The Engen Knockout Challenge Moves From On Field To Online In 2020!
by Soccer Laduma
South Africa’s 'coolest' petrol station brand* will be running the 2020 Engen Knockout Challenge through a series of online educational webinars. Kick-off is set for 23 September 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown, this year’s youth development tournament will see teams from across South Africa join virtual educational webinars.
The webinars will be facilitated by the appointed host clubs in each region and will feature some of Mzansi’s heaviest hitters both on and off the field.
The sessions will equip participants with knowledge about healthy lifestyle, career opportunities, nutrition, mental resilience, finances, media training and life skills, ensuring that they are able to make informed decisions in order to help them live their best lives.
“By hosting the webinars, we aim to highlight the infinite career opportunities available within football, outside of being a sportsman. We will also cover topics that will enable players to make informed lifestyle decisions,” says Bulela Mkandawire, Brand and Sponsorship Manager at Engen.
The programme will consist of three phases: (Detailed programme below)
- Coach the Coach Masterclasses (23 Sep – 7 Oct 2020)
- Engen Locker Room Talks (26 Sep – 14 Nov 2020)
- Engen Off the Pitch Challenges (28 Sep – 26 Oct 2020)
COACH THE COACH MASTERCLASSES
The 11-week programme will commence with ‘Coach the Coach Masterclasses’, and will feature the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns Head Coach – Pitso Mosimane; under-17 Basetsana Head Coach – Simphiwe Dludlu; Head of Youth at Ajax Cape Town - Duncan Crowie; and Bidvest Wits’ Gavin Hunt. The sessions will cover various topics and knowledge sharing and will be available to all soccer coaches across SA.
| EVENT DATE | THEME | FEATURED COACH |
| Wed, 23 September | The role of a coach/developing and identifying talent | Pitso Mosimane – Mamelodi Sundowns Head Coach |
| Wed, 30 September | Preparing a team for a tournament | Simphiwe Dludlu – U17 Basetsana Head Coach Duncan Crowie - Head of Youth at Ajax Cape Town |
| Wed, 7 October | Moments of the game and team tactics | Gavin Hunt – Bidvest Wits |
ENGEN LOCKER ROOM TALKS
The ‘Engen Locker Room’ talks aimed at young male and female players will cover a range of interesting topics. These will be facilitated by host clubs in each region and hosted by legends, media personalities, coaches and influential icons.
| EVENT DATE | THEME/TOPIC | HOSTS & SPEAKERS |
| Sat, 26 September | Career opportunities | WITS Junior Football Club – Gauteng Monde Hlatshwayo & Portia Khambi |
| Sat, 3 October | Empowering women through sports | AmaZulu Football Club – KwaZulu-Natal Mary-Jane Sokhela & Vuyisle Ngcobo |
| Sat, 10 October | Identifying talent in COVID times | Wanderers Football Club - Cape Town Morris Bacaza & Dillon Sheppard |
| Sat, 17 October | Positioning yourself as a player on and off the field | Moroka High School – Bloemfontein Bongani Khumalo & Stanton Fredricks |
| Sat, 24 October | Life beyond the field | Glenvale Celtic Football Club - Port Elizabeth Danie Klate & Amanda Dlamini |
| Sat, 31 October | Nutrition, Health & Wellness | Engen Siba Mtongana & Sean Van Staden |
| Sat, 7 November | Life Skills | Engen George Maluleka & Reneilwe Letsholonyane |
| Sat, 14 November | Media Training | Engen Thabiso Mosia & Lebohang Motsoeli |
ENGEN OFF THE PITCH CHALLENGE: SKILLS CHALLENGE
As part of the online session, Engen has also incorporated some physical skills development and challenges for the participating teams. Each team will receive prescribed skills challenges, demonstrated by Engen ambassadors, Amanda Dlamini, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Stanton ‘Stiga’ Fredricks.
Teams will also be required to perform one free-style challenge over a three-week period as part of the challenges and submit videos which will then be assessed by the technical team.
The finalists, consisting of three female and five male teams, will each win a 3-month online Advanced Sport Training programme, while the overall prize winner for female and male teams will receive a prize to the value of R35 000 based on the needs of their respective clubs.
Online registration will open on 7 September 2020 and close on the 14 September 2020.
* As voted for in the Sunday Times Generation Next survey for 11 consecutive years (2010-2020)