Author: sipongco

Monday, the third day of the Nedbank Grey College Soccer Tournament, continued to deliver exciting cut-and-thrust football, which also resulted in the end of a quest by St Stithians College for a third successive title at the prestigious event

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Bowl Competition

The action kicked off with the Bowl quarterfinals, featuring the teams that finished in fifth and sixth places within their respective groups.

Glenwood High, despite not having a particularly good year, especially based on the high standards they have set in recent seasons, found themselves part of the Bowl and up against a familiar foe, taking on Durban High School (DHS), who had showed their off their potential in a Raw Cup win at the end of August, in which they beat the KZNHSFA Inland A-League champions Maritzburg College 3-2. Glenwood, though, had the Horseflies‘ number and recorded a 3-1 win.

King Edward VII School (KES) faced one of the Eastern Cape’s leading teams, Victoria Park High, and dealt with the challenge with aplomb, beating the Gqeberha school 3-0.

Strelitzia High, from Kariega, scored a 2-0 win over Witbank High, while in a meeting of local sides, Bloemfontein South High took on St Andrew’s School, with the former delivering an outstanding performance to run out 4-1 winners.

They followed up that victory with a 2-1 win over Glenwood in the semi-finals. Strelitzia, meanwhile, handed KES a 2-0 defeat.

The Bowl final, between Bloemfontein South and Strelitzia, kicks off on Tuesday at 08:00. KES and Glenwood will meet at the same time.

Plate Competition

The Plate competition, for teams which finished in third and fourth places in their groups, featured St David’s Marist Inanda, who recently won a big title on home soil, the St David’s Nedbank Challenge Cup. They took on Bloemfontein’s Brebner High.

A high-scoring stalemate ended 3-3, but St David’s kept their composure during the penalty shootout to advance 4-3 from the spot.

In other Plate quarterfinal matches, the Waterstone College Super Cup winners, Curro Thatchfield, played out a 1-1 draw with Pretoria Boys High, but Boys High moved on after a heart-stopping 5-4 win on penalties.

In a clash of traditional Johannesburg rivals, Parktown Boys’ High secured a 1-0 victory over Jeppe High School for Boys, while the hosts of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, Kimberley Boys’ High, scored a comfortable 3-0 win over Empangeni High.

In the Plate semifinals, Kimberley Boys’ High stunned St David’s 1-0, while Pretoria Boys High sneaked by Parktown 4-3 on penalties after their clash had ended level at 1-1.

The Plate final, between Kimberley Boys’ High and Pretoria Boys High, takes place 09:30 on Tuesday morning. St David’s and Parktown Boys’ High also do battle.

Cup Competition 

In the primary event, the Cup, Wynberg Boys’ High, and Navalsig High shared a tense goalless draw in a quarterfinals’ clash, but Wynberg then scored a comfortable 4-1 win from the penalty spot.

Vaal High School, a late inclusion, in the event, claimed a 3-1 win over Hodisa Technical High.

Westville Boys’ High and Grey College finished at 0-0 after regulation time, but the hosts advanced with a 4-2 win from the spot.

The two-time defending champions, St Stithians College, defeated the runners-up of the inaugural Curro Halala Cup, Norkem Park, by a tight 1-0 margin.

Both semi-finals were decided on penalties. After Wynberg Boys’ High and St Stithians drew 1-1, Wynberg moved into the title decider 4-2 from the spot. Vaal High, meanwhile, also shared a 1-1 draw with Grey College, but they went through 5-4 after a penalty shootout.

Those results have left Saints to face Grey College in the bronze medal playoff. The title game features Wynberg Boys’ High and Vaal High School.

RESULTS

Monday, 6 October

Bowl Quarterfinals

Glenwood 3-1 DHS
Strelitzia High 2-0 Witbank High School
Bloemfontein South High School 4-1 St Andrew’s School
KES 3-0 Victoria Park High

Plate Quarterfinals

St David’s (4) 3-3 (3) Brebner High
Parktown Boys’ High 1-0 Jeppe
Pretoria Boys’ High (5) 1-1 (4) Curro Thatcfield
Kimberley Boys’ High 3-0 Empangeni

Cup Quarterfinals 

Wynberg Boys’ High (4) 0-0 (1) Navalsig High
Grey College (4) 0-0 (2) Westville Boys’ High
Vaal High 3-1 Hodisa Technical High
St Stithians College 1-0 Norkem Park High

