Alex’s Bluebirds Ladies U17 side tackles Engen Knockout Challenge
Sixteen teams each in the boys and girls division will be vying to be crowned Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge champions this coming weekend of July 7 and 9 at the Marks Park Sports Complex.
Alexandra’s Bluebirds Ladies will form part of the 16 Gauteng women’s football teams that will be vying for the title of the Gauteng leg of the Engen Knockout Challenge.
The 21st edition of the tournament will take place at the Marks Park Sports Complex between July 7 and 9.
This follows the draw that was conducted on July 3 by sponsors Engen in partnership with tournament host Safa Johannesburg at the Wits Sports’ Sturrock Park Sports Complex.
Thirty-two Gauteng-based clubs, equally split between boys (U18) and girls (U20), were drawn into groups in which defending boys’ champions Kaizer Chiefs hope to retain the championship while in the girls’ section, the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) will also be hoping to do the same.
In the boys’ section, AmaKhosi Amahle along with Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United, as well as School of Excellence, are the four-seeded teams while in the girls’ division, UJ Ladies, who are the defending champions of both the knockout and Engen Champ of Champs, was the seeded side along with Tuks Ladies, JVW Ladies and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
The draw was also attended by one of the four tournament ambassadors, former Orlando Pirates keeper Brighton Mhlongo, who lauded both Engen and Safa Johannesburg for their efforts in developing youth football in the country, as the tournament has a Durban, Joburg, and Cape Town leg of the tournament.
The Durban leg was played over the weekend of June 30 and July 2 and the boys’ tournament was won by AmaZulu FC and the girls’ one went to Durban Ladies. The final leg draw and play dates for the Cape Town one are still yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to Alex News in an interview, Bluebirds Ladies assistant coach Bulelani Maphanjwa confirmed that their U17 side, which plays in the Johannesburg Women’s Regional League, will participate in the tournament.
“The motivation for us to play the girls in the tournament is to build a strong team for next season of the senior league, the Sasol Women’s League, and we hope we will be able to prepare the girls for the senior team.
“Competitive tournaments such as the Egen Knockout Challenge help us to develop the girls and it also brings good experience and great character to our young players so that by the time we promote them to the senior side, at least they would have gained experience and exposure,” Maphanjwa said.
The draw for the Gauteng leg, boys’ U18 division:
GROUP A:
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- RESA
- Randburg AFC
- Wits FC
GROUP B:
- School of Excellence
- Dlamini XI Experience
- Rosina Sedibane
- Orlando Pirates FC
GROUP C:
- Kaizer Chiefs
- Tuks FC
- Joburg City FC
- Panorama FC
GROUP D:
- SuperSport United
- NWU Vaal
- TS Galaxy FC
- K-West Academy
The girls draw U20 division:
GROUP A:
- TUKS Ladies
- Springs Home Sweepers
- Wits Ladies
- Lakeside Future Stars
GROUP B:
- UJ Ladies
- Kempton Park Ladies
- Blue Birds Ladies
- Mito Stars
GROUP C:
- JVW Ladies
- German International Academy
- Rosina Sedibane Ladies
- Randburg United Ladies
GROUP D:
- Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
- Panorama Ladies
- Bantwana Ladies
- Norkem Park Ladies.
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