The Curro Thatchfeld Cup produced one tightly contested game after another on Saturday as the leading teams in the competition went head-to-head for the silverware in front of a large crowd at the Pretoria school.
In the u19 girls’ event, Curro Hazeldean took on Curro Soshanguve for a place in the final. In the only decisive victory of the playoffs, it was Hazeldean who advanced, winning 3-0 to book a meeting with The King’s School Linbro Park for the title.
Kings faced a challenging path to the title decider. Their clash with Curro Academy Pretoria finished 0-0 after regulation time, which meant a penalty shootout would decide who moved on. Kings Linbro then claimed a 5-3 victory from the spot to set up a showdown with Curro Hazeldean.
In the decisive confrontation between Curro Hazeldean and Kings Linbro, it was, again, tight as could be, and neither team mustered a goal in regulation time. Penalties were needed to decide the champions.
Kings Linbro had triumphed from the spot in the semi-finals, but their luck ran out in the final as Curro Hazeldean snatched a narrow 5-4 win to capture the champions’ title.
The boys’ semi-finals pitted the hosts, Curro Thatchfield, against Greenside High and goals were again hard to come by. Curro, though, scored the only one of the contest to advance to the final where they took on Lyttelton Manor, who had ousted Curro Soshanguve in the final four, also by a 1-0 margin.
On a day in which there was little to separate the contenders, the winning score was again 1-0 as Curro Thatchfield delighted their home supporters with a winning performance.
U19 Girls
Semi 1: Curro Soshanguve 0-3 Curro Hazeldean
Semi 2: Curro Academy Pretoria (3) 0-0 (5) Kings Linbro Park
Final: Curro Hazeldean (5) 0-0 (4) Kings Linbro Park
Emile Witbooi, the Midfielder and Player of the Tournament at the Cape Town Engen Cup Tournament in June, has been included in Cape Town City’s roster for the 2024/25 Premier Soccer League (PSL) sponsored by Betway Premiership.
The talented 15-year-old will don the number 50 jersey as he continues to captivate football enthusiasts across South Africa, just eight months after Cape Town City revealed that he had joined them from the Transnet School of Excellence.
Witbooi is the son of former Cape Town Spurs player, Bradley Ralani, who recorded 104 appearances for the Blue and Gold Army from 2018 to 2022.
Ralani was also with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he became a fan favourite, making 18 appearances during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, before departing the club to the surprise of many supporters.
From a very young age, Emile Witbooi has represented South Africa at youth level.
He also played in the highly competitive Gauteng Development League (GDL), widely regarded as one of the most advanced development leagues in Africa. The competition showcases premier talent from Gauteng’s professional clubs, including Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United, and TS Galaxy, as well as esteemed academies, like Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA).
In recent friendly matches against Lesotho, played at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus, Witbooi was one of the key players for the South African u17 national team. He helped the side to successive victories by 4-0 and 3-1 margins, and was on the score sheet.
Witbooi will again be in action for the SA national side at the u17 Fifa TDS Six Nations Tournament, which will be played in Côte d’Ivoire from 2-7 September.
In July, SuperSport reported that Cape Town City FC had extended an invitation to the 15-year-old to train with the first team after representing the club in the Multichoice Diski Challenge. That invitation recognised Witbooi’s potential and opened up the possibility that he could follow in his father’s footsteps in the near future.
The club’s decision to include Witbooi at first team level is significant as South African professional teams have historically been reluctant to grant young players opportunities, which has not reflected well on the state of football in the country.
Typically, in South Africa, players aged 24, or even as old as 26 are still considered young prospects, which is in stark contrast to the practices seen in European and South American football.
It is a balancing act: presenting players with an opportunity to develop while also safeguarding them from too much public scrutiny.
In recent years, a promising shift has begun taking root, with South African clubs making bold decisions to offer contracts to younger players while integrating them into the squads. Relebohile Mofokeng, aged 19, has made a significant impact at Orlando Stadium in the colours of the Buccaneers, while coach Gavin Hunt, of SuperSport United, has provided opportunities for young talents like Shandre Campbell, also 19, who has since moved to Club Brugge, and currently plays for Club NXT in the Challenger Pro League, the second tier of Belgian football.
Witnooi will be guided by the esteemed coach Eric Tinkler who possesses extensive knowledge of South African football, having played both domestically and internationally. A hard-tackling midfielder, Tinkler earned 45 caps for Bafana Bafana and was a key contributor to the South African national team’s victorious 1996 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The roster of 12 teams has been finalised as basketball enthusiasts across Africa eagerly await the forthcoming Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) u18 AfroBasket 2024, which takes place in Pretoria from 2-14 September.
