{"id":78386,"date":"2025-07-28T07:12:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T05:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=78386"},"modified":"2025-07-28T07:12:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T05:12:50","slug":"city-lads-and-chippa-united-crowned-eastern-cape-engen-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=78386","title":{"rendered":"City Lads and Chippa United crowned Eastern Cape Engen champions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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City Lads FC and Chippa United claimed the 2025 provincial Engen Knockout Challenge titles in the Eastern Cape. Photo. Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chippa United<\/strong> and City Lads FC <\/strong>were crowned the champions of the Eastern Cape Engen Knockout Challenge<\/strong> after securing victories in their respective finals in the boys’ and ladies’ divisions at Dale College<\/strong>, in Qonce, on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Both teams, the Chilli Boys<\/strong><\/em> and the City Lads FC, will represent the province, the Home of the Legends<\/strong><\/em>, at the national Engen Champs of Champs<\/strong> in October.<\/p>\n

There, the winners from nine provinces will compete for the title of the best in South Africa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Boys’ Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Chilli Boys as provincial champions following their victory in the Eastern Cape’s Engen Knockout Challenge. Photo. Supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the boys’ tournament, an u18 competition, the eventual champions, Chippa United, were extended by Highbury<\/strong>, but a narrow 1-0 win put them through to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

With a place in the final on the line, they overcame a determined and highly motivated Maria Louw High School<\/strong>, winning 2-0. Maria Louw had reached the semis after a 2-0 defeat of Real Aces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In other quarterfinal matches, United Professionals<\/strong> shared a goalless draw with Joza Stars<\/strong>. That sent their match to a penalty shootout and United Professionals advanced, winning 4-1 from the spot.<\/p>\n

Red Lions handed Malcomess SS<\/strong> a 2-0 loss to move on to the semi-finals, where they faced United Professionals. After a hard-fought contest, Red Lions booked their ticket to the final with a 1-0 win.<\/p>\n

In the title game, it was Chippa United, who were absent in 2024, who came out on top, winning 2-0.<\/p>\n

Ladies’ Competition\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dethroned as champions in 2024, City Lads FC reclaimed the Engen Knockout Challenge title they had previously won in 2023. Photo. Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the ladies’ quarterfinals – the teams are u20 outfits – City Lads overpowered Blackpool<\/strong> 10-3.<\/p>\n

Nav Galaxy<\/strong> also delivered an impressive performance, winning 3-0 against Bay Stars<\/strong>, and Ebhayi<\/strong> matched that result in a win over Phoenix Birds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There were no goals in regulation time between Walter Sisulu University Buffalo City Campus (WSU BCC) <\/strong>and Caledonian<\/strong>, but WSU BCC advanced 5-4 on penalties.<\/p>\n

In the semifinals, City Lads maintained their dominant form, cruising to a 6-0 win over WSU BCC, while Nav Galaxy secured a 2-0 win against Ebhayi to reach the final.<\/p>\n

City Lads FC ‘s free scoring ways were halted by the defending champions, Nav Galaxy Ladies, in the title decider, but they, nonetheless, scored once, which was enough to lift the title that they had previously won in 2023.<\/p>\n

It was a tactical battle from beginning to end, with City Lads’ discipline and determination making the crucial difference.<\/p>\n

Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boys’ Quarterfinals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chippa United 1-0 Highbury
\nRed Lions 2-0 Malcomess SS
\nMaria Louw 2-0 Real Aces
\nUnited Professionals (4) 0-0 (1) Joza Stars<\/p>\n

Boys’ Semifinals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chippa United 1-0 Maria Louw
\nRed Lions 1-0 United Professionals<\/p>\n

Final\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chippa United 2-0 Red Lions<\/p>\n

Ladies’ Quarterfinals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

City Lads 10-3 Blackpool
\nNav Galaxy 3-0 Bay Stars
\nWSU BCC (5) 0-0 (4) Caledonian
\nEbhayi 3-0 Phoenix Birds<\/p>\n

Ladies’ Semifinals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

City Lads 6-0 WSU BCC
\nNav Galaxy 2-0 Ebhayi<\/p>\n

Final\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

City Lads 1-0 Nav Galaxy<\/p>\n

Engen Knockout Individual Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boys<\/strong><\/p>\n

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Andiphile Ngoqo – UTD Professionals
\nDefender of the Tournament: Athabile Frans – Maria Louw
\nMidfielder of the Tournament: Josh Drachoender – Chippa United
\nTop Goalscorer: Qhamani Gubevu – Chippa United
\nStriker of the Tournament: Zukanye Mdila – Red Lions
\nCoach of the Tournament: Masexole Mathyu – Red Lions
\nPlayer of the Tournament: Josh Drachoender – Red Lions
\nFairplay Team of the Tournament: Real Aces
\nReferee of the Tournament – Zizipho Valashya<\/p>\n

Ladies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Mlibokazi Sikhusa – WSU
\nDefender of the Tournament: Sikelelioa Mhlanga – City Lads
\nMidfielder of the Tournament: Agcobile Manengela – City Lads
\nTop Goalscorer: Carlyn Ellie – Caledonian FC
\nStriker of the Tournament: Endinako Njengele – Nav Galaxy Ladies
\nCoach of the Tournament: Lumka Mjana – City Lads
\nPlayer of the Tournament: Sikelelioa Mhlanga – City Lads
\nFair play Team of the Tournament: Bay Stars Ladies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chippa United and City Lads FC were crowned the champions of the Eastern Cape Engen Knockout Challenge after securing victories in their respective finals in the boys’ and ladies’ divisions at Dale College, in Qonce, on Sunday. Both teams, the Chilli Boys and the City Lads FC, will represent the province, the Home of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":78396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/78396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}