Author: sipongco

The much-anticipated match between South Africa and Zambia on Wednesday at the u20 Cosafa Women’s Championship lived up to expectations.

Both teams showed competitive spirit, but South Africa was, in the end, well beaten, going down 0-3 in a contest that most considered to be between the leading title contenders.

The teams played to a stalemate in the opening stanza, although both showed a willingness to attack in search of goals and victory.

Zambia owned a slight edge in terms of the pressure they created on the home side. Their captain Mary Mbewe, posed a consistent danger on the left flank, making threatening runs to get her team on the front foot.

The Zambians were also more effective than South Africa in finding one other and moving the ball quickly. However, the hosts defended strongly and worked to get the ball wide, where they also actively engaged their opponents.

As the first half drew to a close, there was little in it and it was hard to predict which team would prevail, although South Africa would need to make considerable adjustments if they intended to defeat their opponents.

Zambia began the second half with great intensity, loudly cheered on by their supporters, and their positive intent was rewarded when Ruth Muwowo netted the opening goal, which silenced the South African fans.

Mary Mbewe, who was later named the player of the match, continued to cause problems for the South African defence.

Then, Zambia doubled their lead in the 84th minute, just six minutes from time, in a somewhat controversial manner. Saliya Mwanza scored, but the South African supporters wondered whether or not the ball had fully crossed the line. The referee conferred with her assistant on the sideline and validated the goal, putting Zambia into a 2-0 lead.

Not content to sit back and conserve their advantage, Zambia continued to press and their brave approach bore fruit when they were awarded a penalty during the referee’s additional time. Jessy Zulu converted from the spot to complete a sparkling 3-0 win for the Zambians.

The victory earned Mbewe and her side three points for a second day in succession, following their 9-0 thrashing of Lesotho on Tuesday.

With the convincing victory, Zambia is now heavily favoured to go on to clinch the Cosafa Championship title. Their 12 goals without reply in two matches reflect a gap between them and their challengers.

Mozambique, beaten 4-0 by South Africa in their opener, recorded a first victory, edging out Botswana 3-2 in a closely-contested fixture.

Nelia Tamele, of Mozambique, received the Player of the Match award for her exceptional performance in a thrilling contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

After a rest day on Thursday, the Cosafa Championship games resume on Friday. Botswana faces Zambia at 12:00 and South Africa takes on Lesotho at 15:00.

Curro Holdings, in partnership with Tennis South Africa (TSA), will be hosting two International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments, featuring both men and women, at the Van der Stel Tennis Club in Stellenbosch from 1-15 December.

Building on the success of the Curro Centre Court Series that took place in Hillcrest during June and July, the forthcoming tournaments will provide an opportunity for some of the world’s most promising players to enhance their rankings

Both the men’s and women’s competitions are W15 events. Each category has $15 000 prize money, which makes it an overall pool of $60 000 for the two tournaments.

Players who are anticipated to participate include Leo Borg, the son of the  Swedish legend, Bjorn Borg, along with South African Davis Cup team members Alec Beckley, Leo Matthysen, and Phillip Henning. Top local juniors including Connor Doig, Isabella Kruger, and Jahnie van Zyl, are set to take part in the event, too.

“There is a healthy number of South African men and women playing in these tournaments, many based overseas, who relish the opportunity to return home and compete against world-class competition,” Cindy van der Merwe, the Portfolio Manager at Curro Sport, said in a statement. “And these tournaments, once again, highlight Curro’s dedication and commitment in providing the platform and opportunity for quality tennis to be played and enjoyed right here in South Africa.”

The South African challenge will be robust, led by the Davis Cup trio of Beckley, Matthysen, and Henning, the Grey College old boy, who triumphed in the first week of the series held in Hillcrest. The presence of Leo Borg, the son of Bjorn, who won Wimbledon five times in succession, from 1976 to 1980, will interest lovers of the game.

Connor Doig, aged 16, who left Westville Boys’ High at the end of 2023 to take up home-schooling and give his all to tennis, is currently ranked 132nd in the ITF Junior World Rankings. He won the first of the ITF junior events at Curro Hillcrest in September and will be eager to make a strong impact again.

Kris van Wyk a losing finalist in week three at the Curro Centre Court Series in Hillcrest, will want to improve on that performance and will have his sights set on a winner’s cheque.

In the women’s competition, South Africa’s aspirations will rest on the shoulders of Isabella Kruger and the talented 15-year-old Jahnie van Zyl.

