Under 18 Boys draw.
By: Refilwe Sebola
Limpopo hopefuls Tshepo Academy FC have been handed a major test at the Engine Champ of Champs after being drawn alongside Kaizer Chiefs in the Under-18 competition, with the national youth tournament set to take place at the TuksSport High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria from Thursday to Sunday.
Tshepo Academy are in Group A alongside Gauteng representatives Kaizer Chiefs, East High Academy from Mpumalanga, Tenpont FC and Pixley Youth FC, setting up a demanding group-stage campaign for the Limpopo outfit.
There is plenty at stake beyond provincial pride, with the winners of the Under-18 tournament set to pocket R30,000, while the runners-up will take home R20,000. The team finishing third will receive R10,000, with fourth place earning R5,000.
The tournament also offers a potentially valuable pathway for the players, with the best performers set to have an opportunity to be identified and selected by professional teams.
For Tshepo Academy’s young players, the competition therefore presents a chance to compete for silverware and prize money while putting their talent in front of professional football structures.
The Limpopo side will have to negotiate a difficult Group A, with Kaizer Chiefs providing a particularly eye-catching challenge as Tshepo Academy look to make their mark on the national stage.
The four-day tournament brings together youth teams from across the country and gives the players an opportunity to measure themselves against some of the best emerging talent in their age group.