Author: sipongco

The Kloof High School Football National Tournament features many high-profile teams and dark horse outfits keen to upset the status quo. It’s a mix that makes the event unpredictable and exciting.

Cup 

After three days of enthralling football and fluctuating fortunes, Pinetown Boys’ High was crowned the champion of the 2025 Kloof High School National Football Tournament on Sunday.

In a cracking final, they defeated the Absa Wilderklawer Soccer Champions, Virginia High School 4-3 in a penalty shootout, following a dramatic 3-3 draw in regulation time.

Khulekani Nxumalo from Pinetown, who played a pivotal role in securing the championship title for his team, was honoured with the prestigious title of Player of the Tournament. He was joined in the Team of the Tournament by his teammates Sibusiso Mdlalose, Wandile Ndimande, Ntuthuko Mdlolo, and Alwande Xaba.

Pinetown impressed and revealed themselves to be a formidable force despite starting the season in a somewhat disorganised manner. They missed several fixtures and concluded the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Second Term – Coastal A-League in seventh place, accumulating only five points from one win, two draws, and four losses.

Additionally, Pinetown failed to honour their fixture against Glenwood High at the beginning of May in the Curro Halala Cup, which resulted in their elimination from the competition.

Under such circumstances, one might assume that they stood little chance of performing well, let alone winning the Kloof title. They were ready to challenge for the honours, however, and Cup football differs from league football.

Perhaps Pinetown drew inspiration from their u16 team, which recently won in the inaugural u16 Clive Barker Soccer Festival on 21 June, at Glenwood, beating Maritzburg College 2-0 in the final.

Virginia High had to settle for second place, suffering a tough defeat after they led 3-2 late in the title game. They felt that they could have won had some calls gone for the Free State side.

Nqabakazulu, beaten 1-0 by Virginia in the semi-finals, claimed the bronze medal after a 2-1 victory over TuksSport High School. The goal that Nqabakazulu conceded against Virginia was their first in the past two editions of the tournament.

Plate

Maritzburg College, who were eliminated from the Cup by Carter High in the round of 16, came firing back with a vengeance and with the Plate on the line they overwhelmed New Forest 6-0.

College’s vice-captain Malachi Momple, renowned for his goal-scoring prowess and calm demeanour, was selected for the Team of the Tournament.

The Plate bronze medal went the way of Mondeor High, who downed Nilgiri Secondary School 3-1 in the third place playoff.

Shield

Dayyan Fudu, who featured prominently in the KZNSHFA Coastal A-League, excelled for Westville. He was their top goal scorer in Westville’s KZN Coastal A-League title winning campaign.

On Sunday, Fudu was included in the Team of the Tournament after laying claim to the Golden Boot with 11 goals to his name.

Following a disappointing exit from the Cup, Westville found themselves in the Shield, where they handled the early setback with aplomb, going on to capture the title with a one-sided 6-0 thrashing of Northwood School.

The bronze playoff featured Kearsney College against Hilton College. In regulation time, they played to a 1-1 draw. That sent the contest to the penalty spot and Kearsney emerged the winners, outscoring Hilton 3-1 in the shootout.

Spoon 

In the final of the Spoon, Sarel Cilliers won emphatically, handing Howick High a 4-0 loss. Their victory in the title decider followed a 1-0 win over Linpark in the semifinals, while Howick High had upset Hillcrest High 1-0 to book their place in the final.

In the third-place playoff, Linpark had Hillcrest’s measure and rolled to a 5-2 victory.

Blair Thompson, the Director of Sports at Kloof High School, told SuperSport Schools Plus that the Kloof High Tournament is the largest top tier schoolboy tournament in the country, featuring 32 teams along with a qualifying tournament that includes up to 12 teams. The event draws elite teams from across the nation, he said.

“As the hosts, we have a guaranteed place in the tournament which gives our boys exposure playing against the best teams in the country. The tournament attracts sponsors and partners, which also benefits the soccer programme leading up to and after the tournament,” he said.

Thompson observed that schools capable of conducting full-year soccer programmes were among the top performers. He explained: “We have certainly noticed that the teams exhibiting the most structured and fluid style of football are winning matches and progressing through the various rounds.

“The inclusion of the main field games on SuperSport Schools Channel 216 has significantly enhanced this year’s tournament, along with the streaming of the other three fields on the SuperSport Schools App.”

Looking ahead, Thompson said one of the goals of the event is to arrange a tour of England for the Team of the Tournament.

“This would give the top players a chance to have trial games against some of the England top academy teams and create a pathway for them into the professional game,” he said.

RESULTS

Cup

Quarterfinals  

Nqabakazulu 1-0 HTS Louis Botha
Virginia High 2-0 Carter High
Tuks 2-1 Vuyiswa Mtolo
Pinetown 1-0 Edendale

Cup

Semifinals

Virginia High 1-0 Nqabakazulu
Pinetown (4) 1-1 (3) Tuks

Bronze Playoff

Nqabakazulu 2-1 Tuks

Cup Final 

Pinetown (4) 3-3 (3) Virginia High

Plate

Semifinals 

New Forest 2-0 Mondeor High
Maritzburg College (3) 2-2 (1) Nilgiri

Bronze Playoff 

Mondeor High 3-1 Nilgiri

Final 

Maritzburg College 6-1 New Forest

Shield Cup

Quarterfinals 

Northwood 1-0 Alexandra High
Kearsney 3-2 Amanzimtoti
Westville 5-0 Reddam House Umhlanga
Hilton College 4-1 Birdswood

Semifinals 

Northwood 1-0 Kearsney
Westville 2-1 Hilton College

Bronze Playoff

Kearsney (3) 1-1 (1) Hilton College

Final 

Westville 6-0 Northwood

Spoon Cup 

Semifinals 

Sarel Cilliers 1-0 Linpark
Howick High 1-0 Hillcrest High

Bronze Playoff 

Linpark 5-2 Hillcrest High

Final 

Sarel Cilliers 4-0 Howick High

The Waterstone College Super Cup delivered a high level of intensity and competitiveness on Saturday, the first of three days of the competition, which brings together 17 schools and over 850 footballers.

SuperSport Schools Plus chatted football with Gavin Andrew, the Technical Director and highly experienced Senior Soccer Coach at Waterstone College, as well as the school’s Executive Head, JC Engelbrecht.

Coach Andrew oversees the football programme for both the primary and high school. Additionally, he shared, the school operates a football club, which demonstrates its commitment to the advancement of the game.

Echoing that focus, Engelbrecht, during the official opening ceremony, stated: “At Waterstone College, we believe that education must extend beyond the classroom.”