Kruger, the daughter of the Springbok rugby icon Ruben Kruger, experienced mixed fortunes at Curro Hillcrest. She secured the women’s title in the second week but suffered earlier exits in the other two weeks.

Van Zyl, known for her tenacity and determination, captured the hearts of the crowd in Hillcrest. She didn’t make a final, but she made significant progress, which included a win over Kruger in the first week.

She is a young athlete to keep an eye on, having already excelled in various international competitions, which led to her being selected for the esteemed Grand Slam Player Development Programme in 2023.

“This is a rare opportunity for people to experience international tennis in South Africa,” Van der Merwe said. “The standard is exceptionally high and those who take the time to come and soak up the action will be richly rewarded.”

The 3rd annual Montego Champs 4 Change Tournament kicks off on Friday. It’s being held in support of the National 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

The action starts at 13:00, with the last game scheduled to be played at 18:00, at the Botanics Sports Grounds, in Graaff-Reinet.

It’s a unique tournament, providing an opportunity for u9 teams to showcase their skills.

The primary focus, though, is raising awareness and contributing to a vital cause opposing violence against women and children violation.

The event is held in the spirit of celebrating talent, sportsmanship, and community upliftment.

Tournament Format 

Group Stage

• 12 teams divided into three groups of four teams each
• Each group plays a round-robin (three matches each within their group)
• Matches last 22 minutes (10 minutes per half and a two-minute-halftime)

Knockout Stage 

• Quarterfinals: The top two teams from each group qualify, plus the two best third-placed teams
• Semi-finals and Final: Standard Knockout format

Group A

Jose Mourinho
Dangerous Darkies
Union Preparatory 1
Isibane 2

Group B

XI Attackers
Birds United
Union Preparatory 2
Lingcom Primary

Group C

Summers Strikers
Graaf-Reinet United
Isibane 1
Mountain View FC

Match Schedule: Group Stage (13:30 – 15:10)

Group A

13:30 – Field 1 – Jose Mourinho vs Dangerous Darkies
14:00 – Field 1 – Union Preparatory 1 vs Isibane 2
14:30 – Field 1 – Jose Mourinho vs Union Preparatory 1
15:00 – Field 1 – Dangerous Darkies vs Isibane 2

Group B 

13:30 – Field 2 – XI Attackers vs Birds United
14:00 – Field 2 – Union Preparatory 2 vs Lingcom Primary
14:30 – Field 2 – XI Attackers vs Union Preparatory 2
15:00 – Field 2 – Dangerous Darkies vs Lingcom Primary

Group C

13:30 – Field 3 – Summer Strikers vs Graaff-Reinet United
14:00 – Field 3 – Isibane 1 vs Mountain View FC
14:30 – Field 3 – Summer Strikers vs Isibane 1
15:00 – Field 3 – Graaff-Reinet vs Mountain View FC

Knockout Stages (15:30 – 16:30

15:30 – Field 1 – Quarterfinal 1: 1st Group A vs 2nd Best 3rd
15:30 – Field 2 – Quarterfinal 2: 1st Group B vs 2nd Group C
15:30 – Field 3 – Quarterfinal 3: 1st Group C vs Best 3rd
15:50 – Field 1 – Quarterfinal 4: 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B

16:10 – Field 1 – Semi-final 1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4
16:10 – Field 2 – Semi-final 2: Winner QF2 vs Winner QF3

16:30 – Final: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2

The opening day of the u20 Women’s Cosafa Championship saw an impressive total of 13 goals scored as eye-catching action lit up the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Soweto Campus Stadium on Tuesday.

The tournament favourites, South Africa and Zambia, demonstrated their prowess, with both winning comfortably, to affirm their status as the leading contenders for the trophy.

The hosts, South Africa, opened their account with a 4-0 win over Mozambique in the second match of the opening day.

From the moment the match kicked off, both teams showed positive intent. As South Africa gained confidence, they began to connect passes effectively, and they won most of the duels.

The home side came close to taking an early lead after captain Mmabatho Mogale earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Sikelelwa Mhlanga fired off a shot at goal, but it hit the crossbar and Mozambique breathed a sigh of relief. They appeared somewhat disorganised in the early going and also came close to conceding an own goal.

Mozambique was living a charmed life as South Africa dialled up the pressure. Tanna Hollis had a golden opportunity inside the box to put the hosts ahead, but goalkeeper Graca Machengo pulled off a fine save to deny her.