The divisions for the boys’ and girls’ competitions were officially announced during a draw, held on Sunday, in Kigali, Rwanda.
The primary objectives of the competition extend beyond securing the title; the finalists will be granted an opportunity to represent Africa at the FIBA u19 Basketball World Cup in 2025, in Czechia.
It’s an opportunity to play at the highest level and to showcase the talent that lies on the African continent, and it’s also a chance for the players to create further opportunities for themselves in the game.
Both the boys’ and girls’ divisions have been divided into three groups, with each consisting of four teams.
In the girls’ division, the tournament host, South Africa, is in Group A, alongside Tunisia, Rwanda, and Cameroon.
In the boys’ division, South Africa is in Group C, where they will face Morocco, Zambia, and Rwanda, with the latter and Cote d’Ivoire having been granted wildcard slots in the field.
Draw: Girls
Group A: 1. South Africa, 2. Tunisia, 3. Cameroon, 4. Rwanda. Group B: 1. Mali, 2. Morocco, 3. Zambia, 4. Angola. Group C: 1. Egypt, 2. Zimbabwe, 3. Uganda, 4. Nigeria.
Draw: Boys
Group A: 1. Mali, 2. Cote d’Ivoire, 3. Cameroon, 4. Senegal Group B: 1. Egypt, 2. Angola, 3. Uganda, 4. Nigeria Group C: 1. South Africa, 2. Morocco, 3. Zambia, 4. Rwanda
COMPETITION FORMAT
In the group phase, the teams will face off in a round-robin system.
The teams that finish first and second in each group will advance to the quarterfinals and will be joined by the two best third-placed teams.
FINAL PHASE
The winners of the quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals, while the losers will play the classification games for fifth to eighth place.
The third place game and the final will be played on the last day of the competition, 14 September.
Maritzburg College will face Westville Boys’ High in a mouth-watering Cowie Cup semi-final after a dramatic victory over Carter High in their quarterfinals clash.
The Cowie Cup, KwaZulu-Natal’s premier province-wide knockout competition, is nearing its completion after weeks of intense competition, with only four teams left standing after four cracking quarterfinals.
It has been an inconsistent season for Northwood School and that proved their undoing in the last eight. Last weekend, they beat Glenwood, the Primo Big 10 and KZN Coastal League champions at Glenwood. In their next outing, in the Cowie Cup quarterfinals, last week, they suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Alexandra High School.
The Knights’ loss followed an impressive victory over Curro Salt Rock in the previous round, where Northwood triumphed with a lopsided 12-1 win in which Allan Govender and Siphe Gigaga scored hattricks, Owama Maduna and Obi Kelechi bagged braces, and Lwazi Ngcele and Dan van Huyssteen netted, too.
In the quarterfinals against Alexandra, however, Northwood was unable to replicate that scoring prowess, failing to get onto the score sheet, as Alex scored the only goal of the game to book a semi-final meeting with Port Shepstone.
There were plenty of goals in Sheppie‘s game against Empangeni, with the south coast side beating their north coast opposition 3-2 to secure their semi-final spot.
Westville Boys’ High School ran out 2-1 winners over New Forest, who have demonstrated incredible resilience throughout the 2024 Cowie Cup, despite facing significant challenges during the competition.
The Griffin‘s win has set up a final-four clash with Maritzburg College. When the teams met recently, the Red, Black and White claimed a 2-1 victory.
College, meanwhile, faced Carter High for a fourth time in 2024 in the quarterfinals, with Carter heading into the game two wins to one to the good in those clashes. Victory in their most recent meeting had gone College’s way, however.
Playing at Maritzburg College, Carter stunned the hosts with an early goal, College, though, equalised through Nzolo Ngcemu to make it 1-1 at the break.
Carter, the KZN Inland League champions, regained the lead in the second stanza but, with only 10 seconds left on the clock, Thubelihle Myeni delivered a perfect cross from the right and Jordyn Marais jabbed the ball into the net to rescue a draw for the home side, which sent the contest to the penalty spot.
From there, Maritzburg College recorded a 4-2 victory. Goalkeeper CJ Sukraj pulled off a save and a Carter kick was wide of the mark.
