Highlands Park in action against the GDL front-runners, Siwelele, in a GDL Top 8 match earlier this season. Photo: Siwelele Academy on Facebook.
The Gauteng Development League (GDL) makes a grand return after a break for the Easter weekend with a showdown between the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, and last year’s runners-up, Highlands Park, the league champions in 2023 and 2024, at Clapham High School.
It has been, thus far, a disappointing start for Sfiso Mnguni’s Lions of the North. Typically, Highlands Park has started slowly, but they began the 2026 season with three successive losses before picking up a win against Prestige Football Development Academy in their most recent outing.
The biggest problem for Highlands Park has been goal scoring. They netted only once in their first three matches while conceding six times.
Against Prestige, they scored twice and kept a clean sheet, with Hope Sibande and Hlogi Masenya slotting for the regular title contenders.
While Highlands Park doesn’t usually depend on a conventional goal scorer to lead their attack, Mnguni will be calling for more of the same from Sibande and Masenya, and would like to see others step up, especially against Bafana Ba Style.
‘Downs have also fallen below their usual standards early in the season, and they find themselves in seventh position, with six points from three games. Highlands Park lies 13th with four points.
The clash at Clapham will offer both clubs an opportunity to kick-start their title challenges and – given their lofty status in 2025 and outstanding pedigree – an intense, high-quality game is expected.
The game will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schoolsand on DStv channel 216 for those unable to attend in Pretoria.
More points are on the line
The current log leaders, Siwelele, tackle the ninth-placed Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) at President Park Stadium in Vereeniging. Siwelile (the former SuperSport United) has a full haul of 12 points from four outings, with Joburg City in second place on nine points.
The 2026 GDL Top 8 Champions, Kaizer Chiefs, take on Jomo Cosmos at the Naturena Village. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs on Facebook.
Joburg City takes on Kathorus Hyper Academy at Huntersfield. They’ll be eager to keep the pressure on Siwelele with a win, and to also keep Randburg and Rockefvs at bay. They both have nine points, but trail Joburg City on goal difference.
Back from Cape Town, they host the University of Pretoria (Tuks) at the Randburg Sports Complex.
At the Associação Da Comunidade Portuguesa De Pretória, the 15th-placed Seven’s Academy, which earned promotion from the Gauteng Development Promotional League to GDL in 2024, has struggled to establish itself in the GDL. Nonetheless, two seasons later, they remain in the league.
On Saturday, they welcome Rockefvs. Their match should be challenging and unpredictable.
At the Naturena Village, Kaizer Chiefs will enjoy home ground advantage against Jomo Cosmos.
The East Rand Athletic Club travels to Roodepoort to play Panorama at the Panorama Sports Club, while Prestige takes on Wits Junior at Hoërskool Die Burger.
At Esslin Park, the Africa School of Excellence faces Future of Africa.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 11 April
15:00
Africa School of Excellence vs Future of Africa
Rockefvs vs Seven’s Academy
RESA vs Siwelele
Randburg vs Tuks
Prestige vs Wits Junior
Panorama vs East Rand Athletic
Kathorus vs Joburg City
Kaizer Chiefs vs Jomo Cosmos
The Amajimbos squad of 2025, featuring Emile Witbooi and coached by Vela Khumalo, successfully progressed from Afcon to Qatar. Does the current generation have what it takes to follow in their footsteps? Photo: South African Football Association.
The final draw for the Confederation of African Football (Caf), u17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) was held on Wednesday in Egypt, unveiling a mouthwatering list of matches for the tournament, which takes place from 13 May to 2 June.
The draw, hosted at the Caf headquarters in Cairo, featured leading players, among them Fiston Mayele, the Pyramids’ forward who helped his team win the 2024/25 Caf Champions League title by scoring in the second leg against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Aliou Dieng, the Malian footballer who plays for Al Ahly in Egypt, and Ahmed Belhadi, of Ceramica Cleopatra, also assisted with the ceremony.
Group A includes the hosts, Morocco, who won the tournament for the first time in 2025, defeating Mali 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw.
A feature of the group is its fierce North African rivalries, with Tunisia and Egypt also in the four-team line-up. Ethiopia faces a tough task trying to get past those three.
Côte d’Ivoire, winners of the title in 2013, which they won by beating Nigeria in the final, will face Cameroon in Group B. The Indomitable Lions are also former winners, lifting the trophy in 2003 and 2019. They’ll also take on Uganda and the newcomers, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mali, last year’s runner-up, headlines Group C. They’ll tackle the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) sides, Angola and Mozambique, with Tanzania completing the four-team line-up.
South Africa, whose previous best finish was runner-up in 2015, is in Group D, perhaps the toughest of the lot.