Bowl Semifinals

Bloemfontein South High 2-1 Glenwood
Strelitzia High 2-0 KES

Plate Semifinals

Kimberley Boys’ High 3-0 St David’s
Pretoria Boys High (4) 1-1 (3) Parktown Boys’ High

Cup Semifinals

Wynberg Boys’ High (4) 1-1 (2) St Stithians College
Vaal High School (5) 1-1 (4) Grey College

Playoffs

DHS 5-1 St Andrew’s School
Victoria Park High 2-0 Witbank High
Brebner High 3-0 Empangeni High
Jeppe (4) 3-3 (3) Curro Thatchfield
Navalsig High 2-1 Norkem Park High
Hodisa Technical High 3-1 Westville Boys’ High

FIXTURES

Tuesday, 7 October

17/18 Bowl Final 

08:00 – Bloemfontein South High vs Strelitzia High, Field 1

19/20 Bowl Losers Final 

08:00 – Glenwood vs KES, Field 2

Positions

21/22

08:00 – Durban High vs Victoria Park, Field 3

23/22

08:00 – St Andrew’s School vs Witbank High, Field 4

9/10 Plate Final 

09:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High vs Pretoria Boys High, Field 1

Plate Losers Final

09:30 – St David’s vs Parktown Boys’ High, Field 2

Positions 

13/14

09:30 – Brebner High vs Jeppe High, Field 3

15/16

09:30 – Empangeni High vs Curro Thatchfield, Field 4

Bronze Playoff/ 3/4 

11:00 – St Stithians College vs Grey College, Field 1

5/6 

11:00 – Navalsig vs Hodisa Technical High, Field 2

7/8 

11:00 – Norkem Park High vs Westville Boys’ High, Field 3

12:15 – Lunch

12:30 Coastal vs Inland (Coaches match)

Challenge Final 

14:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Vaal High School, Field 1

The u20 South African National Team, nicknamed Amajita and coached by Raymond Mdaka, is actively making history and altering the narrative about South African football.

Earlier this year, the team achieved a historic milestone by winning the u20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which was a first for South Africa.

In July, they were crowned Cosafa champions for the tenth time.

Then, on Sunday, they burnished their reputation at the u20 FIFA World Cup in Chile by becoming the first South African national team to score two World Cup victories, which earned them a place in the last 16 of the tournament.

For the group stage, Amajita was placed in Group E with the USA, France, and New Caledonia. Their journey began with a setback, however, when, on 29 September, they fell to a 1-2 defeat to France, who scored a late winner.

In a must-win match against New Caledonia on 3 October, Amajita scored a comfortable 5-0 win. Siviwe Nkwali opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Then, Shakeel April converted a penalty to double South Africa’s lead.

Just before halftime, Siviwe Magidigidi netted the first of his two goals to make it 3-0 at the break.

In the second half, Magidigidi struck again in the 52nd minute, and Lazola Maku completed the scoring with a goal in the last 10 minutes.

In their final group match, South Africa faced the USA, who had won both of their matches, beating France 3-0 and New Caledonia 9-1.  Once more, it was a must-win for Amajita. They rose to the occasion, gritting out a 2-1 victory.

They had to come from behind to win, though, with the USA striking early in the 12th minute. Only five minutes later, Joshua Wynder inadvertently provided Amajita with an equaliser when he netted an own goal.

Then, with two minutes remaining in the first half, Gomolemo Kekana, the u20 Afcon hero for Amajita, who netted a spectacular goal in the final against Morocco, in Cairo, struck again. His goal proved to be decisive as South Africa secured the win.

It was enough to leave them second in Group E, just behind the Americans on goal difference. It also played a big part in Kekana being named the Player of the Match.

Amajita has an opportunity to create more history when they face Colombia in the last 16. If they win, they will become the first South African side to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup tournament.

They take on the Colombians on Wednesday at Estadio Fiscal, in Talca. The South Americans topped Group F, which also included Norway, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia, with one win and two draws. A tough test awaits Amajita.

South Africa has previously reached the last 16 of an u20 FIFA World Cup. They achieved that feat in 2009 in Egypt, under coach Serame Letsoaka. In a tense clash, they just missed out on the quarterfinals, going down 1-2 to Ghana after extra time.