Waterstone College boasts excellent facilities, including an exceptional pitch, named FIFA, a designation that was bestowed upon it by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, held in South Africa.

During the World Cup, Andrew said Mexico utilised Waterstone College’s facility for training. Their group included notable players, such as Javier Rodríguez, Efraín Juárez, and Giovani dos Santos. They were in Group A with South Africa and played the opening game against Bafana Bafana, during which Siphiwe Tshabalala famously scored a ripping opener for the hosts in a 1-1 draw.

After the World Cup, Waterstone College extended their field, turning one into two. “What we do each year is we try to keep or maintain the main field in the same condition as we got it from FIFA, and we are probably the only facility that is still properly maintained.”

Waterstone College is the defending champion of the Super Cup and, Andrew said, they’re aiming to defend the title, but, he admitted, that’s a tough task. “It’s difficult to say that you’re going to be the champion again because unfortunately in school football what happens is your team is different every year.” he said.

“So, it sometimes works in cycles, where you have a particular age group that is very talented, and in some years you’re unfortunate because maybe they’re not as talented as the previous group. What’s nice, in my particular role, is that I get an opportunity to coach different kids, not the same kids over and over and over again.”

Coaching also offers opportunities to positively influence children, not only as footballers, but with life lessons, Andrew said.

Engelbrecht said Waterstone College prioritises a robust connection between academics and sports. He emphasised that this holistic approach focuses primarily on empowering students to venture into the world, equipping them to demonstrate perseverance and to manage both success and failure.

“Sport is the ultimate tool to actually do that – expose them to real life, and not just lessons of sport. So, sport becomes a vehicle to actually highlight and get these values across to our learners.

“When we see the heartache when the little ones step off the pitch and they’ve lost the game, they must realise that there’s a lesson in that and that creates opportunities for us to be teachers and to be coaches, to show them how to manage those emotions.” he said.

The Super Cup, Engelbrecht said, has helped to build Waterstone’s community, engaging schools, parents, and the broader community by involving them in the event’s journey.

In his message at the opening ceremony, Engelbrecht welcomed all attendees and urged each player to give their utmost effort, to compete vigorously and fairly, and, most importantly, to savour every moment.

“Compete with grace, win with grace, and lose with dignity. Let this be a festival of sports where passion, positivity and respect shine the brightest when we leave here.”

“May the Super Cup be filled with outstanding football, as we’ve already seen throughout the morning, great sportsmanship and friendships, and memories that will last well beyond the final whistle. Let the tournament begin,” he concluded.

The Kloof High School National Football Tournament brings together schools from vastly different backgrounds from across South Africa. But one of the common threads is that many of the country’s top sides are part of the action. Others, lesser known, are out to upset the apple cart.

When those teams come together, upsets and shocking defeats are likely to occur. That’s the nature of the event, which transitions from a group stage competition on day one into a knockout the following day.

Saturday was knockout day, and the casualties included Maritzburg College, who had won all three of their group games. They, however, exited the Cup competition but remain in contention for the Plate.

Cup Knockout

The group matches concluded on Saturday morning, with wins then becoming of utmost importance in the knockouts. Several top teams found their Cup ambitions ended, as sides found themselves playing in the other divisions for either the Plate, the Shield, or the Spoon.

Virginia High School, who beat Maritzburg College 3-1 in 2024’s bronze medal match, and won the ABSA Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament earlier this year, continued to shine on Saturday. They overpowered Umvuzo Secondary School 4-0 in their last 16 match to set up a quarterfinal showdown with Carter High on Sunday.

It’s a highly anticipated meeting of the runners-up of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Inland A-League, and the Absa Wildeklawer champs.

Virginia High has been running hot all year long, and, apart from their title-winning success in Kimberley, they’ve been putting on a weekly show in their domestic league, the Magnificent Wednesday Schools Football League.

What adds to the excitement of Sunday’s showdown is the fact that Carter High won 2-1 over their long-standing rival, Maritzburg College, in the last 16.

Games between the Pietermaritzburg schools are almost always hard-fought, but it was an especially gratifying win for Carter, who went down to the Red, Black, and White in the final of the KZN Inland A-League in May.

In other last 16 matches, a former Kloof champion, HTS Louis Botha was pushed to their limits. They, however, scraped a 1-0 victory over Nilgiri Secondary School.

TuksSport High School continued their impressive campaign with a decisive 2-0 victory over Durban High School (DHS), while Vuyiswa Mtolo, who have shown up well in the Kloof tournament in the past, beat New Forest 1-0.

Edendale Tech High School, which earned promotion from the KZNHSFA Inland B-League to the Inland A-League last season and then finished third this season, delivered a dominant performance to advance to the quarterfinals, outplaying Mondeor High 3-0

Pinetown Boys’ High, a dark horse outfit, produced a strong showing to cruise to a 4-0 win over Ashton Ballito. Their reward is a quarterfinal clash against Edendale.

Another team that is on people’s radar is the defending champion, Nqabakazulu, who didn’t concede a goal on their way to the title in 2024, and their defensive record remains unblemished thus far in 2025 after they defeated the hosts, Kloof High School A 4-0 on Saturday.

In the quarterfinals, they face the team they beat 3-0 to win the title last year, HTS Louis Botha. The Bloemfontein boys will need to be on their A-game to challenge the champions.

Plate Knockout 

The teams that were eliminated from the last 16 of the Cup competition continued their journey in the Plate playoffs.

Following their elimination from the Cup, Maritzburg College beat another KZN Inland side, Umvuzo Secondary, 2-0. That’s put College into the semi-finals of the Plate.

Nilgiri claimed a narrow 3-2 victory over Kloof High A, while New Forest took down DHS, winning 3-1. Mondeor High was on song, surging to a convincing 5-1 victory over Ashton Ballito.

Those results mean it will be Mondeor against New Forest on Sunday for a place in the Plate final.

Shield Knockout

Alexandra High School, which SuperSport Schools’ commentator Sibonelo Zulu has described as the sleeping giant of KZN Schools football, finished in third place in Group A of the competition.

However, there was a pick-me-up for Alex on Saturday, with a 3-1 win over Durban North College putting them through to the Shield quarters.

Northwood School, who have endured a challenging season, which has included narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the round-robin of the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League, by scoring their first win of the season, a very good 3-0 victory over Pinetown Boys’ High, picked up a 2-1 win over Sarel Cilliers, which put them through to Sunday’s quarterfinals.

In other Shield last 16 matches, Kearsney College scored a 2-1 victory over Linpark, while Amanzimtoti defeated St Henry’s Marist College 1-0.