When Zipho Makangela confidently converted his kick, the Red, Black, and White were moving on.
Quarterfinals Results
Maritzburg College (4) 2-2 (2) Carter
Westville 2-1 New Forest
Alexandra High 1-0 Northwood
Port Shepstone 3-2 Empangeni
Semi-finals Fixtures: 28 August
Maritzburg College vs Westville
Alexandra High vs Port Shepstone
Umbilo Kings and Cwebezela Primary School lifted the boys’ and girls’ Jr. NBA/WNBA Tournament titles at Umlazi’s Victoria Mxenge Sports Centre on Sunday.
From day one of the tournament, Cwebezela stood out and they quickly established themselves as a fan favourite. They were clearly the class of the field and dominated their opposition.
Following a resounding victory over Durban Girls’ College (DGC) in their first match in Pool B, Cwebezela rolled to a 31-4 win over Sukuma Primary School, exhibiting robust offensive and defensive strategies, exceptional ball-handling skills, and solid shooting accuracy, which posed significant challenges for their opposition.
Performing as a well-rounded unit, they asked questions their opponents couldn’t answer.
Umbilo Kings were on song from their first outing in the boys’ division, triumphing over some stout opposition, which included a stunning 23-2 victory over Molweni. They added a hard-fought victoryover Shakahead Basketball Development, winning a tight contest 12-7.
The semi-finals and finals of the boys’ and girls’ divisions were exhilarating. In the girls’ final four clashes, Cwebezela Primary School handed Shakahead a 10-6 defeat, while Liv Village held off Sekelani, claiming an 8-4 victory.
In the boys’ division, Umbilo Kings defeated Kearsney College 18-3, while Home Turf Hoops, who had won a number of matches by narrow margins, squeaked past The Clan, winning 19-18.
Then, in the girls’ gold medal match, Cwebezela downed Liv Village 22-10, while Umbilo were pushed all the way by Home Turf Hoops before claiming an 18-15 win and the title.
The Most Valuable Players Awards went to the leading performers on the tournament champion teams. Cwebezela’s Anele Thusi was named the girls’ MVP, while Lancey Kawomba, of Umbilo Kings, was the boys’ MVP.
The Victoria Mxenge Indoor Sports Centre, in Umlazi, just outside of Durban, on Saturday welcomed 24 teams for two days of all-out basketball action in the Jr. NBA/WNBA Tournament.
Boys’ and girls’ KZN schools and clubs, featuring teams from Durban and Pietermaritzburg, took to the court in a battle for the titles.
Day one featured over 150 players in action in 31 matches, with the sides intent on racking up the right results to qualify for the big playoff places on Sunday.
Girls Competition: Girls
One of the most notable performances in the girls’ competition came from Cwebezela Primary School, in Pool B, with resounding victories over both the Durban Girls’ College (DGC) B team and Sukuma Primary School. They blanked DGC in their opener, winning 14-0. Then, in a more open contest, they decisively down Sukuma 31-4.
It was a tough day for DGC, whose A and B teams came out on the wrong end of a number of games. After losing to Cwebezela, DGC B suffered a number of setbacks, including a big 2-34 defeat to Liv Village, which was followed by a 0-31 loss to Molweni.
DGC A gave a good account of themselves in a narrow 6-12 defeat against The Clan and were competitive against the formidable Shakahead Basketball Development team, but still went down 4-17. In the third match, they were overrun by Sekelani Primary School, who powered their way to a 26-0 win, to eliminate DGC A from the competition.
In Pool A of the girls’ competition, Shakahead Basketball Development showcased their skills. After beating DGC A, they held off Imisebe 18-14 in a tight contested game. Sekelani Primary School challenged Shakahead significantly, but the development side sneaked a hard-fought 14-13 victory. They completed their pool assignments on a winning note by recording a 15-4 win over The Clan.
Boys’ Competition
In Pool A of the boys’ competition, Home Turf emerged as a dominant force and a fan-favourite after defeating Sukuma Primary School 31-4 in their opener. Liv Village proved to be no match for Home Turf, either, as Home Turf rolled to a 28-3 victory. Cwebezela Primary School provided more a challenge, but Home Turf, once again, registered a convincing win, triumphing 29-12.
Cwebezela, after going down to Home Turf, recorded back-to-back wins, defeating Sukuma Primary School 25-8. and Sekelani Primary School 18-5.
In Pool B, Kearsney College overwhelmed Molweni, scoring a decisive 37-3 victory. They further asserted their dominance by blasting Shakahead Basketball Development 41-2.