Following his team’s win over the USA, coach Raymond Mdaka said at a press conference: “Let me congratulate the boys. They showed character, and showed they are the African champions

“It was not an easy game, playing the USA, who had already won two games with a number of goals, so it looked like it was a mountain to climb, but then we agreed, as a team, to show what we can do as a team.

“We showed character by scoring in the first half and had to manage the game under pressure in the second half.

“Credit to the boys. Credit to the technical team, the support staff, and everybody, because the atmosphere always gives the boys energy to go, and here we are going into the second round,” he smiled.

Northwood battled their way to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Carter High on Wednesday in the final of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Cowie Cup.

It was a triumphant end to an inspiring season from the Knights, who went from a struggling team of also-rans to a competitive never-say-die group of winners.

Rhys Millar netted the winning goal for Northwood, having also struck twice for the Knights in their 2-1 win over Maritzburg College in the semi-finals.

The Durban school’s journey to the title was anything but straightforward. Maritzburg College won the KZNHSFA Inland A-League, while Carter High was the runner-up.

Exhibiting fantastic resilience, the Knights defeated the KZN two Inland powers to add another couple of names to the list of opponents they defeated during the third term. Among them, also, was Westville Boys’ High, the champions of the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League. 

Northwood’s football journey in 2025 was unforgettable. During the Second Term Coastal A-League, they were well off the pace and relegation threatened. However, they narrowly avoided the drop on the final day by recording their first and only victory of the second-term league, beating Pinetown Boys’ High 3-0. Pinetown, who had their own issues during the second term, later won the Kearsney Soccer Tournament and the Kloof High Football Tournament.

Since avoiding relegation, Northwood has been a team revitalised, stacking wins in the third term while just missing out on the Primo Big 10 title, where they finished as the runner-up.

After the conclusion of the Mancosa Cowie final, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Daniel Haswell, the Chairperson of the Mancosa KZNHSFA, who also serves as the Director of Soccer at Westville Boys’ High.

“Congratulations to Northwood for winning the KZNHSFA Mancosa Cowie Cup for the first time. Commiseration to Carter after losing three finals in four years,” Haswell said.

The Cowie Cup served as the final schools’ football competition within the Mancosa KZNHSFA football framework.

“This brings the curtain down on another memorable season,” Haswell said.

“The football played was of a high standard and extremely competitive.

“Every tournament was won by a different team, which is an indication of the depth of talent and the coaching work that is going on at the schools as they contest so keenly for the trophies.”

For Northwood, now that the season is over, their 2025 campaign will serve as inspiration for future generations of Knights’ teams. They took their knocks in the second term, but, somehow, they used those setbacks to rise to the challenges that awaited instead of shrinking in the face of more tough tests.

A first-ever Cowie Cup title spoke volumes about the strong character of the side, about the value of teamwork, and about the vital life lessons that can be learnt through sport.

Northwood will treasure the 2025 season, as they deserve to do. Sports fans love a tale of an underdog come good, a story of a struggling side upsetting the odds, and the Knights fit that bill. They did more than upset the odds in one or two games, though. Their success was about a complete reversal of fortunes, turning the team from one that others expected to beat into a united unit that others respected and faced with trepidation.

At the end of their journey, being crowned the champions of KwaZulu-Natal’s most prestigious knockout tournament was testament to their stirring and remarkable turnaround.

The schools’ basketball season is well underway. Week two of the fourth term’s fixtures included one of the traditional powerhouses, Maritzburg College, delivering two dominant winning performances.

They started their season with a narrow 55-33 victory over their Pietermaritzburg rivals, St Charles College at home, in the Alan Paton Memorial Hall. Then, on Saturday, they travelled to Westville to take on Westville Boys’ High and Durban High School (DHS).

College was on their game, outplaying DHS 84-53 and cruising to a 73-39 win over Westville.

The game against DHS was a physical encounter, with 15 fouls recorded in the first quarter alone, leading to both teams to make frequent trips to the free-throw line. At the end of the quarter, though, the Red, Black, and White had taken control, having opened up a 29-13 lead.

The contest became somewhat frenetic in the following three quarters, and the scoring slowed down, but, in the end, College ran out to a 31-point victory.

Against Westville, College ran away with the contest in the first half, powering their way to an astonishing 55-17 lead. They continued to control proceedings in the second half, although they outscored Westville only 28-22. Nonetheless, that made for a big 34-point win.