Reddam House Umhlanga bagged a comfortable 4-1 victory against Kloof High B, while Hilton College ran out 2-0 winners over George Campbell. Birdswood turned on the style to overrun Howick High 5-0.

In a big surprise, the champions of the Mancosa Coastal A-League, Westville Boys’ High, finished only third place in Group F with one win, one draw, and one loss, which put them out of the running for the Cup competition.

That led to an interesting consequence, with Westville meeting Hillcrest High in a repeat of the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League final, which Westville won 4-3 from the penalty spot after a goalless draw. This time, they won emphatically, picking up a 3-0 win.

Spoon Knockout 

In the Spoon competition, Sarel Cilliers outplayed Durban North College 5-0 and Linpark matched that scoreline in a big win over St Henry’s. Hillcrest High, also, won 5-0, comfortably dispatching Kloof High B.

The last of the Spoon matches also delivered five goals, this time, though, Howick High edged out George Campbell 3-2.

RESULTS

Saturday 28 June

Group Stages

Group A

Alexandra High School 2-0 Kloof High School B

Group B

Northwood 2-1 Hillcrest

Group C

Kearsney College 3-1 George Campbell

Group D

Mondeor High 1-1 Amanzimtoti

Group E

Kloof High School A 4-2 Durban North College
TuksSport 4-0 Reddam House Umhlanga

Group F

Vuyiswa Mtolo 5-1 Sarel Cilliers
Nilgiri 3-2 Westville

Group G

Pinetown 4-2 Umvuzo Secondary
Hilton College 1-0 Linpark

Group H

St Henry’s 0-0 Howick
Carter High 1-1 Edendale

Cup Knockout 

Last 16 

Nqabakazulu 4-0 Kloof High School
HTS Louis Botha 1-0 Nilgiri
Carter High 2-1 Maritzburg College
Tuks 2-0 Durban High School
Vuyiswa Mtolo 1-0 New Forest
Virginia High 4-0 Umvuzo Secondary School
Pinetown 4-0 Ashton Ballito
Edendale 3-0 Mondeor High

Shield Knockout 

Alexandra High School 3-1 Durban North College
Northwood 2-1 Sarel Cilliers
Kearsney College 2-1 Linpark
Amanzimtoti 1-0 St Henry’s
Reddam House 4-1 Kloof High School B
Westville 3-0 Hillcrest High
Hilton College 2-0 George Campbell
Birdswood 5-0 Howick

Plate Knockout

Nilgiri 3-2 Kloof High School A
Maritzburg College 2-0 Umvuzo Secondary
New Forest 3-1 Durban High School
Mondeor High 5-1 Ashton Ballito

Spoon Knockout

Sarel Cilliers 5-0 Durban North College
Linpark 5-0 St Henry’s
Hillcrest 5-0 Kloof High School B
Howick 3-2 George Campbell

Fixtures: Sunday 29 June

Cup Knockout Quarterfinals

Main Field 

07:30 – Tuks vs Vuyiswa Mtolo
08:30 – Nqabakazulu vs HTS Louis Botha

Top A

07:30 Pinetown vs Edendale
08:30 – Virginia High vs Carter High

Plate Knockout 

Main Field

10:30 – Nilgiri vs Maritzburg College

Top A

10:30 – New Forest vs Mondeor High

Place 13 – 16

Top B

10:30 – Kloof High School A

Massingham 

10:30 – Durban High School vs Ashton Ballito

Shield Knockout Quarterfinals 

Top B

07:30 – Reddam House Umhlanga vs Westville
08:30 – Alexandra High School vs Northwood

Massingham 

07:30 – Hilton College vs Birdswood
08:30 – Kaersney College vs Amanzimtoti

Spoon Knockout Semifinals 

Main Field

09:30 – Sareli Cilliers vs Linpark

Top A

09:30 – Hillcrest High vs Howick

Spoon 29 -32

Top B

09:30 – Durban North College vs St Henry’s

Massingham

09:30 – Kloof High School B vs George Campbell

The first day of the Kloof High School National Football Tournament started with the favourites – including Nqabakazulu, Maritzburg College, and Virginia High School – performing strongly and showing off their pedigree.

Group A

The defending champions, Nqabakazulu, who convincingly beat HTS Louis Botha 3-0 in the 2024 final, laid down a marker by picking up three wins on Friday in Group A.

In their opening match, Nqabakazulu handed Kloof High School B a 3-0 loss. Then, in their second outing, against Alexandra High School, they were relentless as they powered their way to a 5-0 victory. In their final fixture of the day, they handled Durban High School (DHS) comfortably, scoring a 3-0 win to finish the day with 11 goals scored and none conceded.

With that perfect record, they also advanced to the knockout stages with ease.

In other matches in Group A, DHS began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Alexandra High. They also romped to a 7-0 victory over Kloof High B. Those two wins meant they joined Nqabakazulu in the knockout stage of the Cup competition.

Both Alexandra High and Kloof High B have no chance of contending for the Gold Cup. They will, however, face each other on Sunday morning, with an opportunity to compete for the Plate on the line.

Group B – The 2024 Runners-up HTS Louis are prepared for blood and retribution.

The 2024 runners-up, HTS Louis Botha, look formidable. On Friday, like Nqabakazulu, they went three for three, beating New Forest, Hillcrest High, and Northwood School in Group B action.

Northwood, who narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Coastal A-League, was the first team to succumb to HTS Louis Botha, with the Bloemfontein school easing to a 4-0 victory.

New Forest was overwhelmed, with the Free Staters winning 6-0, but Hillcrest High put up a tough fight. In the end, though, HTS Louis Botha claimed a 2-1 win

New Forest, despite the big thrashing they suffered at the hands of HTS Louis Botha, are still in with a shout of joining the Bloemfontein boys in the next round. They scored a 1-0 win over Northwood and drew 0-0 with Hillcrest in their other matches.

Much will depend on the outcome of the clash between Hillcrest and Northwood when they meet at 08:30 on Saturday morning. A victory for Hillcrest, the recent runners-up in the KZN Coastal A-League, would see them join HTS Louis Botha in the knockout for the Gold Cup.

Group C

In Group C, the champions of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, Virginia High School, featuring players including Lebohang Mobe, Kabelo Mukhuoane, and South Africa u17 National forward Oageng Lebesane, cruised into the knockout stage after an impressive showing on the first day of competition.

They kicked of their campaign with an 8-0 thrashing of George Campbell, which was followed by a 5-0 triumph over Ashton Ballito before a hard-fought 1-0 win against Kearsney College.

