Kaizer Chiefs regain Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge title

Chiefs won the U18 boys’ tournament, beating arch-rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in style yesterday in the final match played at Marks Park in Johannesburg.

Chiefs were clinical throughout this tournament, winning all their group matches, beating Tuks 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Randburg FC in the semis on penalties.

Mathebula says teamwork was vital in achieving this result.

"I think it's more of team work from the technical team, having good players around you and players who listen to the technical team and players who are eager to do better and understand the demands of playing for Kaizer Chiefs and the expectation as well,” Mathebula said.

“So, I think all around we have a good team, from the technical team, the supporting staff, everyone is here to support us, so definitely we had to do better.”

Mathebula, who won two league titles with Chiefs as a player under the late Ted Dumitru between 2003 and 2005, credits their success in the tournament to a solid preparatory plan that included playing a tournament in Limpopo.

"Very much important, I think the experience from last year, from us as the technical team, it helps a lot because we prepared better this time around. The team allowed us to travel to Limpopo in Tzaneen as part of the preparation and then it shows how the team spirit amongst the players is better," the coach explained.

"The planning from the goalkeeper coaches and other coaches around us and trying not to concede because we played the group stages with a different keeper, understanding his qualities and then when we went to knockout stages we changed the keeper because he's far much better in terms of penalties and he showed that in the semifinal.

“So, the planning around because I spoke a lot with the coaches and I think it helped a lot in terms of being better in preparation. Controlling the game better, so I think we were far much ready for this tournament."