The Engen Knockout Challenge
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Engen Knockout Challenge will not be staged physically in 2020. It will be replaced with a series of online educational sessions that highlight Engen’s commitment to care for the communities in which it operates in by engaging teams in a different format to “PLAY ON” in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic .
South Africa’s most prestigious youth tournament

Showcasing young talent across the Country
First staged in 2003, the Engen Knockout Challenge has grown into arguably South Africa’s most prestigious development football tournament, with six regional tournaments staged annually, culminating in the Engen Champ of Champs in which the respective regional winners compete for national bragging rights.
The highly successful Engen Knockout Challenge for young men continues to go from strength-to-strength and showcases South Africa’s best young footballers to top local and international scouts. It is indeed fitting and a real game-changer to introduce women to the tournament in order to give exposure to the incredible female talent available in the country.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown restrictions, the inaugural Engen Knockout Challenge will only take place in 2021 at dates still to be announced.
While it is unfortunate that we are unable to physically host the Engen Knockout Challenge this year, we are extremely excited that in 2021 the tournament, under-18 for men and under-20 for women, will take place nationally in a round-robin and knockout format.
In order to alleviate the disappointment of not being able to physically host the Engen Knockout Challenge this year, Engen will host a series of online educational sessions, featuring some of the biggest names in the game to highlight Engen’s commitment to caring for the communities in which it operates.

DON'T MISS
THE LINE UP
Date | Theme | Featured Coach |
---|---|---|
Wednesday, 23 September | The role of a coach/developing and identifying talent | Pitso Mosimane – Mamelodi Sundowns
Head Coach |
Wednesday, 30 September | Preparing a team for a tournament e.g EKOC/ Motivating your team | Simphiwe Dludlu – U17 Basetsana Head Coach |
Wednesday, 7 October | Moments of the game and team tactics | Gavin Hunt – Bidvest Wits FC |
Date | Theme | Featured Host Club |
---|---|---|
Saturday, 26 September | Career opportunities | WITS Junior Football Club – Gauteng |
Saturday, 3 October | Empowering women through sports | AmaZulu Football Club – KZN |
Saturday, 10 October | Identifying talent in COVID times | Wanderers Football Club – Cape Town |
Saturday, 17 October | Positioning yourself as a player on and off the field | Bloemfontein Celtics Football Club – Bloemfontein |
Saturday, 24 October | Life beyond the field | Glenville Celtic Football Club – Port Elizabeth |
Saturday, 31 October | Nutrition, Health & Wellness | Engen |
Date | Theme | Featured Coach |
---|---|---|
Wednesday, 23 September | The role of a coach/developing and identifying talent | Pitso Mosimane – Mamelodi Sundowns
Head Coach |
Wednesday, 30 September | Preparing a team for a tournament e.g EKOC/ Motivating your team | Simphiwe Dludlu – U17 Basetsana Head Coach |
Wednesday, 7 October | Moments of the game and team tactics | Gavin Hunt – Bidvest Wits FC |
Date | Theme | Featured Host Club |
---|---|---|
Saturday, 26 September | Career opportunities | WITS Junior Football Club – Gauteng |
Saturday, 3 October | Empowering women through sports | AmaZulu Football Club – KZN |
Saturday, 10 October | Identifying talent in COVID times | Wanderers Football Club – Cape Town |
Saturday, 17 October | Positioning yourself as a player on and off the field | Bloemfontein Celtics Football Club – Bloemfontein |
Saturday, 24 October | Life beyond the field | Glenville Celtic Football Club – Port Elizabeth |
Saturday, 31 October | Nutrition, Health & Wellness | Engen |