Amajimbos will face off against the 2023 champions, Senegal. They’ll also be up against Ghana, the first champions of the u17 Afcon in 1995, and the winners again in 1999. Algeria, the fourth team in the group, will represent North African hopes.
There is plenty at stake in the group stage matches, with the eight teams that advance to the quarterfinals earning automatic qualification for the 2026 u17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The third-place finishers will meet in two playoff matches, from which two teams will earn berths at the World Cup, thus bringing the final number of African qualifiers for Qatar to 10.
Confederation of African Football (Caf), u17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Groups
Group A Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
Group B Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo,
The South African u16 National Team ended their participation in the UEFAFour Nations Development Tournament on a winning note on Wednesday, eclipsing the host nation, Bulgaria, 4-3 in a penalty shootout after their match ended in a 2-2 draw after regulation time.
The clash revealed South Africa’s strong character, with the tourists fighting back from a 0-2 deficit to level the contest.
After a goalless first half, Bulgaria broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute and added another goal 13 minutes later, leaving SA with only 15 minutes to swing the contest.
South Africa needed a rapid response, and they got it only four minutes after conceding a second goal, with Thabang Makoba providing the finish. Then, with six minutes remaining before the final whistle, Selaelo Moloisi equalised.
With the game on the line, the South African side stayed calm and composed in the shootout and were rewarded with a narrow 4-3 victory from the penalty spot.
The UEFA Four Nations tournament in Bulgaria provided the touring side with invaluable international experience and exposure, as well as good preparation for the u17 TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF), Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which takes place in Morocco from 13 May to 13 June.
Firstly, he led Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje to an unprecedented eighth St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival title. No other school has won as many, and Odendaal has been at the helm in seven of those instances.
Secondly, he became the first coach to reach 400 wins with the institution. It took him only 422 games to get there.
With those 400 wins and 95 percent win-rate, he joins an elite list of South Africa’s most successful hockey coaches, which includes Mike Bechet,Tony Godding, and Brian Hibbert, who had exceptional runs with Maritzburg College, Selborne College, and Grey High, respectively.
“To have 400 wins is special, but what means more to me are the lifelong connections I create with my players and the immense pride I feel in every single one of them,” Odendaal told SuperSport Schools Plus.
His journey to 400 began with a 4-1 win over Hudson Park at the Fichardtpark Sports Day in 2013. That was the first victory in an exceptional season in which Oranje claimed 36 wins in 36 matches.
“Before arriving at Oranje, I watched a schoolgirl hockey match between two of the top teams in the country. My immediate thought was simple: this can be better.
“From that moment, the vision was clear: I wanted to raise the standard of girls’ hockey. Not just in performance, but in experience – hockey that demands attention, hockey played at a true high-performance level,” Odendaal revealed.
Among many memorable matches, one contest will always stand out for Odendaal. In 2013, Oranje faced Somerset College, a powerhouse in the Stellenbosch region. They were the team to beat, as Odendaal recalled. The match was an attritional tactical battle that tested and pushed both teams to their limits.
“That moment defined the standard, our intent, competitiveness, and the willingness to be tested. We wanted the game. They wanted it, too. It was a proper contest. We won it 3–1,” he recalled.
Odendaal knew from his first season with Oranje in 2013 that he wanted to build a powerhouse. Photo: Supplied.
That was the beginning of a run that saw Odendaal guide Oranje to six Fairtree Super 12 titles, eight All Girls’ Festival trophies, and seven St Mary’s Waverley Festival winners’ medals. Oranje also won the Free State Cup eight times and added the Bloemfontein League title eight times, too.
Between 2013 and 2022, the Bloemfontein girls recorded one of the longest unbeaten runs in schoolgirl hockey, going 127 matches and over a thousand days without losing a game.
Odendaal’s impact has extended beyond schools’ hockey. To date, 27 of his players have represented South Africa at u18, u21, and senior women’s levels. That list of players includes brilliant strikers like Antonet Louw and Minke van Heerden.
He has also overseen the development of influential midfielders, players who set the tempo of matches and open up opposing defences with speed and intent, including Simoné Gouws, Lizanne Jacobs, Sonika van Heerden, Marli van Deventer, Mia Barnard, and Saré Laubscher. Then there are the defensive generals, like Jana Greef and Jacolene McLaren.
“I’ve coached some exceptional players over the years. If I had to narrow it down, the two best I’ve coached are Mikkela le Roux and Ané Janse van Vuuren,” Odendaal shared.
While the wins on the turf mean a lot to Odendaal, the coach revealed that what means more to him is the impact his coaching has had on his players’ lives off the field.
