The Cape Town Engen Knockout Challenge crowned new champions at the Erice Park Sports Ground in Belhar on Sunday, with Antalyaspor JMP Cape Town winning the boys’ title and RV United securing the girls’ honours.
The Cape Town edition of the Engen Knockout Challenge was originally scheduled to conclude nearly a month ago. However, the finals were postponed due to bad weather conditions that impacted the Belhar grounds.
While other regions, including KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng, experienced smoothly run tournaments without interruptions, the Cape Town leg was rescheduled to be played on Sunday.
Antalyaspor JMP is enjoying a remarkable season. Earlier this year, they lifted the Bayhill Premier Cup when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
They also eliminated Cape Town City from the Engen Knockout Challenge, beating them 2-0 in the semifinals. That was a particularly significant win as they not only ousted the defending champions of the Cape Town edition of the Engen tournament but also the 2025 Engen Champs of Champs winners.
In Sunday’s final, the Ubuntu Football Academy faced Antalyaspor after sneaking by the SAFA Cape Town Academy in the semi-finals. After their clash finished 1-1 in regular time, Ubuntu won 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
Again, in the title game, Ubuntu played to a 1-1 draw. This time, however, they were on the wrong end of the result, with Antalyaspor triumphing 5-4 after the spot kicks.
The bronze playoff match also went to a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw between Cape Town City and the SAFA Cape Town Academy. Matters were clear-cut in the shootout, though, with City triumphing 3-0.
In the girls’ competition, RV United won the title for the first time since 2021. That year, they edged out Spurs WFC 1-0 in the final. Then, from 2022 to 2025, Cape Town Roses dominated the competition, winning it four times on the trot.
They came up just short in their quest for a fifth successive title, however. Like the boys’ final, the winner was decided by a penalty shootout.
Neither RV United nor Cape Town Roses was able to score in regulation time, but RV claimed the trophy with a 4-3 spot kick victory.
The title win qualified RV United to join the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Team, who won the girls’ competition at the Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge, and Toti Ladies from KwaZulu-Natal, who claimed the girls’ leg of the KZN Engen Knockout Challenge, at the Engen Champ of Champs later this year.
Dangerous Heroes scored a 2-0 win over the Ubuntu Football Academy Ladies Team to finish in third place.
RESULTS
Sunday, 26 July
Boys’ Competition
3rd/4th Playoff
Cape Town City (3) 1-1 (0) SAFA Cape Town Academy
Final
Antalyaspor JMP CT (5) 1-1 (4) Ubuntu Football Academy
Girls’ Competition
3rd/4th Playoff
Dangerous Heroes 2-0 Ubuntu Football Academy Ladies
Final
RV United (4) 0-0 (3) Cape Town Roses