After suffering that heavy defeat to Virginia, Ashton Ballito regrouped and performed well in their other two Group C matches. They easily dealt with George Campbell, winning 5-1. Then, in one of the day’s most entertaining contests, they edged out Kearsney College 4-3.

With those wins, they accompanied Virginia High into the knockout stages of the Gold Cup. George Campbell and Kearsney College meet on Saturday, with their result determining their future path in the tournament.

Group D

The champions of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland A-League, Maritzburg College, caught the eye with a strong showing on Friday.

The Red, Black, and White were one of the top performing sides on day one, showing that they have designs on going all the way.

College bagged victories in all three of their matches, with Mazithi Qasha, who concluded the KZN Inland A-League as the leading scorer, once again spearheading the attack with four goals across three matches.

In their opening game, Maritzburg College defeated Amanzimtoti High 1-0, and that was followed by another 1-0 win, this time over Birdswood.  They found their goal-scoring form against Mondeor High, overrunning the Johannesburg school 5-0.

Birdswood and Amanzimtoti drew 1-1, while Mondeor High reversed their fortunes with a decisive 4-1 victory over Birdswood.

Group E

TuksSport High School opened their challenge with successive victories in Group E, beating Kloof High A 2-0 and Durban North College 3-0.

They’re top of the group with six points, but it remains competitive with Kloof High and Reddam House Umhlanga both on three points but with a game to play.

After losing to TuksSport, the hosts, Kloof High, rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Reddam House, while Reddam bagged a convincing 2-0 win over Durban North College.

Group F

In Group F, the champions of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal A-League, Westville Boys’ High School, were taken aback by a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Vuyiswa Mtolo.

Westville, though, soon found their way, outplaying Sarel Cilliers 4-0, with the prolific Dayyan Fudu netting twice.

Vuyiswa Mtolo, after their draw with Westville, scored a tight 1-0 win over Nilgiri Secondary School.

Nilgiri was beaten for a second time, going down 1-2 to Sarel Cilliers.

Group G

Pinetown Boys’ High are considered among the favourites to lead Group G after overpowering Hilton College 5-1 in their first match.

They were just as impressive in their second outing, outplaying Linpark 4-0. With nine goals scored and only one conceded in two games, Pinetown has shown they have the striking power and the defensive fortitude to test the top contenders.

They’ll be aiming for a perfect record in Group G when they take on Umvuzo Secondary School on Saturday. They’ll be in for a tough challenge.

Umvuzo excelled in a 4-0 victory over Linpark, but they were also held to a 1-1 draw by Hilton College

Group H

Carter High and Edendale Technical High, who finished second and third in the KZNHSFA Inland A-League on the same number of points, are also tied atop Group H after two matches, with both beating Howick High and St Henry’s College.

In the first match of Group H, Edendale made a strong statement by battering St Henry’s 8-0. Howick pushed Edendale hard in their second game, but the Pietermaritzburg side came away with a 4-3 win.

Edendale’s goals came from many sources, with Alwande Bekwa and Wanade Zuma netting twice, while Andile Magwaza, Ayabonga Sibiya, Ayanda Mtshakazi, and Habatho Mnikatho scored once each.

Carter High had no problems with Howick, picking up a one-sided 5-0 win, and they repeated that scoreline against St Henry’s.

On Saturday, Carter High takes on Edendale for first place in the group. It promises to be an intense clash.

RESULTS

Group A

Nqabakazulu 3-0 Kloof High School B
Durban High School 2-1 Alexandra High School
Nqabakazuku 5-0 Alexandra High School
Durban High School 7-0 Kloof High School B
Nqabakazulu 3-0 Durban High School

Group B

HTS Louis Botha 4-0 Northwood
Hillcrest High 0-0 New Forest
HTS Louis Botha 2-1Hillcrest High
New Forest 1-0 Northwood
HTS Louis Botha 6-0 New Forest

Group C

Virginia High School 8-0 George Campbell
Ashton Ballito 5-1 George Campbell
Virginia High 1-0 Kearsney
Virginia High High 5-0 Ashton Ballito
Ashton Ballito 4-3 Kearsney

Group D

Mondeor High 4-1 Birdswood
Maritzburg College 1-0 Toti
Maritzburg College 5-0 Mondeor High
Toti 1-1 Birdswood
Maritzburg College 1-0 Birdswood

Group E

Tuks 2-0 Kloof High School A
Reddam House 2-0 Durban North College
Tuks 3-0 Durban North College
Kloof High 2-0 Reddam House

Group F

Westville 1-1 Vuyiswa Mtolo
Nilgiri 2-1 Sarel Cilliers
Westville 4-0 Sareli Cilliers
Vuyiswa Mtolo 1-0 Nilgiri

Group G

Pinetown 5-1  Hilton College
Umvuzo Secondary 4-0 Linpark
Pinetown 4-0 Linpark
Hilton College 1-1 Umvuzo Secondary

Group H

Edendale 8-0 St Henry’s Marist College
Carter High 5-0 Howick
Carter High 5-0 St Henry’s
Edendale 4-3 Howick

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has revealed the teams of boys and girls football squads that will represent South Africa at the forthcoming Regional 5 Youth Games, scheduled to take place in Namibia from 4 July to 13 July.

The Regional 5 Youth Games will feature athletes under the age of 20 with South African football men’s team set to go in an as the u20 South African National Team known as Amajita and proud champions of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

South African Boys’ Team

This year’s u20 men’s Council of Southern Africa Football Association (Cosafa) will take place as part of the Regional 5 Youth Games in Windhoek, Namibia.

The South African u20 National Team, enters the tournament as one of the favourites in Namibia, participating in the u20 football competition at the Region 5 Youth Games after having secured the title in 2024 in Mozambique.

Under the guidance of coach Raymond Mdaka, Amajita achieved the unthinkable and went on to win their first Afcon title  by defeating Morocco in a historic 1-0 match, thanks to a stunning goal by midfielder Gomolemo Kekana. This victory marked Amajita’s first experience of an African championship in a generation, promising to revive the country’s legacy of outstanding footballers.

South Africa approaches this competition with a sense of pride, having won the regional (Cosafa) u20 competition nine times, with their inaugural title being claimed in 2000. Additionally, South Africa hosted the tournament for 11 consecutive years from 1999 to 2009.

The nation has successfully qualified for the regional tournament on nine separate occasions, achieving the gold championship in 2024 and securing the silver medal in 1997.

One of the most remarkable performances by the South African team occurred in 2016 when they reached the final of the Cosafa u20 championship held on home ground, showcasing the exciting style of football for which they are renowned. However, they were defeated by Zambia in the final match with a score of 2-1, resulting in Zambia claiming the title. This outcome was a significant disappointment, which they redeemed by winning the gold medal in 2017.

