Stellies crowned Engen Champion of Champions
As the school holidays began last weekend, the Engen Champ of Champs tournament took place where the top teams in each of the nine provinces locked horns for the honor of being champ of champs in the country.
SUNDOWNS’ ROAD TO THE FINAL
Without any surprises, Mamelodi Sundowns U18s had a blistering start to the tournament beating Virginia Sports Academy two goals to nil before going on to complete their groups stages with a three-nil victory over FC Milan on the second Day of the tournament.
All the while, Chippa United, champs of the Eastern Cape and Gqeberha region, were building slowly on their way to qualifying for the semi-finals of the tournament in which they were drawn against Sundowns, making up for a mouthwatering encounter.
Chippa United, known for being giant slayers in the country’s top-flight division – the Premier Soccer League – embodied their senior team’s spirit and took Sundowns right to the wire.
The ‘Chilli Boys’, as they are fondly known in the Gqeberha region, put on a fight of note, tying one-all with Sundowns in the most part of the match, before Sundowns’ experience of big games saw them score a second goal to advance to the finals.
STELLENBOSCH’S ROAD TO THE FINAL
As champs of the Western Cape region, Stellies had an eventful tournament as they did not get off to a good start, failing to capitalise on their chances against Amazulu on opening day.
They drew that fixture and took nothing but confidence into the second Day, where they had Chippa United’s high-pace football to contend with.
Through much-resilience, Stellies moved past Chippa to qualify for the final where odds were heavily stacked in favour of Sundowns.
STELLIES – SUNDOWNS FINAL
When Day three began, it was clear that it was finals day as scouts were in attendance, looking for South Africa’s future footballing stars.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokoena, despite the busy schedule of coaching Africa’s biggest club, took time out to be in attendance of the final, turning back the time to his days as coach of Sundowns’ U19 teams many years ago.
With the senior team’s coach Mokoena in attendance, the U19s from Pretoria put on a performance of high quality against Stellies, but the Cape-club were up for the test.
Nothing could separate the two sides having gone through the full 90 minutes tied one-all with penalties deciding the affair.
Stellies eventually won the final, beating Sundowns 5-4 on penalties to be crowned champ of champs.
WOMEN’S U20 CHAMP OF CHAMPS
In the women’s U20 division, University of Johannesburg retained their trophy having won it last years as well.
