As the Engen Champ of Champs approaches, here is a look at the four youngsters who won the Player of the Tournament awards in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Check Out: Mhlongo: Something Is Happening In Cape Town
It has been a year to remember for South Africa's most famous youth competition, but things are only heating up, with the Engen Champ of Champs set to be held in Johannesburg at WITS Marks Park between 27 and 29 September.
So far, there have been incredible stories, perhaps most notably with first-time winners Shayamoya FC collecting the trophy in KwaZulu-Natal against all odds! Who, however, from the boys' tournament stood out among their peers?
Soccer Laduma, back in June, caught up with ex-Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United centre-back Clayton Daniels after he attended the tournament in Cape Town, and he was blown away by Cape Town City's teenage sensation Emile Witbooi. The attacking midfielder stole the show at Erica Park, leading Daniels to believe he is a young star destined for big things.
Daniels admitted he had not "seen a player like that in a long, long time" and was particularly impressed by Surprise Ralani's son's "finesse on the ball".
In the Eastern Cape, meanwhile, Lee Rogan De Kock was named the Player of the Tournament for his goalscoring exploits for eBhayi FC, which impressed former Chippa United coach Siyabulela Gwambi, who predicted, based on what he saw, that De Kock "can go somewhere".
Mthobisi Jese won the best player prize in KwaZulu-Natal, where he represented first-time champions Shayamoya FC, and there was astonishingly high praise for Kaizer Chiefs' left-wing back Ofentse Kgosana from University of Johannesburg coach Karabo Mogudi, who likened the talented teenager to Khuliso Mudau and Thapelo Morena.
Check Out: 'How Have Chiefs Downs Not Signed Him?'
His performances for Chiefs led Mogudi to believe he is a "powerhouse", especially after he contributed enormously in the final third despite playing further back. Mogudi declared Kgosana as "something else", comments that bode well for this youngster's future.