In the north of Durban, the back-to-back St John’s Basketball Tournament champions, Northwood, dealt Glenwood a second consecutive defeat after the Green Machine went down to Westville Boys’ High last week.

Glenwood gave it a good go, but Northwood was on cruise control in a 76-41 victory.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape, Queen’s College has enjoyed an impressive start to the new season. After a hard-fought win over Kingswood College in Makhanda last week, they added another victory to their record, defeating Grey High 64-41.

Dale College had few problems against Get Ahead College, romping to an easy 73-25 win. They faced a tougher challenge from Walter Sisulu University (WSU), with the tertiary institution claiming a narrow 37-32 win.

In Gauteng, while many of their basketball powerhouses, including St John’s College, St David’s Marist Inanda, St Benedict’s College, and The King’s School Linbro Park participated in the Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT) at Kearsney College, which was won by the hosts, Parktown Boys’ High faced off against Jeppe High School for Boys. In an evenly contested clash, Parktown Boys’ High gritted out a 54-48 win.

RESULTS

Eastern Cape 

Queen’s College 61-41 Grey High
Dale College 73-25 Get Ahead College
WSU 37-32 Dale College

KwaZulu-Natal 

Northwood 76-41 Glenwood
Maritzburg College 84-53 DHS
Maritzburg College 73-39 Westville Boys’ High

Gauteng 

Parktown Boys’ High 54-48 Jeppe

The hosts, Kearsney College, enjoyed a dream run to the title at the Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT), edging out St John’s College 57-56 in a thrilling final on Monday at the SportZone.

Provincial bragging rights were also on the line, with KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng the two powerhouses of the schools’ game in South Africa.

The title game was edge-of-your-seat stuff. Regulation time ended with the teams deadlocked at 48-48. Even after an extra time period, they remained tied. It took a second overtime period for Kearsney to claim victory.

St John’s made a good start to the second overtime, taking the lead on a three-pointer, but Kearsney quickly responded with a three-pointer of their own.

A late foul by St John’s resulted in a free throw for Kearsney, and Pabatso Sithole coolly drained the shot to edge Kearsney ahead with just three seconds remaining.

Sithole showed he was a man for the big occasion, contributing 26 points towards Kearsney’s success, while Kwakuhle Sibiya scored nine, Jack McReyolds added seven, and Daniel Prinsloo chipped in with six points for the home side.

For the silver medallists, Ama Ntsubane led the charge, with 17 points. Allan Njanfang Patu scored 14, and Aniel Nuttal-Mbembe chipped in with eight.

In Sunday’s semi-finals, Kearsney scored a close 47-42 win over St Benedict’s College, while St John’s College faced a familiar opponent of their own in St David’s Marist Inanda. It, too, was tight, with St John’s claiming a 48-41 victory.

In the third-place playoff, Bennies dominated St David’s, racing away to a big 56-25 win.

RESULTS

Friday, 26 September

Pool A 

Michaelhouse 43-23 Clifton College
St Benedict’s College 38-34 St Stithians College
Hilton College 62-29 Clifton College
St David’s 42-24 Michaelhouse

Pool B 

Kearsney College 46-39 St Charles College
King’s Linbro 49-31 St Peter’s College
St Alban’s College 56-10 Bishops Diocesan College
St John’s College 63-40 St Charles College

Saturday, 27 September 

Pool A

Kingswood College 43-38 Clifton College
St Benedict’s College 41-37 Hilton College
St Stithians College 46-29 St David’s
Hilton College 43-24 Michaelhouse
St Benedict’s College 60-35 Kingswood College
St David’s 50-20 Clifton College
St Stithians College 57-19 Kingswood College
St Benedict’s College 38-34 St David’s
St Stithians College 52-25 Clifton College
Michaelhouse 59-29 Kingswood College

Pool B

St Peter’s College 35-17 Bishops Diocesan College
St John’s College 46-39 Kearsney College
St Alban’s College 37-18 St Peter’s College
St Charles College 46-45 King’s Linbro
St John’s College 51-18 Bishops Diocesan College
Kearsney College 59-48 St Alban’s College
St Charles College 47-St Peter’s College
King’s Linbro 43-42 Kearsney College
St John’s College 56-33 St Peter’s College
St Charles College 65-14 Bishops Diocesan College