Emthethweni Primary School, on the other hand, achieved the biggest win of the day in the boys’ competition, defeating The Clan 44-3.
Game Day 1 Full Results
Boys
Home Turf Hoops 31-4 Sukuma Primary School
Wentworth Raptors 4-14 The Clan
Sekelani Primary School 5-18 Cwebezela Primary School
Sukuma Primary School 14-12 LIV Village
Molweni 3-37 Kearsney College
Shakahead Basketball Development 7-12 Umbilo Kings
Home Turf Hoops 28-3 LIV Village
Molweni 6-8 Shakahead Basketball Development
Emthethweni Primary School 44-3 The Clan
Wentworth Raptors 26-22 Imisebe
Imisebe 13-33 The Clan
Sekelani Primary School 20-16 LIV Village
Home Turf Hoops 29-12 Cwebezela Primary School
Sukuma Primary School 8-25 Cwebezela Primary School
Kearsney College 41-2 Shakahead Basketball Development
Molweni 2-23 Umbilo Kings
Girls
Durban Girls’ College B 0-14 Cwebezela Primary School
Imisebe 20-0 Emthethweni Primary School
Shakahead Basketball Development 17-4 Durban Girls’ College A
Cwebezela Primary School 31-4 Sukuma Primary School
Sekelani Primary School 20-2 Imisebe
Durban Girls’ College A 0-26 Sekelani Primary School
Durban Girls’ College A 6-12 The Clan
Shakahead Basketball Development 18-14 Imisebe
The Clan 10-20 Sekelani Primary School
Durban Girls’ College B 2-34 LIV Village
Sekelani Primary School 13-14 Shakahead Basketball Development
Molweni 31-0 Durban Girls’ College B
Sukuma Primary School 2-23 LIV Village
Molweni 8-14 LIV Village
Shakahead Basketball Development 15-4 The Clan
The Montana Vikings girls’ team in celebratory mood after defeating Hot Shots Basketball Club 29-20 in the third Junior NBA cup final match, at UCT, on Sunday, 18 August.
The Victoria Mxenge Indoor Sports Centre, in Umlazi, just outside of Durban, is set to play host to a Jr. NBA/WNBA African Tournament on the weekend of 24-25 August.
The two-day event follows in the footsteps of a successful Cape Town edition of the Jr. NBA/WNBA Africa Tournament, which took place last weekend, with Montana Vikings claiming both the boys’ and girls’ titles.
This weekend’s event is expected to deliver more excitement, with notable teams including Kearsney College, ShakaheadBasketball Development, and Durban High School, in the lineup.
The competition will feature more than 15 teams, consisting of boys and girls aged 16 and under, who will be representing a variety of clubs and schools from Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
Montana Vikings crowned the Cape Town Champs
Last weekend, the Montana Vikings showcased their prowess at the Junior NBA and Junior WNBA Tournament, organised by NBA Africa, in Cape Town, walking away as the champions of both divisions.
In the boys’ final, they triumphed over the Eagles Basketball Club, while the girls’ team secured the title by defeating the Hot Shots Basketball Club.
In addition to the championship titles, the Vikings’ Ayabonga Jessica Noncunga (girls) and Josh Mvumbi (boys) were named the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
The two-day event, which included Junior NBA Clinics for 500 participants, also included 17 boys’ and 14 girls’ teams competing in the u16 age group.
The purpose of the clinics was to impart essential basketball and life skills, thereby enhancing the youth basketball experience for players, coaches, and parents, in addition to providing training sessions for local coaches.
