournament Ambassador, Mark Mayambela lauded the outstanding performance of all participating teams, adding that the standard of the tournament continues to improve.
“This was yet another highly successful edition of the Engen Knockout Challenge. Both the girls and boys played their hearts out and it was evident in the quality of the football displayed. The tournament continues to grow in leaps and bounds and this is encouraging as it results in more competitive and complete footballers being produced”, said Mayambela.
In addition to crowing the two champions, Engen also rewarded individual brilliance in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions:
GIRLS DIVISION
| AWARD | PLAYER | TEAM |
| Referee of the tournament | Sophumelela Gxowa | NA |
| Goalkeeper of the tournament | Queen Dlamini | Salt River Blackpool |
| Defender of the tournament | Lelona Ngonyama | Dangerous Ladies |
| Midfielder of the tournament | Thimna Mpehle | Salt River Blackpool |
| Striker of the tournament | Lethemba Samsam | CT Roses |
| Top Goalscorer | Lisakhanya Situlweni | CT Roses |
| Coach of the tournament | Shannon Miles | Salt River Blackpool |
| Fair Play Team of the tournament | NA | Salt River Blackpool |
| Player of the tournament | Lethemba Samsam | CT Roses |
| AWARD | PLAYER | TEAM |
| Goalkeeper of the tournament | Saraick De Lona | Hellenic FC |
| Defender of the tournament | Tulon Smith | Stellenbosch FC |
| Midfielder of the tournament | Xavier Jodanus | Cape Ubuntu FC |
| Striker of the tournament | Luke Baartman | CT Spurs |
| Top Goalscorer | Gavariro Bester | Cape Ubuntu |
| Coach of the tournament | Mason October | Rygardal |
| Fair Play Team of the tournament | Rygardal | Rygardal |
| Player of the tournament | Xavier Jodanus | Cape Ubuntu FC |