South Africa’s breakthrough came after an exceptional run from the player of the match, Nobahle Mdelwa, who set up Adrielle Mibe for the first of her three goals. Mozambique responded well, showing strong resolve as they sought an equaliser.

Before the break, both teams squandered key opportunities, particularly South Africa, who should have extended their lead.

The home team suffered a setback when Tanna Hollis, who had enjoyed a strong first half, was unable to return to the field after half-time due to an injury. Hollis is a key player in the team, so the local side will hope she heals quickly.

Hollis was replaced by Thato Mofolo, who went on to score the fourth and final goal of the contest, which highlighted the depth and strength of South Africa’s squad.

Their resilience and depth will be tested on Wednesday when they face a formidable Zambian side.

Zambia grabbed the spotlight on the opening day, overwhelming Lesotho 9-0 in a match that they dominated from the first whistle to the last. That final score accurately represented the flow of the game.

The Zambians quickly established their dominance, with Lubasi Pumulo striking twice within the space of a minute.

Before long, Saliya Mwanza, who was later named the player of the match, extended the lead to 3-0.

Further goals were netted by Bwayla Chileshe, who struck twice, Ruth Muwowo, who also scored a brace, and Zangose Zulu and Mary Mbewe.

South Africa and Zambia do battle on Wednesday. An exhilarating and engaging match is expected. Both teams showed strength and composure, with a shared preference for maintaining ball control in their openers. Their showdown is likely to thrill spectators.

Botswana faces Mozambique at midday on Wednesday. The South Africa versus Zambia match follows at 15:00.

The champions of the third edition of the Gauteng  Women’s Soccer League (GWSL) have been crowned, with Mamelodi Sundowns lifting the title on Sunday at the Rovers Football Club in Alberton.

Banyana Ba Style lost their first match of the tournament, going down 1-2 to the inaugural champions of the GWSL, Diepkloof Ladies FC.

After that, the Sundowns’ Ladies did not look back. They dominated their opponents to reach the gold match of the championship. There, they defeated Royal Lions 3-1 in a penalty shootout after regular time had ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Mamelodi Sundowns also exhibited their class in a 3-1 win over Electrical Ladies FC in the semi-finals. Royal Lions were made to work hard for their place in the final by Hallelujah Zebra Force, with Lions claiming a narrow 4-3 victory in a tightly-contested clash.

The final of the GWSL was also graced by many South African football personalities, including Fran Hilton-Smith, who is recognised as one of the pioneers of women’s football in South Africa. Lauren Duncan, the Banyana Banyana team manager, and Janine van Wyk, the former captain of Banyana Banyana, were also present.

After the conclusion of the GWSL, SuperSport Schools Plus sat down with Mondli Dube, the director of the tournament. He reflected on a successful event that had taken place over three weeks and showcased women’s football at Rovers Football Club.

Dube expressed his admiration for the outstanding display of skill and strategy demonstrated by the teams, noting that the sides executed accurate passes, implemented insightful tactics, and engaged in innovative approaches, which highlighted the players’  commitment and comprehension of the sport.

Additionally, Dube spoke about the importance of communication, remarking on how players collaborated and supported one another. He appreciated the diverse styles exhibited by the teams, said Dube, as well as their resilience and determination.

However, he particularly valued the sportsmanship displayed, stating that “the mutual respect between players and coaches, regardless of whether they experienced victory or defeat, often leaves a lasting impression.”

“The GWSL serves to empower young girls by showcasing their skills and talents. This league helps girls to build confidence and inspire others to pursue sports and their dreams,” Dube said.

It also fosters inclusivity by providing avenues for engagement and celebration, thus confronting stereotypes associated with gender roles in sports, he added.

Dube’s hope and vision for the tournament’s future 

Looking towards the future, Dube expressed his desire to broaden the GWSL and to encourage greater interest from additional teams, whom he believes are missing out on opportunities. He also hopes to add more age groups, Dube shared, and he would like to further enhance community involvement by collaborating with local schools, youth organisations, and businesses, to promote the event effectively.

One of the ways he hopes to achieve those goals is by making use of technology, including live streaming, to reach a wider audience and to provide families who are unable to attend events with a means to follow the action. Dube said he, also, envisions the development of an app to manage team schedules, track statistics, and provide field maps, thus ensuring accurate documenting of the tournament.

To enhance the economic impact, Dube plans to offer vendors opportunities by inviting local food trucks, merchandise sellers, and activity booths to be a part of the event, thereby fostering a festive environment.

