David Rossouw`
The 2024 Engen Knockout Challenge Tournament hosted by SAFA Cape Town started on 23 March at the Strandfontein Sports Complex in Mitchells Plain, with over 160 men’s and 33 women’s teams participating.
This year’s tournament promises intense competition and spectacular football as local and visiting teams compete for the tournament’s last 12 berths.
The last 12 qualifiers, combined with the four automatically qualified teams – Cape Town City FC, Cape Town Spurs FC, Stellenbosch FC, and SAFA Cape Town Academy – will go to the final round of 16 and compete for a position in the final event which takes place over one weekend for the competition’s grand prize and regional championship.
The qualifiers began with a series of one-off knockout matches in which clubs from various regions of the Western Cape competed. The first round of games was held on 23 and 24 March, and on 7 April, with teams competing for a spot in the next round.
In the opening round, Strandfontein hosted some thrilling football. Table View defeated Kuils River AFC 3-2 in the Cape Town Tygerberg LFA derby, while FC Kapstadt overcame Milano United of Mitchells Plain LFA 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Lingelethu’s City Bombers advanced to the next round after defeating Bayview FC in a penalty shootout. FC Cafda defeated Juventus of the Greater Philippi LFA 8-1 in a penalty shootout late on Friday afternoon.
Nine SAFA Cape Winelands clubs, one from SAFA West Coast, and one from SAFA Overberg, have entered the event, adding to its excitement and diversity.
The Strandfontein Sports Complex assisted by hosting the first round of playoffs and offering thrilling football to the football community.
The winning team will advance to the Engen Champs of Champs in Johannesburg for national recognition, raising the stakes and enthusiasm around the tournament.
Lockshin Spurs, Dunoon Sporting, and Jomo’s Power AFC competed for a berth in the elite group of 16, but were eliminated in rounds two and three before the final round on 21 April at the Johnson Road Sports Complex in Rygate, Athlone.
Jomo’s Power AFC was the last of the three neighbouring teams to face the highly ranked JL Zwane in a make-or-break encounter. Jomo stunned JL Zwane with their first goal in the opening ten minutes of the game, taking a 1-0 lead. Jomo scored their second goal in the 20th minute, and it seemed they had secured their place in the final later that day, but JL Zwane had other intentions and put the ball in the net just before half-time.
In the second half, JL Zwane outplayed Jomo and equalised, forcing the match to a penalty shootout, which they won 4-2.
With the Dunoon and Atlantis LFA local competitions getting started, they will be able to showcase their abilities in the home league and knockout rounds.