Jr. NBA/WNBA African Tournament
Victoria Mxenge Indoor Sports Centre, 24-25 August
Pool A: Boys
Imisebe Primary School, Wentworth Raptors, Kearsney College, Emthethweni Primary School, The Clan, and Shakahead Basketball Development
Pool B: Boys
Cwebezela Primary School, Home Turf Hoops, Sukuma Primary School, Sekelani Primary School, Durban High School, and Liv Village
Durban Girls’ u14B, Cwebezela Primary School, Sukuma Primary School, Liv Village
Saturday Fixtures
08:30 – Court 1: Imisebe vs The Clan
08:30 – Court 2: Cwebezela vs Durban High
09:10 – Court 1: Durban Girls vs Sekelani
09:10 – Court 2: Durban Girls vs Liv Village
09:50 – Court 1: Wentworth Raptors vs Shakahead
09:50 – Court 2: Home Turf vs Liv Village
10:30 – Court 1: Imisebe vs Emthethweni
10:30 – Court 2: Cwebezela vs Sukuma
11:10 – Court 1: Kearsney College vs Emthethweni
11:10 – Court 2: Sukuma vs Sekelani
11:50 – Court 1: Sekelani vs Imisebe
11:50 – Court 2: Sukuma Durban Girls
12:30 – Court 1: Wentworth Raptors vs Imisebe Primary
12:30 – Court 2: Home Turf vs Cwebezela
13:10 – Court 1: Emthethweni vs Durban Girls
13:10 – Court 2: Liv Village vs Cwebezela
13:50 – Court 1: The Clan vs Kearsney College
13:50 – Court 2: Durban High vs Sukuma
14:30 – Court 1: Durban Girls vs Imisebe
14:30 – Court 2: Sukuma vs Liv Village
15:10 – Court 1: Emthethweni vs Shakahead
15:10 – Court 2: Sekelani vs Liv Village
15:50 – Court 1: Sekelani vs Emthethweni
15:50 – Court 2: Durban Girls vs Cwebezela
16:30 – Court 1: Wentworth Raptors vs Kearsney
16:30 – Court 2: Home Turf vs Sukuma
17:10 – Court 1: Liv Village vs Durban High
17:10 – Court 2: Shakahead vs The Clan
Sunday Fixtures
08:30 – Court 1: Imisebe vs Emthethweni
08:30 – Court 2: Cwebezela vs Sekelani
09:10 – Court 1: Durban High vs Home Turf
09:10 – Court 2: Durban High vs Home Turf
09:50 – Court 1: Shakahead vs Kearsney
09:50 – Court 2: The Clan vs Wentworth Raptors
10:30 – Court 1: Sekelani vs Durban High
10:30 – Court 2: Emthethweni vs The Clan
11:10 – Court 1: Imisebe vs Shakahead
11:10 – Court 2: Cwebezela vs Liv Village
11:50 – Court 1: Sekelani vs Home Turf
11:50 – Court 2: Emthethweni vs Wentworth
12:30 – Court 1: Kearsney College vs Imisebe
12:30 – Court 2: Sukuma vs Cwebezela
13:10 – Court 1: Girls SF 1: A1 vs B2
13:10 – Court 2: Girls SF 2: B1 vs A2
13:50 – Court 1: Boys SF 1: A1 vs B2
13:50 – Court 2: Boys SF 2: B1 vs A2
14:30 – Court 1: Girls’ Final
15:10 – Court 2: Boys’ Final
Northwood had far too much firepower for Curro Salt Rock in their second-round Cowie Cup clash.
During the past week’s second round of the KZN High School Football Association’s (KZNHFSA) Cowie Cup, Northwood School faced Curro Salt Rock. The Knights were dialled in, singularly focussed on a place in the quarterfinals of the Cowie Cup.
When they’re on song, Northwood can be devastating – strong in defence and deadly on the counterattack.
Unfortunately for Curro Salt Rock, they ran into a Northwood side at its best and were bowled over, with the Durban school powering its way to a staggering 12-1 victory.
Allan Govender and Sphe Gigaba both bagged hattricks for Northwood, while Owami Maduna and Obi Kelechi added doubles. Further goals from Lwazi Ngcece and Daan van Huyssteen completed the scoring for the winners.
Maritzburg College, who are chasing a first title of 2024, turned on the style in their second-round clash with Kloof High. College dominated the game and secured a 4-0 victory. The prolific Mazithi Qasha struck twice, while Nzolo Ngcemu and Wandile Zondi added to the tally, to ensure a comfortable passage for the Red, Black and White into the quarters.
A big game awaits College in the last eight. They’ll face Carter High School for a fourth time this season. Carter won the first two meetings of the sides, while College was victorious in their most recent match. One of Carter’s victories came in the final of the KZNHSFA 2nd Term Inland League.
The reigning champions, Port Shepstone, were involved with an 11-goal thriller against Redwood College and only one goal separated the teams at its conclusion, with Sheppie claiming an eye-opening 6-5 win.
In the quarterfinals, Port Shepstone will face Empangeni, who were also involved in a high-scoring game, defeating Amanzimtoti 5-3.
Matters were tight between Alexandra High School and Ixopo Secondary School, with Alex sneaking a 1-0 win. New Forest also won by a single goal, beating Thomas More College 2-1.
