Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen on the tournament that changed his career

Petersen, who recently completed an impressive season with Chiefs and narrowly missed out on South Africa's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recalled the challenges he faced before earning a place in Ajax Cape Town's (now known as Cape Town Spurs) academy.

"My football journey started in Cape Town, and it wasn't easy. It was a fight just to be part of Ajax Cape Town. I remember going on trials and staying there for a month before they eventually said, 'Okay, let's give him a chance,'" Petersen said on the Engen Sports Vodcast.

His first taste of the Engen Knockout Challenge came in 2010, although he did not feature in any matches.

"I was part of the team that was going to play the Engen tournament, but I didn't play. I just said, 'Okay, I'm here to support.' I backed the guys and watched the incredible talent around me," he said.

A year later, Petersen's fortunes changed dramatically. He established himself as Ajax Cape Town's first-choice goalkeeper, helping the club lift the 2011 Engen Knockout Challenge title while also claiming the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.

"Going into 2011, I played the majority of the games, and we won the Engen Knockout Challenge. I won Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Looking back, 2010 prepared me for 2011," the Amakhosi shot-stopper added.

"With the Engen Knockout Challenge, you watch World Cups and dream that maybe one day you'll be there. Looking back now, I'd tell that kid who played in the tournament that the opportunity is there. The dream is alive."

Following the opening leg in Cape Town, the 2026 Engen Knockout edition now heads to Durban, where the top 24 Boys' Under-18 and Girls' Under-20 teams will compete in the next regional stage.