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AmaZulu FC first team goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela has credited the Engen Champ of Champs for his call-up to the South African Under 20 national team in 2019.
Mzimela, who appears to be edging closer to becoming Usuthu’s first-choice goalkeeper, is among the many talented players who have emerged from the Engen tournaments, reinforcing the competition’s reputation as the place “Where Diski Legends Start.”
In 2018, he represented AmaZulu in the eThekwini edition of the Engen Knockout Challenge, where the team finished as runners-up. Mzimela, however, enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign, winning both the Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Player of the Tournament awards.
He was also part of the AmaZulu side that won the eThekwini-leg in 2019 and went on to represent the province at the Engen Champ of Champs in Gauteng. Mzimela believes the tournament played a crucial role in raising his profile and catching the attention of the national Under-20 team coaches.
He also credits the competition with preparing him for the PSL Reserve League season that followed, giving him valuable experience and confidence as he continued his development.
“Taking part in the tournament helped me a lot, you get an exposure especially going to Champ of Champs where there are a lot of scouts,” said Mzimela.
“It’s where I believe I managed to get a call-up to the national team of under 20. It helped me a lot and prepared me for the DDC. Most of the teams we were competing against, your Chippa, Bidvest Wits were also using that tournament to prepare for the season.
“So, it also prepared me a lot, so when I got into the season, I was used to the altitude of Joburg and, I was also familiar with a few players that we played against in the Champ of Champs. I was able to compete and had a decent season.”
The 2026 edition of the Engen Champ of Champs will take place at the High- Performance Centre in Pretoria from 02 – 04 October.
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