Katleho Malebana, a star player for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, noted the significant role of the Engen Knockout Challenge tournaments in nurturing and developing young talent in women's football.
The captain of the South African U17 national team was part of the Banyana Ba Style team that won the Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge title after defeating the University of Johannesburg in the final.
The talented midfielder believes that young players should take advantage of participating in this tournament, calling it a high-level platform. She thinks that taking part in such an intensive competition helps young athletes gain experience, build self-confidence, and accelerate their progress.
Malebana stated: 'Engen creates opportunities for young female footballers to be noticed, gain experience, and believe in themselves.'
She added that women's football is evolving, and competitions like Engen play a major role in this growth by giving girls a chance to compete at a high level and feel the atmosphere of a serious football environment.
'I would advise every aspiring footballer to take these competitions seriously because many national team coaches and various scouts are watching, and also just enjoy it,' said Malebana.
Malebana views the Engen tournaments as valuable platforms for young footballers to showcase their talents and attract opportunities beyond the competition itself. Because some players previously used this tournament as a springboard to more successful places, the tournament maintains its reputation—a place where Diski legends begin.
'Every game is an opportunity to learn something new. You never know who is watching or where this opportunity might ultimately lead, and they must keep believing in themselves,' she shared.
Confirming her full motivation for the upcoming competition, she mentioned that she is preparing for the match against Engen Champ of Champs, which will take place from October 2 to 4, 2026, at the University of Pretoria High Performance Centre.
After winning the Engen Knockout Challenge, she acknowledged that enthusiasm is present, but the team also realizes the need to put in even more effort, as Champ of Champs will provide a completely new level of competition.