Westville Boys’ High School was pushed hard by Durban Academy, but the Griffin came away with a 3-2 victory to move on to the quarterfinals.
Cowie Cup second round results
Maritzburg College 4-0 Kloof High School
New Forest 2-1 Thomas More College
Westville 3-2 Durban Academy
Alexandra High School 1-0 Ixopo Secondary School
Northwood 12-1 Curro Salt Rock
Port Shepstone 6-5 Redwood College
Amanzimtoti 3-5 Empangeni
Newcastle forfeited their game against Carter High School.
Third round fixtures
Maritzburg College vs Carter High School
New Forest vs Westville
Alexandra High vs Northwood
Port Shepstone vs Empangeni
Unathi Ndlovu, Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper, lifts the GWDL Trophy in 2023.
Unathi Ndlovu is a rock at the back for Mamelodi Sundowns in the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL). The young goalkeeper has been beaten a miniscule three times in 18 matches this season. But that’s only one aspect of her diverse sporting talent.
She stars on the opposite end of the field for Lynwood Ridge Primary School. Playing as either a striker or a midfielder, she has scored over 40 goals for her side.
That shows why she is confident with the ball at her feet, and it’s that kind of skill that has become a prerequisite for ‘keepers in the modern game.
She’s coached by Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who calls Unathi a fast learner: “She is a passionate young lady who loves being in goal. She is brave, and self-aware. She knows her strengths and weaknesses.
“She is a team player. She has played a huge role in making Mamelodi Sundowns’ u14 and u16 what they are today. She doesn’t work alone, of course, but she sure gives a positive vibe to the team.”
Unathi is multi-skilled, excelling in a wide variety of sports. Her list of achievements is eye-opening.
Her club football career began in 2022, when she played for Tuks. Representing her school that year, she helped them capture the u11 Football Association of Pretoria Primary (FAPP) Schools’ title.
Last year, she turned out for Mamelodi Sundowns and played a key role in the club lifting the u15 Gauteng Women’s Development League title, conceding only five goals in the 16 games in which she played.
Earlier this year, she and Sundowns won the GWDL Top 8 pre-season festival.
Unathi also played for Lynwood Ridge Primary in 2022 as the goalkeeper for the boys’ u10 team. She was part of the side that won the Crawford Malas Tournament, and she received the Most Improved Player as the school’s Sports Awards.
Unathi Ndlovu with some of her accolades as a pupil at Lynnwood Ridge Primary School.
Playing as a midfielder for the girls’ u11 team, she scored a stunning 17 times in eight games, which earned her the Player of the Year Award at the Sports Awards ceremony.
Last season, representing the u11 girls’ team, Unathi netted 18 times in 12 games. That played a big role in Lynwood Ridge achieving a runner-up finish in the FAPP. Once more, she was awarded the Player of the Year at the school’s Sports Awards. In addition, she earned a further accolade, being named the Most Promising Player in the boys’ u11 side.
This season, she has served as the vice-captain of the boys’ u12 and u13 teams, both of which have advanced to the semi-finals of the FAPP Challenge Cup.
One of the main reasons for Unathi’s success on the football field is her prowess as an athlete. She has been a top performer in Inter-Primary competition. Her achievements include winning the 80m sprint and 600m race in 2022, which demonstrated her speed and endurance.
The following year, she added an Inter-Primary victory in the long jump and won silver in the high jump, plus another 80 metres title. Not surprisingly, she was the Junior Victrix Ludorum at Lynwood Ridge’s Inter-house meet.
This year, she upgraded that award to the Senior Victrix Ludorum, and added further wins in the long jump, high jump and 80 metres to her record. Unathi also expanded her repertoire, picking up a bronze in the shot put.
Further evidence of her versatility has come on the cricket field. She was named the Bowler of the Year in successive years, 2022 and 2023, for the u10 boys’ and u11 boys’ cricket teams, and was invited to Northerns’ trials in 2023.
Of course, it’s on the football pitch where she has truly grabbed the spotlight. She received her Northerns‘ colours in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with her selection this year including being named the vice-captain of the provincial side.
In 2022, she helped Northerns win the Bill Steward Inter-Provincial Tournament. The following year, in the Fran Hilton Smith Inter-Provincial, Northerns placed third and she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. This year, Unathi and Northerns placed fourth at the Fran Hilton-Smith Inter-Provincial.
