Posted in News, Youth Academy on Oct 05, 2022.
The Kaizer Chiefs under-18 team are the winners of the 2022 Engen Champ of Champs competition following their 2-1 win over Cape Town City in the final on the last day of the national tournament at Marks Park Sports Ground in Johannesburg.
Wandile Duba and Thulani Mabaso scored in each half to set Chiefs on course for victory.
Chiefs qualified for the Champ of Champs after winning the Gauteng leg of the of the Engen Knockout Challenge in July, and joined eight other provincial winners in the culmination of the 20th edition tournament. Chiefs played a total of six matches, winning five and drawing one.
David Mathebula’s boys qualified for the semi-finals after topping Group A before defeating Louis Botha from the Free State to make the finals, where they defeated Cape Town City.
There was a moment of controversy in the semi-final when the referee showed Mfundo Vilakazi a red card for showboating after the young player scored a scorcher of a goal.
“We are very proud of the team for this big achievement. They really worked hard in the heat and brought joy to many faces. We applaud the hard work and discipline the boys displayed. We need to keep working hard and ensure we win more of these tournaments so the guys have the winning mentality from a young age,” said coach David Mathebula.
Top goalscorer, Duba, who averaged a goal a game, was overjoyed to get his hands on a winner’s medal.
“It feels, great,” he said, “”We played excellent football. We came here hungry and wanted to win the tournament. Even my teammates were pushing me hard to score goals because they wanted me to finish as top goalscorer.
The youngster is determined to reach the very top of his field and decalares confidently, “ My motivation is to make it to the first team and the goals I scored here will hopefully show them I am a goalscorer and they will need me in the side.”
There were a number of individual awards that were handed out after the match.
- Mpho Moletsane was named goalkeeper of the tournament.
- Duba was named the striker of the tournament.
- Duba – with a total of six goals in the Champ of Champs - also received the award for the highest goalscorer in the men’s section.
- David Mathebula was named coach of the tournament.
