Kaizer Chiefs teenager Tashiel Rugananan wins third Engen award

Tashiel Rugananan has added the Engen Knockout Champ of Champs Defender-of-the-Tournament award to his growing list of individual honours after an impressive national tournament with Kaizer Chiefs.

The 17-year-old defender had already collected the same award during the Johannesburg leg of the competition before being named Player of the Tournament at the regional event. His latest success completes a hat-trick of personal accolades for the young Amakhosi player.

Rugananan has been involved in the Engen Knockout tournament since he was 14, and his performances have led to speculation that he could be promoted to Kaizer Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge side.

Despite the attention surrounding his progress, the teenager has remained measured when discussing his achievements and the team’s performance at the Champ of Champs.

“I feel honoured to win the Champ of Champs because it’s a national tournament and I think we played well,” Rugananan said.

“In the game we came into, I think we didn’t get the result we wanted it was a 0-0 draw and I think being clinical in the final third is what helped us in this game and I think we need to start off stronger because as you saw the first half was 0-0 still but we came out and we improved in the second half.”

Rugananan has also attracted a growing following among those watching his development, but he played down the idea that he sees them simply as supporters.

“I don’t know but I think what I do on the field is why the fans love me and I wouldn’t call them fans just family you know but I think hopefully what I’m doing on the field is what’s making them support me,” he added.

The defender also identified coach David ‘DVD’ Mathebula as an important influence on his development.

Mathebula’s own route through youth football has provided Rugananan and his team-mates with an example to follow, while his experience has made him both a coach and role model to the players.

“Coach David obviously is an inspiration to us him having done all of this before having been where we are today it’s obviously inspirational and we look up to him as a coach and also a role model.”