Fashion and football collide on field of play in Engen Knockout Challenge Tournament
Fashion and football will come together into a melting pot when a budding community fashion designer is roped in as the Engen Knockout Challenge's tournament apparel designer – a first for any football tournament in South Africa.
When Engen presents this year’s editions of the Engen Knockout Challenge and the Engen Champ of Champs tournament, the petroleum company will be marking 21 years of its youth soccer development programme.
The programme has been running in partnership with the South African Football Association (Safa) and the tournaments serve as a springboard of youth soccer talent and development, with many current and past professional players in the Premier Soccer League have come from its ranks.
The knockout challenge serves as a qualifier for the champ of champs, which will be staged after the completion of the Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg regional events and Engen will pull out all the stops to ensure that the 21st edition of the tournament continues to provide a platform for the next generation of footballers to shine and showcase their talent to a broad range of scouts and talent spotters.
Over the years, Engen’s holistic approach to football development has seen the knockout challenge evolve into an eco-system that also benefits female footballers, coaches, referees, administrators, and entrepreneurs alike, said Engen’s chief marketing officer, Godfrey Vilakazi.
He said this year, the petroleum company will focus strongly on further amplifying the women’s soccer tournament, which was successfully introduced in 2021 and continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
Vilakazi said this will also use the 21st anniversary to celebrate the success of football alumni of this tournament who used it as a springboard into professional football.
“For more than two decades, the Engen Knockout Challenge has played a part in helping develop South Africa’s budding football talent, while also providing a platform for community development through its holistic approach to the event,” Vilakazi said.
He said the introduction of a women’s tournament gives young girls an opportunity to display their talent, while coaches, referees and administrators continue to hone their skills as well during the tournament.
“Outside of the field of play, the tournament also provides economic opportunities to community-based businesses and entrepreneurs, something that we pride ourselves in as a good and responsible corporate citizen.”
Adding further to its innovative approach to community development, Engen extended its reach to the fashion industry this year to help budding designers enhance their portfolios.
Ziyaad Samsodien, a Cape Town-based fashion designer, will be the tournament’s apparel designer – a first for any football tournament in South Africa.
“The unique partnership will see select teams, referees, officials and staff being kitted out in uniquely designed apparel that will have a blended style of sport and fashion,” Vilakazi added.
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