Popular U17 tournament now has extra incentive

SIXTEEN teams from across the metro, including one from Thornhill, will battle it out to ultimately be crowned the first Engen Champions of Champions later this year, when they take to the field in the 11th annual Engen U17 soccer tournament at the Gelvan fields from tomorrow.

The teams will play a total of 48 matches over three days, in a round-robin format before the knockout stage.

Hosts Glenville, defending champions Victoria Park High and tournament success story City Lads have been kept apart in the draw.

Lads, from New Brighton, hold the record of being the only team in Port Elizabeth to have played in every tournament since the inception. And they have featured in either the finals or semifinals each time. Last year they lost in the finals to Victoria Park High.

In a new innovation this year, the winning team in each of the five regional competitions will be flown to Gauteng for a Champions of Champions tournament.

The cherry on the top for the youngster voted player of the tournament at the Champs of Champs will be a trip to England to try out with one of the top English Premier League teams.

Thulani Serero, Ronwen Williams and Keegan Dolly are among the stars who made their debut in the challenge.

The challenge will be played through to next month in five regions – Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Durban, Gauteng and Cape Town.

The new Champions of Champions event will take place in October, hosted by Engen's new partner, Supersport United Football Club, in Pimville, Soweto.

The Port Elizabeth matches start at 2pm tomorrow and at 9am on Saturday and Sunday. The final is scheduled to take place at 3pm on Sunday.

Opening fixtures are:

Group A: Glenville (Nafa), Young Callies (Nodefa), Kwadwesi All Stars (Pefa), Area Q (Walmer) Group B: Hotspurs, African Chiefs (Larofa), City Lads (Nebfa), Super Eagles (Penfa) Group C: Bloom Callies, Zwide Pirates (Zwifa), PE Sundowns (Nebfa), Shining Stars (Mofa). Group D: Thornhill United, St Georges (Pefa), Victoria Park High School, Young Aces (Zwifa)

Tomorrow

2pm: Kwadwesi All Stars v Area Q (Gelvan 1), Hotspurs v African Chiefs (Gelvan 2), City Lads v Super Eagles (Gelvan 3) , Bloom Callies v Zwide Pirates (Errol Heynes field); 3pm: Glenville v Young Callies (Errol Heynes field), PE Sundowns v Shining Stars (Gelvan 1), Victoria Park v Thornhill United (Gelvan 2), St Georges v Young Aces (Gelvan 3). - Mogan Segadavan