Their immediate ambitions are to experience the thrill of celebrating victory with their respective clubs at the 2008 Engen Knockout Challenge for under-17 footballers at Mitchell’s Plain this coming weekend.

They need no reminding that stepping onto the champions’ rostrum, as well as their personal efforts in the championship, will inevitably accelerate their progress in the game.

Both Ajax and Santos’ commitment to nurturing their youth for action in the Professional Soccer League (PSL) augurs well for their soccer futures. Sadan and Omaticus need only ask Santos’ rising professional stars like striker Erwin Isaacs, midfielder Tasliem Paulse and defender Wayne Arendse where things started happening for them.

Santos’ technical director and former star player, Duncan Crowie, seldom singles out young players for praise, but he does not hide his enthusiasm about midfielder Sadan and striker Omaticus being on the verge of greater things.

“They are both disciplined and exceptionally competitive players,” says Crowie.

Ajax, who boasts the best success record at youth championships, are looking at Bowers, a national under-17 player, Stanfield and Kodleka to follow in the footsteps of former Engen Knockout Challenge campaigners like SA under-20 player Shameehg Doutie, Mario Booysen and Daylon Claasen.

Doutie and Booysen are poised to continue their escapades with Ajax in the PSL, while Claasen has signed pro forms with Ajax Amsterdam in Holland. Indeed, the credentials of Santos, winners of the inaugural championship, as well as the track record of Ajax, two-time winners thereafter, look good.

The defending champions, UWC Academy, Old Mutual Academy and Cape Town Milano may feel differently

How they react will become clear when the 16-team championship that carries R10 000 in prize money for the winners gets underway at the Stephan Reagon Sports Complex on Saturday. The final will take place at 15:30 on Sunday. See fixtures on Page 26.