Tashreeq Arends of Rangers FC, Player of the Tournament receives his award from Cindy Bunde, Engen CSI Coordinator for Eastern Cape during Day 3 of the 2016 Engen Knockout Challenge PE at Galvandale Sports Complex, Port Elizabeth on 3 July 2016 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix” width=”193″ height=”300″ class=”size-medium wp-image-4544″ /> Tashreeq Arends of Rangers FC, Player of the Tournament receives his award from Cindy Bunde, Engen CSI Coordinator for Eastern Cape during Day 3 of the 2016 Engen Knockout Challenge PE at Galvandale Sports Complex, Port Elizabeth on 3 July 2016 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix[/caption]Chippa United beat a gallant Rangers FC to successfully defend their 2016 Engen Knockout Challenge, Port Elizabeth title at the Gelvandale Sports Complex on Sunday, 03 July, 2016.
Three days of intense competition produced some exciting football culminating with Rangers and Chippa United squaring up against each other in the 2016 Engen Knockout Challenge final in front of a large local football following.
After 90 minutes of intense end-to-end action the game ended goalless leading to a dreaded penalty shootout.
The net bulged with frequent regularity as player after player succeeded with his penalty kick, eventually the fate of the title was settled when Chippa scored their winning penalty in a sudden death shootout after a Rangers player miscued his shot.
Sixteen of the best u/17 youth teams in the Eastern Cape contested the 2016 Engen Knockout Challenge tournament at the John Nance Sports Complex in Port Elizabeth from Friday, 01 July to Saturday 03 July, 2016.
The semi-finals lined-up as follows; Highland Spurs v Chippa Utd and Rangers v PE Sundowns.
Rangers beat PE Sundowns 5 – 4 on penalties after finishing the game I a 1-all draw and Chippa United beat Highland Spurs 2-1 to reach the final.
The tournament’s convenor of selectors, headed by former Cape Town Santos and Bafana Bafana legend, Duncan Crowie spotted several star performers over the three days; however one player stood head and shoulders above the rest, Tashreeq Arends of Rangers FC was selected as the Engen Knockout Challenge Port Elizabeth “Player of the Tournament”.
“Tashreeq Arends was the cog in Rangers engine room; he dictated play throughout the game, reading the opposition’s game plan very well. Arends produced a high level of performance over the three days. He played a key role in all aspects of Rangers game plan over the three days of competition,” said Crowie
The other individual award winners are:
• Referee of the Tournament – Ronaldo Schalkwyk
• Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Aviwe Maliza (PE Sundowns)
• Defender of the Tournament – Yondelelani Sana (Chippa United FC)
• Midfielder of the Tournament – Tashreeq Arends (Rangers FC)
• Striker of the Tournament – Keegan Assam (Chippa United FC)
• Top Goalscorer of the Tournament – Odwa Mareledwana (City Strikers FC)
• Coach of the Tournament – Erefaan George (Rangers FC)
• Fair play Team of the Tournament – City Strikers
• Player of the Tournament – Tashreeq Arends (Rangers FC)
Engen’s Group Sponsorship Manager, Brad Bergh said, “I am delighted at the high level of competition seen throughout this tournament.
The Engen Knockout Challenge provides South Africa’s top talent with a stage to showcase their skills to leading scouts. The journey to stardom beckons for many young footballers, for these players their journey starts here.
The winners of the regional Engen Knockout Challenge events will battle it out in the Engen Champ of Champs later in the year to determine the overall national champions.
Engen is proud to be a part of the development of these young future football stars, further contributing to the realisation of their dream of being signed professionally.”