A memorable moment for dedicated development fans during Amajita’s journey in 2017 was undoubtedly their achievement of topping their group with a perfect nine points, as well as their narrow 1-0 victory over North African guests Egypt in the semifinals. In the final match, Amajita secured a decisive 2-1 victory against Lesotho, thereby bringing home the trophy.

In 2018, South Africa experienced another successful campaign in the competition, leading the group stages against Mauritius and Eswatini, followed by a 1-0 victory over Angola in the semifinals. This semifinal win set the stage for a final match against their long-time rivals, Zimbabwe, which concluded in a thrilling 1-1 draw during regulation time. South Africa ultimately winning with a 4-3 win in the penalty shootout.

With the prospect of achieving a hat-trick of titles in 2019, South Africa was unable to replicate the successes of 2017 and 2018, suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Zambia in the final.

In 2020, the situation took a turn for the worse for the nation, resulting in a group stage exit for the first time in nearly a decade. Despite a commanding 7-0 victory over Lesotho, draws against Zimbabwe (2-2) and Mozambique (0-0) left South Africa finishing as runners-up in their group.

By 2024, a revitalised Amajita and the entire football development community, which rekindled love and passion among the devoted supporters of the beautiful game, witnessed Amajita’s resurgence as they clinched the gold championship.

This victory secured their place in the 2025 u20 Afcon, which they ultimately won earlier this year. Throughout the Cosafa championship, Amajita remained unbeaten and concluded the tournament by defeating their arch-rival Zambia 2-0 in the final, marking a sweet victory for the nation.

The u20 South African team representing the nation at the Regional 5 Youth Games will feature different players from the regular u20 squad that is preparing for the FIFA World Cup will take place from 27 September to 19 October across four cities in Chile – Santiago, Valparaíso, Rancagua, and Talca.

This team primarily consists of young talents such as Cape Town City’s Emile Witbooi who have already showcased their skills in the u17 National Team, known as Amajimbos, who have also qualified for the upcoming u17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled from 3 November to 27 November.

u20 South African National Team

Lwandiso Radebe, Lehlonolo Mosia, Bokamoso Mokokosi, Khayalethu Mzimela, Royce Malatji, Hayden Booysen, Sive Pama, Lunje Noqobo, Ziyanda Mchunu, Kamohelo Mareletse, Tebogo Mlangeni, Lebohang Dhlamini, Steven Mendesm Selwyn Stevens, Emile Witbooi, Simphiwe Mlomdo, Ompheemetse Sekgoto, Sivuziwe Lonzi, Neo Bohloko, Obama Mhlongo

Coaches/Management:

Vela Khumalo, Thabo Mngomeni, Shu-Aib Walters, Mulalo Mafenya

Only a few days remain until the start of the Waterstone College u13 and u19 boys’ and girls’ tournaments, which will take place from Saturday, 28 June, to Monday, 30 June.

Several prominent schools in Gauteng are set to garner attention at Waterstone, as they vie for this annual Super Cup.

Curro Soshanguve has been showcasing exceptional football this year, having successfully qualified for the last 16 of the Curro Halala Cup with a 3-2 victory over Curro Thatchfield, and is one of the strong contenders this year.

Curro Thatchfield is also competing in this year’s Waterstone College Super Cup, while other noteworthy teams include The King’s School Linbro Park, which also secured their place in the next round of the Curro Halala Cup; Meridian Cosmo City and Curro Wilgeheuwel, whose performances on the field this season have been quite impressive.

The previous year’s champions will nevertheless still be one of the teams to beat in this year’s Waterstone College Super Cup. Waterstone College is the reigning champion of the u19 boys’ category, while Wilgeheuwel Academy claimed the championship title for the girls. Northern Academy won the u13 girls’ competition, with Waterstone College taking home the championship title for the u13 boys.

Several schools that form part of the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools, including Meridian Cosmo City,  Curro Savanna City, Northern Academy, Protea Glen, Curro Pretoria, and Meridian Pinehurst, have been reaping the benefits and will be fizzing to demonstrate their skills at Waterstone College.

u19 Boys’ Competition

Group 1

Curro Protea Glen, Curro Pretoria, Curro Thatchfield, Waterstone College B, Blue Hills

Group 2

Trinity House Glenvista, Meridian Cosmo City, Curro Aurora, Curro Wilgeheuwel, Waterstone College College A

Group 3

Meridian Pinehurst, Curro Soshanguve, Curro Savanna City, Kings Linbro Park, Kings West Rand

u19 Girls’Competition

Group 1

Curro Wilgeheuwel, Kings West Rand, Curro Sagewood, Waterstone College

Group 2

Kings Linbro Park, Curro Protea Glen, Meridian Cosmo City, Curro Aurora

Fixtures 

Saturday 28 June 

u19 Boys’ Competition

Field: FIFA A

Group 1

07:30 – Curro Protea Glen vs Waterstone College B
11:30 – Curro Thatchfield vs Curro Protea Glen

Field: FIFA B

07:30 – Curro Pretoria vs Curro Thatchfield

Group 2

Field: FIFA A

09:30 – Waterstone College A vs Curro Aurora
14:30 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs Waterstone College A

Field: FIFA B

08:30 – Trinity House Glenvista vs Curro Wilgeheuwel
11:30 – Meridian Cosmo City vs Curro Aurora
13:30 – Curro Aurora vs Trinity House Glenvista

Group 3

Field: FIFA A

08:30 – Meridian Pinehurst vs The King’s Linbro Park
13:30 – King’s West Rand vs Curro Savanna City

Field: FIFA B

10:30 – Curro Soshanguve vs Curro Savanna City
15:30 -The King’s Linbro Park vs King’s West Rand
16:30 – Meridian Pinehurst vs Curro Soshanguve

Sunday 29 June 

Group 1

Field: FIFA A

07:30 – Waterstone College B vs Blue Hills
14:30 – Curro Protea Glen vs Curro Pretoria

Field: FIFA B

09:30: Curro Pretoria vs Blue Hills
13:30 – Curro Thatchfield vs Waterstone College B
16:30 – Blue Hills vs Curro Thatchfield

Group 2

Field: FIFA A

09:30 – Trinity House Glenvista vs Meridian Cosmo City
13:30 – Meridian Cosmo City vs Waterstone College A
16:30 – Waterstone College A vs Trinity House Glenvista

Field: FIFA B

08:30 – Curro Aurora vs Curro Wilgeheuwel

Group 3

Field: FIFA A

10:30 – Curro Soshanguve vs King’s West Rand
11:30 – Curro Savanna City vs The King’s Linbro Park
13:30 – The King’s Linbro Park vs Curro Soshanguve