Unathi Ndlovu lifts the GDWL Top 8 in March 2024, after her heroic performances during the GWDL Pre-season Tournament.
Siya Pongco of SuperSport Schools Plus had a chat with Unathi Ndlovu to find out more about this multi-talented all-round sportswoman.
Q: Unathi Ndlovu, what is your age?
A: I am 12 years’ old this year.
Q: Which school do you attend, and do you participate in football at the school level?
A: I am doing my sixth grade at Lynnwood Ridge Primary School in Pretoria
Q: When did you begin your football journey, and when did you make your debut?
A: I started my football journey at school and was then recruited by Tuks when I was nine years old in 2022. I then joined Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the beginning of 2023. My debut was a friendly for the u16 Mamelodi Sundowns’ boys, which we won by 4-0.
Q: How many caps have you earned as a school-level footballer?
A: So, I play for the boys’ team as a striker, and the girls’ team as a goalkeeper. I would say more than 50 caps to date.
Q: What motivated you to pursue goalkeeping?
A: I just loved the challenge of strikers trying to score past me, and me denying them the chance (Laughs).
Q: Is it a family tradition? Is there someone who also plays the same position, and how do you manage the responsibility of goalkeeping, being the last line of defence?
A: It’s not a family tradition. I am a pioneer. I enjoy facing penalties and saving them.
Q: Can you share any memorable moments in goal where you saved your team at a critical time?
A: Yoh! There are so many, but a few stand out. Our season opener this year, I saved three penalties to take the team to the final, which we won against JVW. The other match was at the 2022 Provincial tournament where I played against the Southerns’ squad, and we were crowned champions.
Q: What would you consider your career highlights?
A: League champions at Tuks, the 2022 provincial champions with the Northerns Squad, league champions at Sundowns in 2023, and the GWDL Cup champions in 2024.
Q: What has been the pinnacle of your career thus far?
A: I can say it’s me joining Mamelodi Sundowns.
Q: You recently participated in the Inter-Provincial Tournament at Camp Discovery; how was that experience?
A: I was there for the third time this year, and it was a fabulous experience once again, facing those brilliant players from across the country. It will always be an honour to be selected to play there.
Q: Who are some of the individuals who have supported you throughout your journey?
A: My family, my Sundowns’ coaches, provincial coaches, my teammates, and I thank God always for them.
Q: Playing for a successful club like Mamelodi Sundowns, how does it feel?
A: It’s super fun. I am very happy to be with such a big club. It is a dream come true.
Q: Do you have any future aspirations as a goalkeeper?
A: I want to play for the Sundowns’ first team, and Banyana Banyana, and overseas.
Q: Who are some players you admire?
A: FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer; my coach Andile Dlamini, the Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper; Ronwen Williams, Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana captain; and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Q: How have the coaches, such as Andile Dlamini, contributed to your development as a goalkeeper?
A: All my coaches have taught me about good communication, good positioning, great distribution, and ball handling. I have also learned to trust myself and my teammates.
Q: How have your teammates supported you in performing at your best?
A: My teammates are a unique bunch. They make jokes, they motivate me, we play for each other, and we just love it so much. Their support brings out the best in me. I love them.
Q: Do you have any interests outside of football?
A: I am the Senior Victrix Ludorum. I am a sprint champion at my school. I also enjoy solving the Rubic’s Cube and camping with my Pathfinder Youth Club at church.
Q: Your favourite dish of food?
A: Dried mangoes, any time.
Unathi’s parents are her biggest supporters. They commented: “Unathi has a deep love of sports. She loves her soccer so much and all we can do is support her and wish her the best. We have watched her journey to this point, and we thank the coaches for the great work they do.
“At school, she plays soccer, cricket, and is the best sprinter this year and last year for girls. It is truly amazing because all this does not affect her grade A status in class.
“She is an amazing young lady. We are so proud of her. We always tell her that every result as she develops is a learning opportunity for her win or lose. It’s good for her mental strength.”
The clubs participating in the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL) experienced a memorable weekend as their matches were streamed for the first time this season from President Park in Vereeniging.
Perhaps it was the presence of the cameras; the teams rose to the occasion and delivered rich entertainment and heightened performances on the field.
Strong support from fans of the GWDL was evident, too, as the SuperSport Schools App and DStvChannel 216 made it a day to remember for all the participants.
With a number of fixtures between top contenders scheduled, there was keen interest in their games.