Sunday, 29 September 

Pool A

St David’s 44-27 Kingswood College
Hilton College 59-55 St Stithians College
St Benedict’s College 36-33 Michaelhouse
Hilton College 60-27 Kingswood College
Michaelhouse 46-42 St Stithians College
St Benedict’s College 24-16 Clifton College
St David’s 39-30 Hilton College

Pool B

King’s Linbro 37-32 St Alban’s College
Kearsney College 66-26 Bishops Diocesan College
St Alban’s College 44-43 St John’s College
King’s Linbro 52-20 Bishops Diocesan College
St Charles College 52-48 St Alban’s
Kearsney College 43-27 St Peter’s College
St John’s College 44-33 King’s Linbro

Semifinals 

Kearsney College 47-42 St Benedict’s College
St John’s College 48-41 St David’s

Playoffs

St Stithians College 39-35 St Peter’s College
St Alban’s College 57-19 Kingswood College

Monday 

Playoffs

St Charles College 47-43 Hilton College
Michaelhouse 50-37 King’s Linbro

Place 13/14

Bishops Diocesan College 24-22 Clifton College

Place 11/12

St Peter’s College 47-36 Kingswood College

Place 9/10

St Alban’s College 48-42 St Stithians College

Place 7/8

Hilton College 42-40 King’s Linbro

Place 5/6

St Charles College 52-40 Michaelhouse

Place 3/4/Bronze Playoff

St Benedict’s College 56-25 St David’s

Place 1/2/Final 

Kearsney College 57-56 St John’s College

The Gauteng Development League’s (GDL) weekend matches were blighted by complaints about inconsistent and unjust decisions made by match officials, and some unfortunate instances reminiscent of mixed martial arts (MMA) on the field. However, in the u19 division of the GDL, it was business as usual.

After a successful full day of GDL activities on Heritage Day, Wednesday, 24 September, the action resumed on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs scored a 2-0 victory over Kathorus Hyper Academy at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena.

Chiefs lived up the club’s status of being home to one of the country’s finest academies, but it was another disappointing outing for Kathorus, who dropped points for a second time within the space of a week after a 2-2 draw against Seven’s Academy on Heritage Day.

Kathorus also fell to a narrow 0-1 defeat to SuperSport United during the GDL Festival at Sicelo Stadium in Midvaal on 20 September. The recent string of setbacks follows a strong run for Kathorus, who will be determined to regain the form that helped them to victories over, among others, Mamelodi Sundowns, Panorama FC, and TS Galaxy.

The School of Excellence and the University of Pretoria (Tuks) played to a 1-1 draw, resulting in the sides earning one point each.

At Curro Sagewood, Orifha Maubelo fired in a remarkable opening goal in SuperSport United’s 2-0 win over TS Galaxy. Maubelo also provided the assist that created the second goal for Tlotliso Makgai.

Highlands Park’s pursuit of a three-peat was boosted when they beat one of the other title contenders, Randburg AFC, by two goals to nil, at Balfour Park.

Jomo Cosmos, after a splendid 4-0 win over Tuks on Heritage Day, were brought back down to earth by Joburg City, who claimed a tight 2-1 victory. Panorama FC, meanwhile, celebrated a 1-0 win over Wits Junior.

Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) and Mamelodi Sundowns delivered one of the most captivating matches of the weekend at Sicelo Stadium, with the sides sharing a 2-2 draw. RESA demonstrated strong resolve following a 1-3 loss earlier this month to Sundowns at Clapham High.

Rockefvs picked up a 2-1 victory over East Rand Athletic Club. Njabulo Nthite, with assistance from Ramosotho Ramogetse, opened the scoring for Rockefvs, with Kopano Ubah netting their second goal, aided by Onkabetse Kabaso.

On Sunday, though, Mamelodi Sundowns enjoyed a 1-0 win over Rockefvs.

Following their draw against the Brazilians, RESA bagged a 3-2 victory against Seven’s Academy. That result was unfortunately marred by several unfortunate incidents when the clubs’ u14 sides met earlier in the day, including an altercation between a Seven’s Academy official and the referee, which was captured on the SuperSport Schools live stream of the game.

While the root cause of the issue has not been fully revealed, allegations of cheating by match officials have emerged, which seemingly led to discontent within the Seven’s Academy camp.

It is not the first instance in which complaints about match officials have been made. They’ve come up previously, not only in the GDL but also in school tournaments.