Field: FIFA B

15:30 – King’s West Rand vs Meridian Pinehurst

Monday 

Group 1

Field: FIFA A

07:30 – Blue Hills vs Curro Protea Glen
08:30 – Waterstone College B vs Curro Pretoria

Group 2 

Field: FIFA B

07:30 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs Meridian Cosmo City

Group 3

Field: FIFA B

08:30 – Curro Savanna City vs Meridian Pinehurst

Knockout Stages/Quarterfinals 

TBA 

Saturday 28 June

u19 Girls’ Competition 

Group 1

Field: FIFA A

10:30 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs King’s West Rand
15:30 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs Waterstone College

Group 2

Field: FIFA B

09:30 – The King’s Linbro Park vs Meridian Cosmo City
14:30 – Curro Protea Glen

Sunday 29 June

Group 1

Field: FIFA A

08:30 – King’s West Rand vs Curro Sagewood

Group 2

Field: FIFA B

07:30 – The King’s Linbro Park vs Curro Protea Glen
11:30 – Curro Aurora vs Curro Protea Glen

Monday 30 June

Knockout Stages/Quarterfinals 

TBA

The annual Kloof High School National Football Tournament is back, featuring prominent schools from across South Africa, and is poised to captivate the football community with scintillating football.

The tournament kicks off at 8.00 am on Friday, 27 June, and concludes on Sunday, 29 June. The structure remains unchanged from last year, with 32 exceptional schools from across the country vying for the honour of being crowned champions of the tournament. More than 100 matches will take place across four fields, and all games will be available for streaming on the SuperSport Schools App.

There are several teams to keep an eye on, including Virginia High School, the champions of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament; HTS Louis Botha, known for a remarkable football legacy; Maritzburg College, the reigning champions of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland A-League; and Westville Boys’ High School, which last week won the Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal A-League.

Hillcrest High School, who are performing exceptionally well, have advanced to the last 16 of the Curro Halala Cup and recently reached their inaugural Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal A-League final, which they unfortunately lost to Westville. They nevertheless remain a high-spirited team. Earlier this year, in an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Hillcrest’s coach, Cayle Marillier, expressed his anticipation ahead of and hopes for his team’s success in the Kloof Tournament.

Among the travelling teams to watch during this tournament are TuksSport High School, Reddam House and Mondeor High School.

However, there is one team that everyone will be aiming to defeat, namely the defending champion, Nqabakazulu Comprehensive High School. They won the tournament in impressive fashion in 2024, defeating the highly-rated HTS Louis Botha 3-0 in the final. Nqabakazulu are poised for another historic run, hoping to not only secure this year’s championship but to defend their title against some of the leading schools in KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.

The hosts, Kloof High School, are also anticipating a successful run in this year’s tournament, aiming to create lasting memories for the current generation of footballers. Some of these players may be completing their matriculation before graduating from Kloof High School, which raises the stakes for all participants in the annual Kloof High School National Football Tournament.

Fixtures

Friday 27 June:

Field: Main Field

Group A

08:00 – 08:55 – Nqabakazulu vs Isibonelo

Group E

09:00 – 09:55 – Tuks vs Kloof High

Group D

10:00 – 10:55 – Maritzburg College vs Toti

Group H 

11:00 – 11:55 – Carter High vs Howick

Group B

12:00 -12:55 – HTS Louis Botha vs Hillcrest High

Group F

13:00 – 13:55 – Westville vs Sarel Cilliers

Group A

14:00 -14:55 – Isibonelo vs Durban High School

Group E

15:00 – 15:55 – Kloof High vs Reddam House

Group D

16:00 – 16:55 – Maritzburg College vs Birdswood

Field: Top A

Group B

08:00 – 08:55 – HTS Louis Botha vs Northwood

Group A

10:00 – 10:55 – Alexandra High vs Durban High School

Group F

09:00 – 09:55 – Westville vs Vuyiswa Mtolo

Group F

11:00 -11:55 – Sareli Cilliers vs Nilgiri

Group C

12:00 -12:55 – Kearsney College vs Virginia High

Group E

13:00 – 13:55 – Tuks vs Durban North College

Group C

14:00 – 14:55 – Virginia High vs Ashton Ballito

Group F

15:00 – 15:00 – Vuyiswa Mtolo vs Nilgiri

Group B

16:00 – 16:55 – HTS Louis Botha vs New Forest

Field: Top B

Group C

08:00 – 08:55 – Virginia High vs George Campbell

Group G

09:00 – 09:55 – Pinetown vs Hilton College

Group C

10:00 -10:55 – George Campbell

Group G

11:00 – 11:55 – Linpark vs Umvuzo Secondary

Group A

12:00 – 12:55 – Nqabakazulu vs Alexandra High

Group G

13:00 – 13:55 – Pinetown vs Linpark

Group B

14:00 – 14:55 – Northwood vs New Forest

Group G

15:00 – 15:55 – Hilton College vs Umvuzo Secondary

Group C

16:00 – 16:55 – Ashton Ballito vs Kearsney College

Field: KSP Field 

Group D

08:00 -08:55 – Mondeor High vs Birdswood

Group H

09:00- 09:55 – St Henry’s vs Edendale Tech High

Group B

10:00 – 10:55 – Hillcrest High vs New Forest

Group E

11:00 – 11:55 – Durban North College vs Reddam House

Group D

12:00 -12:55 – Maritzburg College vs Mondeor High

Group H

13:00 -13:55 – Carter High vs St Henry’s

Group D

14:00 – 14:55 – Toti vs Birdswood

Group H

15:00 – 15:55 – Howick vs Edendale Tech High

Group A

16:00 – 16:55 – Nqabakazulu vs Durban High School

Saturday 28 June 

Field: Field 

Group E

07:30 – 08:25 – Durban North College vs Kloof High

Group A

08:30 – 09:25 – Isibonelo vs Alexandra High

Group H

09:30 – 10:25 – St Henry’s vs Howick

Field: Top A

Group G

07:30 – 08:25 – Pinetown vs Umvuzo Secondary

Group B

08:30 – 09:25 – Northwood vs Hillcrest High

Group G

09:30 – 10:30 – Linpark vs Hilton College

Field: Top B

Group F

07:30 – 08:25 – Vuyiswa Mtolo vs Sareli Cilliers

Group F

08:30 – 09:25 – Westville vs Nilgiri

Group C

09:30 – 10:25 – George Campbell vs Kearsney College

Field: KSP Field 

Group E

07:30 – 08:25 – Tuks vs Reddam House

Group D

08:30 – 09:25 – Mondeor High vs Toti

Group H

09:30 – 10:25 – Carter High vs Edendale Tech High

Knockout Stages

Field: Main Field 

Match 1

10:45 – 11:40 – 1st Group A vs 2nd Group E

Match 5

11:45 – 12:45 – 1st Group E vs 2nd Group A

Match 3

12:45 – 13:40 – 1st Group C vs 2nd Group G

Match 7

13:45 – 14:40 – 1st Group G vs 2nd Group C

Match 17: 