Naturally, corporate sponsorships would go a long way towards making those goals a reality.

To promote inclusivity and representation, Dube is proposing the organisation of special clinics, such as coaching workshops led by professional players, to inspire the next generation. Additionally, he intends to establish scholarship programmes to create opportunities for underprivileged teams or players to participate in the tournament.

In conclusion, Dube said he envisions the tournament as a vibrant festival, featuring off-field entertainment, including live music, skills competitions, and family-oriented activities, to attract more attendees. He also emphasised the importance of cultural exchanges by hosting events or ceremonies that celebrate the diversity of the participating teams.

RESULTS

16 November

Quarterfinals

Hallelujah Zebra Force 4-0 Rand Central LFA
Electrical Ladies FC (4) 1-1 (1) Future Stars
Royal Lions 2-0 Kempton Park Stars
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Spring Home Sweepers

17 November

Semi-finals 

Royal Lions 4-3 Hallelujah Zebra Force
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Electrical Ladies FC

Final 

Mamelodi Sundowns (3) 1-1 (1) Royal Lions

Five nations will be on the hunt for the u20 Women’s Cosafa Championship title when the competition kicks off at the University of Johannesburg‘s (UJ) Soweto Campus Stadium on Tuesday.

South Africa will be up against Lesotho, Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana to determine which is the best u20 team in southern Africa.

The tournament follows a round-robin format and runs from 19-24 November.

Lesotho and Zambia will get the ball rolling with a midday kickoff on Tuesday, with the hosts making their bow at 15:00 against Mozambique. Botswana joins the action on Wednesday, taking on Mozambique at 12:00.

The 15:00 match on Wednesday, between South Africa and Zambia, is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament. Those two teams have a longstanding rivalry and the outcome of that contest could prove crucial in determining which country secures the title.

Thursday will be a rest day, to be followed by three days of matches, culminating in South Africa facing Botswana at 15:00 on Sunday.

FIXTURES

19 November

12:00 – Lesotho vs Zambia
15:00 – South Africa vs Mozambique

20 November

12:00 – Botswana vs Mozambique
15:00 – South Africa vs Zambia

22 November

12:00 – Botswana vs Zambia
15:00 – South Africa vs Lesotho

23 November 

12:00 – Zambia vs Mozambique
15:00 – Lesotho vs Botswana

24 November 

12:00 – Mozambique vs Lesotho
15:00 – South Africa vs Botswana

The South African Football Association (Safa) is hosting the u15 girls’ national team at the Safa  Technical Centre in Johannesburg on Friday and Saturday.

This team is set to participate in the u17 girls’ Cosafa Championship in December and the squad will feature players that were identified through the u15 National tournament in August and the TDS International Tournament, which was held in September.

Safa’s Technical Director, Walter Steenbok explained the thinking behind entering a young team in the tournament: “We are lowering the age groups to ensure that we prepare squads that grow together before reaching the age of 17, where international qualifiers begin.

“Over the years, we have had an issue in the qualification of the u17 international tournaments, and this training camp will be the beginning of that squad in the same way we have used the Talent Development Scheme (TDS) for our boys’ team. We intend on doing the same for our girls’ team and fast-tracking their development to build a squad that will compete at international u17 level,” he said.

As the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries prepare for the forthcoming  u17 girls’ Cosafa Championship, which will be hosted by Mozambique, Safa is aiming to put together a robust and competent squad capable of going toe-to-toe with their older opponents.

It will be a tough challenge, but the young South African team will be aiming to emulate the success of the u20 boys’ national team, Amajita, who won the u20 Cosafa Championship title in October after defeating Zambia in the final.

Recently, both the u15 boys’ and girls’ South African teams won the Cosafa African Schools Football Championship in Namibia, making it a three-peat for South Africa in the competition, and keeping intact the country’s record as the only winner of the event since its inception.

This year, South Africa has enjoyed a successful run in several Cosafa tournaments, including Banyana Banyana, who, under the guidance of coach Maud Khumalo, reached the finals but lost 3-4 to Zambia in a penalty shootout on 2 November in Gqeberha. There was plenty of cause for optimism, however, as Banyana Banyana put out a youthful squad that included several teenagers, who rose to the challenge.

After the competition, Khumalo told the SAFA media team: “It was a great, great experience in Gqeberha. Tournaments like these bring value. They enable coaches and players to gain more experience and to get used to the different levels of the game. The teams and the countries we played against, you could see that they are building, and they’re learning a lot.”