Mamelodi Sundowns, the frontrunners, entered their showdown with second placed JVW, leading their rivals by seven points. Meanwhile, the hosts, Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA), and Tuks, the teams in third and fourth places, engaged in a highly charged encounter. A victory for RESA would elevate them to third, with 37 points, while a win for Tuks would lift their tally to 38 points in a tie with JVW, if Sundowns managed to beat JVW.
RESA gave their strong home support what they wanted, securing a 2-1 win over Tuks in an intense match.
Lesedi Motaung put RESA into the lead with a goal, but Tuks, demonstrating their resilience, managed to equalise. However, a second goal, from Jabulile Tsotetsi, proved decisive as RESA took the winner’s three points.
As a result of that victory, RESA swopped places in the standings with Tuks, who slid to fourth.
RESA’s coach, Simeon Lekhooana, known as Coach Solly, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and their victory over a formidable opponent.
He said they had prepared well for the clash. “Before you go to a war, you have to prepare your soldiers. We started training on Wednesday, which is something we don’t normally do, as we have our training sessions and preparations on Saturdays,” Lekooana explained. “We started checking who’s fit, who’s available for the game, and it was important for us to tell our players to not fear the opponent, regardless of who they are,” he concluded.
Highlands Park achieved a tight 1-0 win over Panorama FC. That victory pulled them closer towards Panorama on the league table, but, after finishing third last season, Highlands Park has not yet performed as expected this season. They’re currently in a mid-table position.
The most highly anticipated match of the day, Mamelodi Sundowns versus JVW, regrettably concluded in a goalless stalemate, but it was a captivating clash, showcasing the intense rivalry between the sides
Both teams squandered goal scoring opportunities, but both sets of defenders and goalkeepers deserve credit for a job well done.
Coach Samuel Dube of JVW was disappointed that his team failed to end Sundowns’ unbeaten run. However, the draw marked the first time this season that the Brazilians hadn’t bagged maximum points. Sundowns concluded last season without a loss, with 17 victories, and one draw in 18 matches.
While the teams at the top of the table grabbed most of the attention, a number of other clubs shone. The founder of Refilwe FC, Lebo Ramodike, joked: “No one wants to lose on TV.”
Refilwe’s match against Edenvale FC produced a hard-fought battle, which ended in a goalless draw. Both teams fielded young lineups, but Ramodike said his club works hard to avoid placing excessive pressure on young players while focusing on their future growth. His side could not be compared to established teams like Sundowns, he said, but they should aspire to reach such heights.
There was another goalless draw in the game between Tornado FC and Kenneth FC, while Kempton Park FC and Origin FC, shared a 1-1 draw. There were many chances created on the day, but not many were converted into goals.
Progress on RESA’s facilities
Earlier this year, Xolani Mathumbo told SuperSport Schools Plus about the upgrades and renovations that were happening at RESA. Having been at the club in April last year, I was astonished to see the improvements and the vision of Mathumbo coming to reality
The area where the RESA facilities now stand was once associated with criminal activity. Now, it is home to a clubhouse, training amenities, residential accommodation, and a merchandise shop. The transformation is truly remarkable.
Notably, RESA has served as the starting point for professional players, such as Mduduzi Mdantsane, the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder; Sekhukhune United midfielder Thabang Monare ; former Orlando Pirates player, Lwandile Mabuya; Richards Bay midfielder, Siphiwe Mahlangu; TS Galaxy midfielder Siphiwe Mahlangu, and Nhlanhla Shabalala, the general Secretary of the South African Football Player’s Union (SAPFU). A more recent graduate is Lucky Muthewi, who now plays for SuperSport United FC.
Mathumbo modestly acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, there remains much work to be done. RESA is on the right path.
RESULTS
RESA 2-1 Tuks
Highlands Park FC 1-0 Panorama FC
Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 JVW
Refilwe FC 0-0 Edenvale FC
Tornado FC 0-0 Kenneth FC
Kempton Park 1-1 Origin FC
The roster of 12 teams has been finalised as basketball enthusiasts across Africa eagerly await the forthcoming Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) u18 AfroBasket 2024, which takes place in Pretoria from 2-14 September.
Umbilo Kings and Cwebezela Primary School lifted the boys’ and girls’ Jr. NBA/WNBA Tournament titles at Umlazi’s Victoria Mxenge Sports Centre on Sunday.
The clubs participating in the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL) experienced a memorable weekend as their matches were streamed for the first time this season from President Park in Vereeniging.