14:45 – 15:40 – Match Loser 1 vs Match Loser 2

Match 19

15:45 – 16:40 – Match Loser 5 vs Match Loser 6

Field: Top A

Match 2

10:45 – 11:40 – 1st Group B vs 2nd Group F

Match 6

11:45 – 12:40 – 1st Group F vs 2nd Group B

Match 4

12:45 – 13:40 – 1st Group D vs 2nd Group H

Match 8

13:45 – 14:40 – 1st Group H vs 2nd Group D

Match 18

14:45 – 15:50 – Match Loser 3 vs Match Loser 4

Match 20

15:45 – 16:40 – Match Loser 7 vs Match Loser 8

Field: Top B

Match 9

10:45 – 11:40 – 3rd Group A vs 4th Group E

Match 13

11:45 – 12:40 – 3rd Group E vs 4th Group A

Match 11

12:45 – 13:40 – 3rd Group C vs 4th Group G

Match 15 

13;45 – 14:40 – 3rd Group G vs 4th Group C

Match 21

14:45 – 15:40 – Match Loser 9 vs Match Loser 10

Match 23

15:45 – 16:40 – Match Loser 13 vs Match Loser 14

Field: KSP Field 

Match 10

10:40 – 11:40 – 3rd Group B vs 4th Group F

Match 14

11:45 – 12:40 – 3rd Group F vs 4th Group B

Match 12

12:45 – 13:40 – 3rd Group D vs 4th Group H

Match 16

13:45 – 14:40 – 3rd Group H vs 4th Group D

Match 22

14:45 – 15:40 – Match Loser 9 vs Match Loser Match Loser 10

Match 24

15:45 – 16:40 – Match Loser 15 vs Match Loser 16

Sunday 29 June

Field: Main Field

Match 31

07:30 – 08:25 – Winner Match 5 vs Winner Match 6

Match 29

08:30 – 09:25 – Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2

Match 33

09:30 – 10:25 – Winner Match 21 vs Winner Match Winner Match 22

Match 37

10:30 – 11:25 – Winner Match 17 vs Winner Match 18

Match 40

11:30 – 12:25 – Loser Match 19 vs Loser Match 20

Match 44

11:30 – 12:25 – Loser Match 27 vs Loser Match 28

Match 45

12:30 – 13:25 – Winner Match 29 vs Winner Match 30

Field: Top A

Match 32

07:30 – 08:25 – Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 8

Match 30

08:30 -09:25 – Winner Match 3 vs Winner Match 4

Match 34

09:30 – 10:25 – Winner Match 23 vs Winner Match 24

Match 38

10:30 – 11:25 – Winner Match 19 vs Winner Match 20

Match 41

11:30 – 12:25 – Winner Match 25 vs Winner Match 26

Match 46

12:30 – 13:25 – Winner Match 31 vs Winner Match 32

Field Top B

Match 27 

07:30 – 08:25 – Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 14

Match 25

08:30 – 09:25 – Winner Match 9 vs Winner Match 10

Match 35

09:25 – 10:25 – Loser Match 21 vs Loser Match 22

Match 39

10:30 – 11:25 – Loser Match 17 vs Loser Match 18

Match 42

11:30 – 12:25 – Winner Match 27 vs Winner Match 28

Match 47

12:30 – 13:25 – Loser Match 29 vs Loser Match 30

Field: KSP Field 

Match 28 

07:30 – 08:25 – Winner Match 15 vs Winner Match 14

Match 26 

08:30 -09:25 – Winner Match 11 vs Winner Match 12

Match 36

09:30 – 10:25 – Loser Match 23 vs Loser Match 24

Match 40

10:30 – 11:25 – Loser Match 19 vs Loser Match 20

Match 43

11:30 – 12:25 – Loser Match 25 vs Loser Match 26

Match 48 

12:30 – 13:25 – Loser Match 31 vs Loser Match 32

Shield Final 

Field: Main Field 

13:30 – 14:25 – Winner Match 41 vs Winner Match 42

Spoon Final 

Field: Top A

13:30 – 14:25 – Winner Match 33 vs Winner Match 34

Shield 3rd Place

Field: Top B

13:30 – 14:25 – Loser Match 33 vs Loser Match 34

Plate Final

Field: Main Field

14:30 – 15:25 – Winner Match 37 vs Winner Match 38

Cup 3rd Place

Field: Top A

14:30 – 15:25 – Loser Match 45 vs Loser Match 46

Plate 3rd Place

Field: Top B

14:30 – 15:25 – Loser Match 37 vs Loser Match 38

Cup Final 

Field: Main Field 

15:30 – 16:25 – Winner Match 45 vs Winner Match 46

The inaugural u16 Clive Barker Soccer Festival was played at Glenwood High on Saturday. The event, celebrating the legacy of the South African football legend and Glenwood Old Boy, was a huge success.

Some of the province’s finest u16 teams were in action, including Maritzburg College, Westville Boys’ High, Hillcrest High, Durban Academy, and Pinetown Boys’ High, who went head-to-head on Basson’s and Dixon’s Field.

After a long day of spirited but fun and competitive football, Pinetown Boys’ High and Maritzburg College topped their respective groups to qualify for the final.

Pinetown Boys’ High then ensured they made history by becoming the first-ever winners of the u16 Clive Barker Soccer Festival by handing Maritzburg College a 2-0 defeat.

Last year, Pinetown Boys’ High won the Kearsney Soccer Tournament. They’re a school to be reckoned with on the football field.

Andile Mtshali was named the Player of the Tournament due to his outstanding performances and his leading role in steering Pinetown to the title.

After the tournament, Khaya Mngwengwe, the Director of Soccer at Glenwood, expressed his gratitude to all the schools that participated and supported the event.

“We are truly grateful,” he said. “The level of play was of a high standard, and the event went very well.”

Mngwengwe said Glenwood has significant aspirations for the tournament, adding that he is confident that it will continue to expand. Saturday, he said, was an unforgettable day for the Glenwood community.

“It was wonderful to see old faces that worked with Clive Barker here at our school,” he remarked.