The u15 national side will view the success of the young Banyana Banyana side as inspiration and give them motivation to excel during the 2024 u17 Cosafa Championship.

31-PLAYER SQUAD

Name and Surname	Club	Province
Isabella Hall	Durban Ladies	KwaZulu Natal
Thando Mugodudi	Springs Ladies United FC	Gauteng
Maanda Ramadan	Sinthumul Kutama	Limpopo
Diamond Retshidisitwe	Mighty Spurs	Free State
Siphumelele Zibula	Dlala Ntombazane	KwaZulu Natal
Kopano Kgatiwe	Modiba FC	North West
Katlego Mohale	JVW	Gauteng
Andiswa Zuma	Dlala Ntombazane	KwaZulu Natal
Yola Bala	Mamelodi Sundowns	Gauteng
Akhona Simamane	Lindelani Ladies	KwaZulu Natal
Alwande Mbatha	Dlala Ntombazane	KwaZulu Natal
Nzuza Nomfundo	Dlala Ntombazane	KwaZulu Natal
Dineo Makoala	Future Stars	Gauteng
Rethabile Molefe	Home Sweepers	Gauteng
Somali Gani	Coastal United Ladies	Eastern Cape
Bokamoso Khambule	Junior Stars Academy	Free State
Katleho Mbaleke	Tuks	Gauteng
Ambani Raphadana	Santhumule Kutama	Limpopo
Dakalo Mafumo	Panorama FC	Gauteng
Okuhle Sithole	Durban Ladies	KwaZulu Natal
Leonay Kock	Royal Wizards	Northern Cape
Vuyo Motlaung	–	Gauteng
Kwezi Khoza	Durban Ladies	KwaZulu Natal
Lethuthando Mthembu	Stellenbosch	Western Cape
Kamogelo Maropa	Emalahleni Rainbow Ladies	Mpumalanga
Dazed Mkhari	Sisters FC	Limpopo
Miah Messier	Ubuntu FC	Western FC
Asanda Ziqubu	Dlala Ntombazane	KwaZulu Natal
Nkosingiphile Mthombeni	Hungry Tigers	Mpumalanga
Farah Thomas	Rygersdal	Western Cape
Oluke Magutshwa	Dlala Ntombazane	KwaZulu Natal

 

The fifth edition of the u15 Linda Mntambo Foundation Games kicks off on Saturday, 9 November, at the Mzimhlophe Sports Grounds in Orlando, Soweto.

A total of 16 teams will be in action, including the defending champions, Hammanskraal Sports Academy.

Last year, Hammanskraal lifted the title after defeating Khukza in an exciting final that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The champions exhibited composure and skillful football in the title decider,  dominating possession while, also, effectively man-marking and winning the majority of duels throughout the match.

Although Khukza had their moments, Hammanskraal Sports Academy scored a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Junior Numayo and Nhlayisi Nthite, who were key performers for the winners as they secured the Linda Mntambo Foundation title for the first time.

They’re set to face a tough title defence and now, as the champions, they will have a target on their back, with teams like Sir P United, who were eliminated in last year’s semi-finals by Hammanskraal Sports Academy striving to go all the way this time around.

TEAMS

1. E.R.E.S.A
2. Future Stars
3. DGU
4. Moon Stars
5. Premier Impala
6. White City Spurs
7. KVK Academy
8. Meadowlands All Stars
9. Siyanqona Youth Development
10. Hammarskaal Academy
11. Lakeside Juventus
12. Sir P United
13. Juniors FC
14. Orlando West Academy
15. Euphoria United

Matters may not have gone as planned for The School of Excellence in the 2024 Gauteng Development League season. However, a number of the school’s graduates have gone on to make a name for themselves in the professional ranks.

Ahead of the last weekend of GDL action, the u13 team of the School of Excellence lies in 17th place on the table. Kaizer Chiefs, with 88 points, have already been confirmed as the champions, and have one more game to play against TS Galaxy on Sunday at the Randburg Sports Complex.

The u15 of School of Excellence team has fared far better and is in fourth place, with 60 points, but is a long way off the winners, Mamelodi Sundowns, who have already accrued 92 points ahead of their last game against Sevens Academy at Randburg on Sunday.

The School of Excellence u17 and u19 sides have delivered average results, with the u17s in 11th place and the u19s in ninth. Overall, the picture is one of the club enduring a challenging season, which, maybe, they will be relieved to conclude on Sunday before turning their sights to 2025.

