Engen Knockout challenge continues to unearth young talent

Bidvest Wits will be looking to stake a claim once again in this year’s Engen U17 Knockout Challenge after finishing as runners-up last year.

The tournament continues to nurture young talent at grassroots level and this year will be no different when the tournament kicks off at Marks Park Stadium on 29 July.

Bidvest Wits U17 assistant coach, Phuphu Mohlaba said his team was ready for the tournament and they would be looking to build on last year’s momentum. “Last year we were one of the best teams in the tournament. We scored goals, we defended well, unfortunately, when it counted in the final, we lost,” he said.

Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious U17 football tournaments in the country, it has, since its inception back in 2003, been a valuable stepping stone for more than 100 players who have gone on to play professionally both locally and abroad.

Seasoned stars such as Thulani Serero, Daine Klaite, Jody February, Rowen Williams, George Maluleka, Cole Alexander and Denwin Farmer all graced this prestigious showpiece before going on to establish themselves at professional level. The 2015 event was particularly fruitful with 11 players who featured in the tournament representing South Africa at the 2015 U20 Fifa World Cup in Chile.

The winners of the regional tournament will battle it out in the Engen Champ of Champs later in the year to determine the overall national champions.

With this being the 13th edition of the tournament, Jimmy Bakos, deputy president of South African Football Association Joburg said they were proud to be supporting a tournament that was making a difference in South African football.