In a repeat of last year's final, defending champions PE Sundowns and runners-up St Georges kick off the Eastern Cape Engen Under-17 Knockout Challenge tournament in Gelvandale on Friday.
Sixteen teams including two from Addo and one each from East London, Grahamstown and Thornhill have been divided into four groups and will compete in a round robin before the knockout stage.
Sundowns coach Mila Gxakuma is confident that his team will back in the finals this year.
"We are confident of retaining the title and doing far better than we did in the national competition last year," Gxama said.
Sixteen teams including two from Addo and one each from East London, Grahamstown and Thornhill have been divided into four groups and will compete in a round robin before the knockout stage.
Sundowns coach Mila Gxakuma is confident that his team will back in the finals this year.
"We are confident of retaining the title and doing far better than we did in the national competition last year," Gxama said.
"Many of the boys had never been out of Port Elizabeth and travelling to Johannesburg was a bit too much. With the experience we gained year I am certain we will do a lot better than we did in the national competition."
Defeated finalists St Georges are equally confident of an improved performance this time around. They won the Pefa U17 league for the past two years and are well poised to complete the hattrick.
"We lost 1-0 to Sundowns (in the finals) last year and are determined to avenge that defeat," St Georges coach Michael Broek said.
"Although some of our key players are now over age and no longer eligible the boys are mentally prepared to prove that last year's trophy should have been ours."
Following Chippa United's relocation to Port Elizabeth their development team will be making their debut in the tournament. They kick off against FC Motherwell at the Errol Haynes field.
Chilli Boys development coach Velile Dyaloyi said the club will use the tournament to asses not only their own players but to run the rule over the players from across the province.
“Through this tournament we will be able to see what these players have grasped in training in this period of two months,” the former Bay United coach said.
Glenville Celtic who are hosting the tournament for the seventh time get their campaign off against City Defenders.
All the teams will play two matches on Friday with the final round robin matches on Saturday morning followed by the playoffs for ninth to 16th place.
The finals are scheduled for 2.30pm on Sunday
The teams have been divided into two groups and will take part in a lifeskills programme in two sessions. The sessions will be conducted by Bafana Bafana star Jabu Mahlangu.
Tournament director Eldon September said in an area where gangsterism was rife the tournament was more than just a soccer tournament.
"It is about the dreams and aspirations of the barefoot five-year-old playing in the streets who hopes to one day run onto the park with other players," September added.
"Our biggest enemies are not the players in the opposing team but poverty and ignorance."
Defeated finalists St Georges are equally confident of an improved performance this time around. They won the Pefa U17 league for the past two years and are well poised to complete the hattrick.
"We lost 1-0 to Sundowns (in the finals) last year and are determined to avenge that defeat," St Georges coach Michael Broek said.
"Although some of our key players are now over age and no longer eligible the boys are mentally prepared to prove that last year's trophy should have been ours."
Following Chippa United's relocation to Port Elizabeth their development team will be making their debut in the tournament. They kick off against FC Motherwell at the Errol Haynes field.
Chilli Boys development coach Velile Dyaloyi said the club will use the tournament to asses not only their own players but to run the rule over the players from across the province.
“Through this tournament we will be able to see what these players have grasped in training in this period of two months,” the former Bay United coach said.
Glenville Celtic who are hosting the tournament for the seventh time get their campaign off against City Defenders.
All the teams will play two matches on Friday with the final round robin matches on Saturday morning followed by the playoffs for ninth to 16th place.
The finals are scheduled for 2.30pm on Sunday
The teams have been divided into two groups and will take part in a lifeskills programme in two sessions. The sessions will be conducted by Bafana Bafana star Jabu Mahlangu.
Tournament director Eldon September said in an area where gangsterism was rife the tournament was more than just a soccer tournament.
"It is about the dreams and aspirations of the barefoot five-year-old playing in the streets who hopes to one day run onto the park with other players," September added.
"Our biggest enemies are not the players in the opposing team but poverty and ignorance."
By: Editor
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