However, the success of School of Excellence graduates suggests it continues to create opportunities for talented youngsters and serve as a valuable pathway to the professional ranks.

Several graduates from the School of Excellence – Emile Witbooi, Kutlwano Letlhaku, Siyabonga Mabena, and Relebohile Mofokeng – have experienced memorable years, making significant progress in their careers.

Emile Witbooi, who transitioned from the School of Excellence to Cape Town City FC earlier this year, received an invitation for a month-long trial with one of England’s top clubs, Chelsea, who as recently as 2020/21 won the Uefa Champions League. He is currently participating in an assessment at the Cobham Training Center, Chelsea’s training facility.

Witbooi has also represented South Africa at junior level in 2024, turning out for both the u17 and u20 national teams. He was a member of the squad that recently won the u20 Cosafa Championship in Mozambique after defeating Zambia 2-0 in the final. That victory sealed South Africa’s place in the 2025 Caf Africa Cup of Nations.

Fellow South African u20 player, Kutlwano Letlhaku, who played for The School of Excellence in the 2023 GDL season, has been delivering top performances for Mamelodi Sundowns, which included a man of the match-winning two goals in the Brazilians’ 2-0 win over Polokwane City in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday, 6 October.

Siyabonga Mabena, who also plays for Mamelodi Sundowns and is another graduate from The School of Excellence, was featured in an article by The Guardian newspaper on 15 October, titled, “Next Generation 2024: 60 of the best young talents in world football.”

Being named alongside some more recognised names has exposed Mabena to a large worldwide audience.

Relebohile Mofokeng, known as “President Yama 2K” in South African football, has shown himself to be one of the brightest young talents in the Betway Premiership while turning out for Orlando Pirates.

In October, he helped the Sea Robbers capture the MTN 8 Cup for a third year in succession after a victory over Stellenbosch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in which he scored the third goal of the match in a 3-1 victory.

In June, he also made a significant impact, scoring in the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns, which the Mighty Bucks won 2-1 to hoist the trophy for a second season in succession.

Graduates from the School of Excellence are making their way and making progress in the Betway Premiership, DStv Diski Challenge (Reserve League), and various other leagues. Their achievements serve as a testament to the dedication and effort invested by The School of Excellence coaches in their players and suggest that the GDL remains a hotbed for uncovering top talent.

Curro Holdings is expanding the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS) programme by adding six additional schools in 2025 as part of its mission to “Create the player of tomorrow’”.

The initiative has, already, successfully integrated 17 Curro schools. Its objective is to provide students with the essential technical, cognitive, and social competencies required to excel in competitive football.

During an interview with SuperSport Schools Plus earlier this year, Pitso Mosimane, the founder of the PMSS said: “The development of football must be a combination of academics and the sport itself.”

The PMSS programme has chosen to work with schools, Mosimane said, to nurture football skills from an early age.

The schools set to benefit from the programme include Curro Academy Mbombela and Meridian Karino, in Mpumalanga; Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel, in Roodepoort; Meridian Rustenburg, in North West; and Curro Academy Sandown and Meridian Pinehurst, in the Western Cape.

Curro’s partnership with the renowned coach, Pitso Mosimane, began in January 2023 at Curro Northern Academy, in Polokwane, and Curro Meridian Cosmo City, in Roodepoort.

Since partnering with Curro, the PMSS programme has achieved remarkable success, with Meridian Northern Academy in Polokwane recently winning the prestigious Kay Motsepe Schools Championship, while the u13 boys’ team secured an impressive third place.

Those outstanding achievements were hailed by Curro’s CEO, Cobus Loubser, as being among the greatest milestones in the 25-year history of Curro’s sports teams.

The PMSS model provides a structured pathway for players aged from six to 18, guiding them from grassroots development to high-performance training as they progress on their football journeys.

“Curro’s continued commitment to the PMSS programme and its expansion into more schools reflects our vision of fostering excellence in both sports and academics,” Fergus Sampson, Business Executive for Meridian Schools at Curro Holdings, said.

“We believe that sports play a critical role in developing not only physical fitness but also essential skills, like leadership, teamwork, and discipline in our learners.

Partnering with Pitso Mosimane, one of Africa’s most successful football coaches, enables us to elevate the standard of soccer in South Africa. The extension of the programme is a natural progression, allowing us to nurture even more talent.”

The PMSS programme includes federation-accredited coaches and a comprehensive training plan. Among the pillars it is focused upon are talent identification, school league integration, and high-performance training.