The Junior Women’s Under-20 footballers of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have defended their Engen Champ of Champs title on Monday, 02 October 2023 at Marks Park Sports Grounds in Emmarentia. They defeated the Cape Town Roses ladies team 5-4 on penalties after a 1-all draw at fulltime.
The young Orange Army had won the 2023 Engen Knockout Challenge (R25,000.00) recently and proceeded to compete in the Engen Champ of Champs (R30,000.00). The team has won R55,000.00 in total prize money.
UJ player Yolanda Nduli was named Player of the Tournament and Defender of the Tournament for her defensive prowess in the tournament. Delighted for being honoured, Ntuli said, “I got these accolades because of teamwork – I wasn’t playing alone. A big thanks to my teammates and the coaches. These awards mean a lot to me. They show that I am doing something differently and that I have improved a lot,” said Nduli.
Gabriel Kelly-Niemack shared her sentiments after their championship, “We fought as a team all the way through to the last second of the match. We played difficult few games; we had linesmen who made wrong calls but we stuck to the game plan.
“This year was different; we won our games with big scores in 2022 but different this time around. I think we lack good communication as a team, but we managed to improve later on. We are the champions once again and that means that we have a title to fight for again next year. So, we are happy to be winners – UJ All The Way!”
UJ won big as Head Coach Sibongile Sithole was named the Coach of the Tournament while her shot-stopper Karabo Mohale was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Speaking to the players after the tournament, Coach Sithole said, “Well done to the team for defending their championship title from 2022. To our new players who played for the first time in the Engen Champ of Champs, you have seen how it is like to play in such a competitive tournament so that you can do even better when you return next year. Congratulations!”
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