“Every single player I’ve coached has gone on to higher education,” he said. “Most have degrees, others diplomas, and they’re all doing well after school. For me, that’s what matters.
“The skills they learn through hockey, discipline, resilience, accountability, working as part of a team, those are the things that carry into real life.”
Ané Janse van Vuuren, a current member of the South Africa national team and Oranje’s captain in 2021 and 2022, said Odendaal’s biggest strength is his ability to connect with players on a human level and his understanding of how to get the best out of each individual.
Oranje’s 2016 team was one of the most successful teams Odendaal coached. They played 47 matches, won 46 and drew only one. Photo: Supplied.
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from Morné is mental toughness,” she said.
“Since Grade 5, he’s taught me how to stay composed under pressure, push through challenges, and develop BMT. That mindset has helped me both on and off the field.”
Marlene du Plessis, the current captain, echoed Janse van Vuuren’s sentiments. The Oranje learner said Odendaal makes it easy for players to excel because he doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach with his players.
“What I’ve learned most from Coach Morné is to really believe in yourself in whatever you do and to set big goals, even the ones that seem impossible at first. He has also taught me that you need to work extremely hard and stay disciplined.
“One of the biggest things he has taught me is how powerful a strong mind is. He has helped us to realise that your mindset can carry you through pressure, setbacks, and difficult moments in both sport and life.
“He has also taught me a lot about emotional intelligence, especially how to lead and work with different personalities by understanding people’s emotions, and that is something I know I will keep using and growing for the rest of my life,” Du Plessis shared.
Recording 400 wins with a single school is an astonishing milestone, and it’s one that stopped Odendaal in his tracks and forced him to look back on the path he has walked with Oranje. However, as exciting, rewarding, and successful as that journey has been, the coach doesn’t want to spend too much time reminiscing. He is already looking forward to his charges winning the next 400.
The hosts upped the hype of their festival with some of their popular war cries. Photo: Debbi Adcock.
The tables were turned on Monday, the final day of the 2026 Saints Easter Rugby Festival, when St John’s College (Harare), who had gone unbeaten in their previous two games against Clifton College and St Stithians College, went down to Hoërskool Pietersburg.
The Zimbabweans fell behind 0-7 early but trailed only 13-14 at the half-time break, but Pieties hit a higher gear in the second stanza and powered clear to record a 38-18 win.
Their forward power made all the difference, with the Polokwane school twice getting over the try line from driving mauls, while also setting up a third with a crash ball from five metres out.
Hoërskool Kempton Park made their intentions clear early in their 38-17 victory over the Hoërskool Garsfontein Invitational XV.
Kempieswere eager to end the festival on a winning note, and they made a sound start, with their eighthman Christian Nixon picking up and powering over with a route one ball in the third minute.
After making a dream start, Kempton Park continued to play at speed, forcing Garsies into a heavy dose of tackles.
Outside centre Guillaume Botha, who had consistently broken through opposing defences over the three days of play, continued to break tackles and was rewarded with two tries.
Garsies replied with consolation tries through hooker Erlo van Aswagen and scrumhalf Ethan Wepener.
Flyhalf Katlego Labelo was accurate off the kicking tee throughout the festival and converted both. He also added a tidy 45-metre penalty with his trusty boot.
Scorers:
Hoërskool Kempton Park 38 (21) – Tries: Guillaume Botha (2), Christian Nixon, Bjorn Hardy, Luca du Plooy, Reece van Loggenberg. Conversions: Heinrich Burger (4). Hoërskool Garsfontein Invitational XV 17 (11) – Tries: Erlo van Aswegan, Ethan Wepener. Conversions: Katlego Lebelo (2). Penalty: Lebelo.
Hoërskool Pietersburg 38 (14) – Tries: N/A. Conversions: Juan Randall (5). Penalty: Randall. St John’s College (Harare) 18 (13) – Tries: J. Rudland, Riley Ettlin. Conversion: T Chimuera. Penalties: Chimuera (2).
With eight tries in their final match, Hartpury College end their festival in style. Photo: Debbi Adcock.
Two international visitors, Namibia’s Windhoek High and the UK’s Hartpury College, claimed victories on Easter Monday, the third and final day of the Saints Easter Rugby Festival in Johannesburg.
In a high-scoring clash, counterattacks down the blindside were a key tactic in Windhoek High’s 47-35 victory over the Mzwandile Mali XV.
Lock Keanan Louw was influential for the Namibians, crossing for two tries while also providing good ball from the lineouts.
As they had done all festival long, the Mali XV showed admirable fighting spirit throughout the match. Windhoek was never allowed to feel comfortable, not even when they held a two-score lead.