He extended his gratitude to John Barker, the son of the former Bafana Bafana coach, for attending and supporting the event.

RESULTS

Group A

Glenwood 2-2 Westville
Pinetown 5-0 Queensburgh High
Glenwood 4-1 Queensburgh High
Pinetown 2-1 Westville
Pinetown 1-0 Glenwood
Westville 2-0 Queensburgh High

Group B

Maritzburg College 1-1 Hillcrest
Durban Academy 1-1 Northwood
Maritzburg College 2-0 Durban Academy
Northwood 3-1 Hillcrest
Maritzburg College 2-1 Northwood
Durban Academy 1-1 Hillcrest

Final 

Pinetown 2-0 Maritzburg College

The Gauteng Women’s Soccer League (GWSL), formerly known as the Gauteng Women’s Soccer Tournament, an annual competition hosted at the end of October and extending into November, has grown year on year. Recently, it announced a game-changing partnership with Phoenix Elites SA, which is set to further boost the event.

Now heading into its fourth edition this year, the GWSL has dedicated itself to being the only tournament that exclusively focuses on young girls and women’s football teams from across Gauteng. Zimbabwean sides have also added their flair to the competition.

Teams from the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), Sasol Gauteng, and SAFA Regional Leagues, as well as university clubs, are eligible to compete in the tournament.

In a recent exclusive interview, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Mondli Dube, the Director of the GWSL, and Melissa Sall, the Managing Director of Phoenix Group SA.

Phoenix Elites SA possess a diverse profile – a registered entity focused on youth empowerment through sport and development initiatives, engaging in a wide range of activities from sports to rehabilitation centres and children’s homes.

Sall informed SuperSport Schools Plus that the partnership with GWSL has been developing over an extended period of time. She said it wasn’t able to come together in 2024, but now Phoenix Elites SA is well-positioned to contribute to the GWSL.

Dube said the partnership involves diverse activation channels, which include networking opportunities, a grassroots programme, and shared brand values focused on youth empowerment, teamwork, and perseverance.

Both parties [GWLS and Phoenix Elites SA] have agreed to work jointly towards a shared vision of uplifting underprivileged youth, with a specific focus on community development, girls’ soccer initiatives and educational enrichment through sport.

Sall stated the partnership with the GWSL was logical for Phoenix Elites SA as it resonated with the values of the organisation and what it represents.

“We don’t believe that there’s only one winner,” she said. “Yes, we understand it is part of the claim that there needs to be a winner, but for us, everything that we do is about longevity,” Sall said about the deal.

“Are we merely stating that we are organising a tournament, and once someone wins R20 000, that is the end of it? Or are we considering how we can ensure the sustainability of this team from the R20 000 prize – that this team is indeed developing, and the players are receiving the essential support they require within the sports industry?” Sall asked.

She said her organisation was also aiming to collaborate with the GWSL on additional initiatives beyond the end of the year tournament. “If the events that they are organising align with our vision and the way our organisation functions, we will certainly provide our support,” she stated.

In addition, said Sall, Phoenix Elites SA will also host their own tournament in October. It would be entirely distinct from any other tournament, she reckoned. The tournament, an invitational event, will feature teams that have been identified as having specific needs.

“There will be first-place prize money, but for each and every team that will be invited, we have a specific tailor-made award or prize that they are getting that is beneficial to the team.

“For instance, we’ve identified that there are teams where half of a team does not have soccer boots. We will be supplying that team with soccer boots”

The GWDL and Phoenix Elites SA listed six shared goals that they will work on together:

– Awareness and visibility, featuring female athletes in mainstream media, launching integrated marketing campaigns across TV and social media to elevate the profile of the tournament.
– Infrastructure and talent development – building a strong, lasting foundation for women’s football.
– Innovation.
– Commercial visibility – having a sustainable business model around the GWDL.
– Cultural and social impact.
– Legacy creation.

“The partnership aims to grow the game, uplift the athletes, and inspire communities. The partnership emphasises balance in commercial goals with a deep sense of purpose and responsibility,” Dube said.

The Orange Nation, the Soweto Basketball Academy showcased its signature orange colours at the Youth Classic Basketball Tournament on Sunday, securing both the boys’ and girls’ titles at the Cape Town tournament.

Male Competition 

After going down in the final of the Soweto Uprising Basketball Tournament to Jozi Stars on Youth Day, 16 June, the Soweto Basketball Academy boys’ team bounced back to lift the Youth Classic Basketball Tournament, organised by African Grassroot Hoops, at the German International School on Sunday.

In an entertaining final, the Gauteng side defeated Bulldogs 65-54. Both teams had caught the eye throughout the tournament and headed into the title decider with unbeaten records.

In the semifinals, the Soweto Basketball Academy withstood a strong challenge from Cape Town Sharks, winning 49-44 to advance to the title game. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, overcame Eagles Basketball Club A 51-45 to reach the final.

Female Competition

For the Soweto Basketball Academy girls’ team, it was a second title within a week, following their title success in their own Soweto Basketball Uprising Tournament, and it came after they had already captured the AISJ Basketball Tournament and the u18 girls’ Old Petrians Basketball Tournament titles earlier this year.

The Soweto side claimed their place in the final with a convincing 37-10 victory over Shaq Squad in the semi-finals.

Their opponents for the title were the Montana Vikings, who survived a huge challenge from the defending champion, Hotshot Basketball Club, in their final four showdown, claiming a razor-thin 34-33 win.

There wasn’t much to separate the finalists, but the Soweto Basketball Academy held the edge and came away with a six-point 33-27 victory to lay claim to the silverware.

Results

Group Stages: Male Competition

Group A

Cape Town Sharks 49-28 Titans Basketball Club
Soweto Basketball Academy 67-22 Hout Bay Hurricanes

Group B

Lions Basketball Club 37-33 Lions Basketball Club
Eagles Basketball Club A 55-51 Hout Bay Snipers

Group C

Blouberg 47-36 Eagles Basketball Club B

Group Stages: Female Competition

Group A

Shaq Squad 45-14 Hout Bay United
Montana Vikings 34-33 Hot Shots Basketball Club

Group B

Soweto Basketball Academy 25-17 Montana Vikings

Semifinals 

Male Competition

Soweto Basketball Academy 49-44 Cape Town Sharks
Bulldogs 51-45 Eagles Basketball Club

Female Competition 

Semifinals 

Montana Vikings 34-33 Hot Shots Basketball Club
Soweto Basketball Academy 37-10 Shaq Squad

Final

Male Competition

Soweto Basketball Academy 63-54 Bulldogs

Final

Female Competition

Soweto Basketball Academy 33-27 Montana Vikings