The standard of refereeing appears to be a growing concern at all levels of football within the country, with the most recent issue arising from the Betway Premiership, where Chippa United formally submitted a complaint to the Premier Soccer League, requesting an investigation into the actions of referee Philangenosi Khumalo. That followed a 1-1 draw between the Chilli Boys and Sekhukhune United on Heritage Day. Chippa’s bold move comes after a series of contentious decisions that the club suspects may indicate potential match-fixing.

Unfortunately, in the GDL, the issue has been simmering for an extended period, with both whispers and loud declarations regarding the state of refereeing emerging weekly.

Thus far, there has been no official statement from the GDL board or administrators, but it’s a matter that should be addressed by all clubs and representatives of the referees. Altercations that have involved players, coaches, referees and supporters are detrimental to the development of football.

Following the incident, on Monday morning, Seven’s Academy issued a media statement through their Instagram page. The statement read: “Following the recent incident involving one of our Seven’s Academy coaches and a GDL referee, this incident serves as a reminder that our primary focus in youth football is the benefit and well-being of our young athletes. We must conduct ourselves with integrity, respect, and a commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment.”

While waiting on an investigation from the South African Football Association (SAFA), Seven’s Academy called on everyone involved in youth football to reflect on a shared goal to help the young players grow into honest, respectful, and dedicated athletes, while providing a positive, safe and nurturing space in which they could thrive.

“Together, let’s prioritise the values that truly matter in youth sports – integrity, respect and the well-being of young athletes,” the statement read.

After suffering a loss on Saturday, East Rand Athletic Club ensured they picked up some points on the weekend with a 2-0 win over Elspark United on Sunday. The School of Excellence played to a 1-1 stalemate with Joburg City, while Panorama FC drew 1-1 with Jomo Cosmos.

RESULTS

Saturday, 27 September

Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
School of Excellence 1-1 Tuks
SuperSport United 2-0 TS Galaxy
Highlands Park 2-0 Randburg AFC
Joburg City 2-1 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 1-0 Wits Junior
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-2 RESA

Sunday, 28 September

Panorama FC 1-1 Jomo Cosmos
East Rand Athletic 2-0 Elspark United
Joburg City 1-1 School of Excellence
Rockefvs 2-1 East Rand Athletic
RESA 3-2 Seven’s Academy
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Rockefvs

At only 13 years of age, Urban Academy Private School (UAPS) is among the youngest and fastest-growing educational institutions in the Eastern Cape.

Already, the school excels in academics and sports and boasts an outstanding arts’ programme. Now, Urban Academy has announced that it is forming a football club.

Since its founding, the Gqeberha school has quickly established itself as a leading competitor on the football field, and their results in 2025 were outstanding.

The school enjoyed one of its better seasons while competing against top-tier competition from around the country.

They demonstrated their pedigree at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament during the mid-year holiday, progressing through the tournament without conceding a single goal. In the end, they were pipped in the final by the Kloof High National Tournament winners, Pinetown Boys’ High, who claimed the title 3-1 from the penalty spot after regulation time had finished goalless.

The dedication of Urban Academy to football is evident, as the school also organises its own annual Super Soccer National Tournament, which brings together some of the best football-playing schools, both public and private, from the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Now, the school is set to take another big step forward following the announcement that, beginning in 2026, it will establish its own football club, known as the Urban Academy Football Club (UAFC).

The UAFC has received provisional approval from the Port Elizabeth Football Association (PEFA) to participate at club level. The initiative provides Urban Academy students and alumni with an opportunity to engage with a well-organised football club affiliated with the school.

How UAFC Works

Junior Club (u7 – u17)

All participants from u7 to u17 are required to be registered at Urban Academy to be a part of the club.

High Performance Team (u17+)

Students in grade 11 must remain enrolled at Urban Academy to be eligible for membership. Students in grade 12 may join the club even if they are from a different school.

After players have graduated from any school, the high-performance teams become accessible to the general public.

Alumni Pathway

One of the more interesting elements of the recent establishment of the club’s school is its dedication to developing a pathway for its alumni.

Even after graduating from Urban Academy, former students will have the opportunity to return and engage with the football club, thus fostering a more promising future with increased visibility to scouts on a larger scale. That will happen not only through their tours but also at the official club level.

The UAFC will cater to both male and female athletes and also enhances the existing robust ladies’ football programme.

