The journey to the Engen Champs of Champs, the event that brings the regional champions of South Africa together, kicks off with the Cape Town Engen Knockout Challenge at Erica Park.
The action takes place from Friday, 26 June, to Sunday, 28 June, and the teams include the defending Engen Champs of Champs, Cape Town City.
Although Cape Town City is a well-established contender and the national title-holder, they’ll face a stiff challenge in the regional competition. Teams like Stellenbosch FC, who claimed the Engen Knockout Challenge title in 2024, are back to challenge Cape Town City, while the Ubuntu Football Academy is another team that consistently poses a threat.
However, it is not solely the traditional powerhouses that merit attention. Earlier this year, JPM Antalyaspor secured the Bayhill Premier Cup by defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in the final at Athlone Stadium, and they’ll be eager to add the Engen Knockout Challenge title to their Bayhill Premier Cup victory.
In the girls’ competition, Cape Town Roses, a perennial presence at the Engen Champs of Champs, remains the team to beat. They’ve won the last three editions of the Cape Town Engen Knockout Challenge, so nothing less than a fourth successive title will be on their agenda. But, with teams like Stellenbosch Ladies FC competing in the Hollywoodbets Super League, it will be interesting to see who emerges victorious in the girls’ competition this year.
Boys’ Competition
Group A: SAFA Cape Town Academy, District Six Mitchells Plain, United Aces, Valhalla United
Group B: Stellenbosch FC, Eyethu, Table View FC, Ubuntu Football Academy
Group C: Cape Town City, Hellenic, Central Schools Football, South End FC
Group D: Everton FC, Rising Stars, JPM Antalyaspor, Grassy Park United
Girls’ Competition
Group A: Cape Town Roses, Spurs WFC, Hout Bay United, Otha United
Group B: Goal Hunters, Magic Ladies, The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Ladies, Dangerous Heroes
Group C: Real Brazilian Ladies, Santos FC, Ubuntu Football Academy, Badgers Ladies
Group D: Salt River Blackpool, RV United, Rygersdal, Stellenbosch FC
FIXTURES
Boys’ Fixtures
Friday, 26 June
11:00
United Aces vs District Six
SAFA Cape Town Academy vs Valhalla United
12:00
Grassy Park United vs Rising Stars
Everton vs JPM Antalyaspor
Hellenic vs Central Schools Football
Cape Town City vs South End
15:30
South End vs Central Schools
Rising Stars vs JPM Antalyaspor
Grassy Park United vs Everton
Cape Town City vs Hellenic
16:30
District Six vs Valhalla United
United Aces vs SAFA Cape Town Academy
Saturday, 27 June
09:00
SAFA Cape Town Academy vs District Six
Valhalla United vs United Aces
10:00
Central Schools Football vs Cape Town City
Hellenic vs South End
JPM Antalyaspor vs Grassy Park United
Everton vs Rising Stars
Girls’ Fxitures
Friday, 26 June
09:00
Hout Bay vs Otha United
CPUT Ladies vs Dangerous Heroes
Magic Ladies vs Goal Hunters
Cape Town Roses vs Spurs WFC
10:00
RV United vs Stellenbosch
Ubuntu vs Real Brazilians
Badgers Ladies vs Santos
13:30
Real Brazilians vs Santos
Stellenbosch vs Salt River Blackpool
RV United vs Rygersdal
Ubuntu vs Badgers Ladies
14:30
Goal Hunters vs Dangerous Heroes
Magic Ladies vs CPUT Ladies
Otha United vs Spurs WFC
Saturday, 27 June
11:00
Dangerous Heroes vs Magic Ladies
Spurs WFC vs Hout Bay
Otha United vs Cape Town Roses
CPUT Ladies vs Goal Hunters
12:00
Badgers Ladies vs Real Brazilians
Santos vs Ubuntu
Salt River Blackpool vs RV United
Rygersdal vs Stellenbosch
