Eagle-eyed scouts and coaches unearthing raw talent that goes on to become prominent in football are expected at the Free State leg of the annual Engen Knockout Challenge tournament for U19 boys.
The event will be held on Saturday (23/07) and Sunday after having been postponed.
The Louis Botha Technical High School (THS) in Bloemfontein will be the host, where participating clubs will battle for the right to represent the province at the national final in October.
The competition is popular for attracting scouts and coaches harvesting talented players they can nurture to become superstars.
Coaches include the pair of Teboho Ramakoa and Abram Nteo of Royal AM and the former Bloemfontein Celtic.
They also serve as selectors of players who perform consistently throughout the competition, while looking for a new breed of players who possess football qualities. They will look to harvest potential candidates from the 16 teams featured in the tournament.
The Moroka Hostel Academy from Thaba Nchu returns as the defending provincial champion, having won in 2019 and making history by winning on debut.
They upset Grey College by 4 – 0 in the final after seeing off tough opponents Bloemfontein Celtic (1 – 0) and Virginia Sports Academy (6 – 5) on penalties.
The academy has won the provincial title a record amount of times, but has seen its dominance gradually ending. This club will take to the field hoping to redeem itself by winning the provincial title and continuing in the challenge for national Champ of Champs glory.
Botshabelo’s Roo Stars won the competition in 2017 after beating Brebner High School by 4 – 2 in the final, becoming the first in Mangaung to claim the trophy as the academy fell by the wayside.