Advantages for Families and Academics

While most South Africans relaxed and celebrated Heritage Day on Wednesday, 24 September, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) featured a full programme of fixtures and Jomo Cosmos stole the spotlight with a sensational performance against the University of Pretoria (Tuks).

EzeNkosi turned in an exhilarating showing to outclass Tuks 4-0 at the Tuks Sports Ground.

It was an uplifting victory for Cosmos after they went down 0-3 to Rockefvs last time out.

Kaelo Sono opening the scoring for EzeNkosi, with Tylen Windvogel, Siyasanga Mazele, and Ndima Nkomokazi also netting as Cosmos bagged a crucial win while also markedly improving their goal difference, thanks to a stout defensive showing.

Three of the title contenders – Mamelodi Sundowns, Remember Elite Sports Academy, and Randburg AFC – kept their challenges on the right path by picking up wins.

Sundowns hit the road to take on Joburg City at the Greek Sporting Club and scored a 3-1 win.

RESA, meanwhile, won 2-0, away at Rockefvs. The home team was resilient in the first half, keeping RESA at bay. In the second half, RESA upped the pace and was rewarded with two goals and three points.

Onthatile Lemao starred, netting both goals for the Vereeniging club. The first came on an assist from Enslee Oliphant in the 52nd minute, and just over half-an-hour later he added a second, with Buchule Mbana laying on the assist.

Randburg AFC visited Pretoria to take on SuperSport United. They made it a good day away by scoring a convincing 3-0 win.

Rorisang Tsaagane opened the scoring, Valentino Makhubele made it 2-0, and Mogale Mangena sealed the deal with Randburg’s third.

Elspark United snatched a valuable three points, edging out Panorama FC 2-1, with Tshepo Motaung and Nkateko Kubheka striking for the winners.

On Saturday, Kathorus Hyper Academy dropped points when they went down to a 0-1 loss against SuperSport United. On Wednesday, they claimed only one point after a 2-2 draw with Seven’s Academy.

The School of Excellence scored a 2-1 victory over TS Galaxy.

RESULTS

Wednesday, 24 September

Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Joburg City
Elspark United 2-1 Panorama FC
RESA 2-0 Rockefvs
Jomo Cosmos 4-0 Tuks
Randburg AFC 3-0 SuperSport United
School of Excellence 2-1 TS Galaxy
Seven’s Academy 2-2 Kathorus Hyper Academy

Over the weekend, the primary basketball focus was on the 20th annual St Peter’s College Sport and Cultural Festival, which featured many of Johannesburg’s basketball-playing schools and some visitors from further afield.

While the action came thick and fast at St Peter’s, there was a quieter start elsewhere. In Makhanda, Kingswood College hosted Queen’s College, while in KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Boys’ High welcomed Glenwood, and Kearsney College visited Maritzburg College.

Kingswood College vs Queen’s College

At Kingswood, the schools clashed across all age groups, with Kingswood’s u14A team edging out Queen’s 16-15. The visitors, though, won the u16B and u16C games on the Wyvern courts, by 25-15 and 32-12 respectively.

The u16A game in the High Performance Centre (HPC) went the way of the home team, though, who scored a hard-fought 15-11 victory.

In a low-scoring second team match, Kingswood claimed a comfortable 18-3 win, thus enhancing the home crowd’s confidence ahead of the showdown between the first sides.

Queen’s, however, began the game strongly, establishing a seven-point lead in the first five minutes, but Kingswood reduced the deficit as the first quarter drew to a close. It remained tight through the next two quarters, with the visitors maintaining a slight advantage.

Down by six at the start of the final quarter, Kingswood College mounted a comeback, capitalising on their offensive opportunities while defending tenaciously in the paint. Their plucky, never-say-die attitude brought the home side level at 24-24, but Queen’s had the final say, scoring a late basket to snatch a 26-24 victory.

Maritzburg College vs Kearsney College

In Pietermaritzburg, rain led to the cancellation of some matches scheduled to be played outdoors, but the action was hot in the Alan Paton Memorial Hall, where the home side, as always, was loudly cheered on.

College came out of the blocks on fire in the first team game and stormed into a 17-10 lead after the first quarter. Kearsney, however, made some defensive adjustments, which enabled them to stifle the Red, Black, and White‘s renowned high offensive tempo. By halftime, there was only one point in it, with the hosts 25-24 ahead.

