Panorama FC again books a spot in the Engen Knockout Competition
After three days of gruelling football and 86 matches, only nine out of the 117 teams that participated in the Gauteng leg of the qualifier tournament made it through to the Engen Knockout Competition, which is scheduled to take place next month.
Heading into the event, there was significant pressure on a number of Gauteng Development League (GDL) teams, among them Panorama FC, Highlands Park, Sevens Academy, NWU Vaal, Kathorus Hyper Academy, School of Excellence and Rosina Sedibane.
The qualifiers also featured teams that compete in the lower leagues of the Gauteng region, with many eager to embrace the opportunity of pulling off an upset.
The challenge was tough, but three of those sides got it right, with Meadowlands Academy topping Group F, Stars of Africa finishing atop Group D, and Transition Football taking first place in Group H.
All three, thus, progressed to the knockout stage of the tournament and their success meant that GDL clubs, School of Excellence and NWU Vaal, missed out.
A number of teams stood out as head and shoulders above their competition.
Panorama FC enjoyed a strong showing, beating a determined University of Johannesburg team 3-0, which was followed by a 0-0 draw against Hammanskraal Sports Academy, a 4-1 win over Remember Elite Sports Academy, and a 2-1 victory over West Youth Academy.
That run of success secured Panorama FC’s qualification for the Engen Knockout Tournament for a third year in succession. Much of that success can be attributed to their coach Boy Gcabashe.
Before his tenure with the u18 boys began, Panorama had never made it through to the Engen Knockout Competition, which puts Gcabashe’s impact at the academy into context. It has been impressive.
Randburg AFC was also in good form throughout the long weekend. They went unbeaten in Group B, with a 3-0 victory over White City Spurs on the opening day, followed by a 4-1 defeat of Opopo FC, a 1-0 win over fellow GDL side, Sevens Academy, and a 2-1 triumph against West Youth Academy, which kept intact their 100 percent win record.
The “Lions of the North“, Highlands Park, also breezed past their Group C opponents. They were pushed hard by the Dlamini XI Experience in their opener, which they won 4-3. Next, they thrashed The Best Football Academy 6-0, but were then held to a goalless draw by GDL club, Joburg City. They finished with a 2-0 defeat of Capital City to secure a place in the main tournament.
There was further success for GDL teams, with Rosina Sedibane topping Group E, Kathorus Hyper Academy winning Group G, and Jomo Cosmos taking the honours in Group I.
