By Charmaine Ndlela
Antalyaspor JPM CT and RV United were crowned the 2026 Engen Knockout Challenge Cape Town champions after winning their respective finals on penalties at Erica Park Sports Ground in Belhar on Sunday.
The Under-18 boys’ and Under-20 girls’ finals were played after being postponed for four weeks because of severe weather on 28 June.
Antalyaspor JPM CT secured their first Engen Knockout Challenge boys’ title by defeating Ubuntu Football Academy 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the teams drew 1-1 in regulation time.
The victory capped the club’s rise through the Cape Town competition and secured its place at the 2026 Engen Champ of Champs tournament, where it will face the winners of the other regional competitions.
In the girls’ final, RV United defeated Cape Town Roses 4-3 on penalties after the match ended goalless.
The result ended Cape Town Roses’ run of four consecutive regional titles and gave RV United their first Engen Knockout Challenge crown since winning the inaugural Cape Town girls’ competition in 2021.
RV United join Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, winners of the Gauteng girls’ competition, and KwaZulu-Natal champions Toti Ladies among the teams that have qualified for the national tournament.
The 2026 Engen Champ of Champs tournament is scheduled to take place from 1 to 4 October at the Tuks High Performance Centre in Pretoria.
The competition will bring together the winning boys’ and girls’ teams from the regional Engen Knockout Challenge tournaments to compete for national honours.
INSIDE EDUCATION