Kearsney continued to build on their strong second quarter showing and edged in front, taking a 39-35 lead into the final quarter. They had a shot at sealing victory as time ticked down, but missed two free throws, which allowed Carl Fynn to secure a rebound. He sped down the floor and absorbed contact before sinking a lay-up for two points. That was the difference in the game, with Maritzburg College snatching a 54-52 victory.

Kearsney’s second team picked up a narrow 30-28 win, but College’s third team overran Kearsney 43-6. College’s fourths won 24-13.

In the clash of the u16A sides, after a tightly contested match, College came away with a 40-31 win. Kearsney’s u16B side reversed that result, winning 42-36.

Westville Boys’ High vs Glenwood High

Westville Boys’ High shot well against Glenwood to get their campaign off to a comfortable winning start, downing the Green Machine 98-55.

Westville’s thirds ran roughshod over Glenwood, winning 75-18, but the action between the u16 sides was closer, with the Westville A team winning 47-20 and the B side squeaking a 23-20 win.

The Westville u15B team won 26-8, but Glenwood’s u14A chalked up the only away win, sneaking by the home team’s u14B side 22-20.

RESULTS

1st Teams

KwaZulu-Natal 

Westville Boys’ High 98-55 Glenwood High
Maritzburg College 55-53 Kearsney College

Eastern Cape 

Queen’s College 26-22 Kingswood College

Clapham High emerged as double champions of the Gauteng Schools Champions League on Tuesday, at the Vaal University of Technology.

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams from Clapham High have been in fine form in the Gauteng Schools Champions League over the past four weeks and on Tuesday they turned their strong runs into titles.

The guests at the Vaal University of Technology on the final day of the league campaign included the Chairman of the Remember Elite Sport Academy, Xolani Mathumbo and former Bafana Bafana centre-back and captain, Lucas Radebe.

The Clapham boys’ team kicked off the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Ibongo Secondary, but that proved to be the only time that they dropped points.

Following that, Clapham constructed an impressive six-match winning streak. On Tuesday, it included a 2-0 win over the School of Excellence in a match in which Clapham was expected to face a stiff challenge. Following that game, Clapham cruised to a 6-0 victory over Thuto Lefa Secondary School.

With those two wins, Clapham High completed their campaign with 19 points, five points clear of second-placed Ibongo.

After going down to Clapham, the School of Excellence took on Ibongo. A tight contest ended in a 2-2 draw. Ibongo, meanwhile, picked up three points from their other game, a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sport School.

Rosina Sedibane suffered a second loss to Je Malepe Secondary, going down 0-1, while Je Malepe also won 1-0 win against Mokgome Secondary.

Rutasetjhaba Secondary School secured a 3-1 win against Thuto Lefa.

In the girls’ competition, Clapham High maintained their pristine record, winning their seven matches in dominant fashion.

They headed into Tuesday’s matches full of confidence after winning the St Peter’s College Football Festival on Sunday.

Once again, Clapham was well-nigh unstoppable, overwhelming Zithobeni Secondary School 8-0 before signing off with a comfortable 4-0 win over Anchor Independent Academy.

Tembisa High finished in second place with 14 points, well behind the champion’s maximum haul of 21 points. Tembisa’s final day fixtures began with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Jabulile Secondary School, but they ended on a high by smashing 11 goals past Randfontein High without reply.

Anchor Independent Academy picked up a 1-0 victory against Buhle Bemfundo, while Khanya-Lesedi Secondary ran out 1-0 winners over Zithobeni, and Jabulile were convincing 3-0 winners against Buhle Bemfundo.

RESULTS

Boys 

Je Malepe 1-0 Mokgome
Ibongo 2-1 Rosina Sedibane
Rutasetjhaba 3-1 Thuto Lefa
Clapham 2-0 School of Excellence
Mokgome 1-0 Rosina Sedibane
Ibongo 2-2 School of Excellence
Clapham 6-0 Thuto Lefa

Girls

Khanya-Lesedi 6-1 Randfontein High
Jabulile 1-1 Tembisa High
Clapham 8-0 Zithobeni
Anchor Independent 1-0 Buhle Bemfundo
Clapham 4-0 Anchor Independent
Tembisa High 11-0 Randfontein High
Khanya-Lesedi 1-0 Zithobeni High
Jabulile 3-0 Buhle Bemfundo