Mali XV flyhalf Sibabalwe Gwinsta delivered yet another eye-catching performance, using his fast feet and quick thinking to create space line-breaking opportunities for his teammates, which led to a number of tries. The playmaker even bagged himself another try.
Mzwandile Mali XV eighthman Bongolethu Mxoli was again on the score sheet, going over for his fourth try of the festival, thus joining a small group of players who scored in every match they played at the festival.
While Windhoek High claimed the spotlight with their win, the festival also made the Mzwandile Mali XV winners, serving as a big stage upon which the Eastern Cape side could exhibit the talent to be found in the province.
After a loss to Hoërskool Middelburg on the opening day of the festival, Gloucestershire’s Hartpury College stepped up to the plate and won their next two matches, ending their festival with an emphatic 54-20 victory over Northcliff High.
Arguably, the try of the festival occurred after the hooter had blown in their last outing on Monday. It started with a tap-and-go on the Hartpury’s five-metre line, then turned into a line break for fullback Luca Stickings after the ball was moved swiftly down the backline.
Stickings produced a magnificent run, weaving and outpacing five defenders with an 80-metre sprint before popping the ball up in the air while being tackled on Northcliff’s five-metre line.
Scrumhalf Theo Rogers‘ effort in running 90 metres in support was rewarded when he caught the offload and finished a spectacular attack.
Rogers was one of Hartpury’s standouts, providing his side with quick ball from the base of rucks, which allowed them to play with good tempo, resulting in the tourists’ wings scoring some highlight reel tries.
He finished with two tries in Hartpury’s last match, which was a fair reflection of the positive influence he exerted.
Northcliff was unfortunate to draw the short straw in their final game. The Randburg locals earned respect with their performances across the three days. They were formidable in an opening win over St Charles College on Thursday, and contributed greatly to one of the festival’s most memorable games, a 40-35 victory over Windhoek High.
Scorers:
Windhoek High 47 (19) – Tries: Keanan Louw (2), Xavier Bampton, Carlos Florian, Damian Klein, Luthando van Wyk, Kalipa Mbuenda. Conversions: MC-Rein van Wyk (6). Mzwandile Mali XV 35 (14) – Tries: Sibabalwe Gwinsta, Clayton Ludick, Ilita Mkapa, Bongolethu Mxoli, Likhona Mxoli. Conversions: Sibabalwe Gwinsta (5).
Hartpury College 54 (21) – Tries: Theo Rogers (2), Callum Lettie (2), James Siberry (2), Beau Wareham, Alex Orehawa. Conversions: James Siberry (7). Northcliff High 20 (6) – Tries: Luke Bloomberg, Dayne Van Wyk. Conversions: Jonothan Haw (2). Penalties: Haw (2).
DHS wing Richard Gyamfi scored two tries in the Horseflies’ thrilling 39-27 win over Helpmekaar Kollege. Photo: Gabby Swanepoel.
Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, and Kearsney College finished the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival(KERF) with three wins from three matches each as the annual event concluded with some outstanding clashes on Monday in Botha’s Hill.
DHS recorded their third successive year with an unbeaten record, beating Hoërskool Zwartkop 31-14, Hoërskool Rustenburg 38-7, and Helpmekaar Kollege 39-27. Credit to all three of those teams, though. They were in action at KERF after playing twice at the Noord/Suid tournament, and they impressed with their conditioning and fighting spirit.
Monday’s showdown between DHS and Helpmekaar Kollege crackled with electricity and quality. Apart from the goal kicking – and almost every team struggled in the cool breeze on a grey day – the match was loaded with highlights.
Early on, it appeared as if DHS was going to blow Helpies out of the water. They ran in three tries within the first 12 minutes, first driving hooker Iglisias Bruiners over in the third minute before SA Schools’ centre Nathan Aneke scored with an outside break, which he followed with the scoring pass to wing Richard Gyamfi for School‘s third. Their pace, precision, and intensity meant Helpmekaar barely tasted possession.
When, at last, they did, winning a free kick on the DHS 22, they turned it into a try for Zuan Krige in the left-hand corner. Xander Jackson then crossed for a try from a five-metre lineout, and the one-way traffic had suddenly evaporated.
Both teams moved the ball smoothly along their backlines, with Helpmekaar scrumhalf, Shaye Lourens, providing an excellent service. He was named the Backline Player of the Festival and included in KERF Festival XV, along with tighthead prop Karlo Steenkamp.
It was, however, his opposite number, Richard Kriel, who lit up the contest. A searing break just before halftime led to a second try for Richard Gyamfi, and Kriel later, deservedly, added one of his own.
It was 22-10 at halftime, and DHS extended their advantage to 34-10, with Kriel’s try and a second from Nathan Aneke, but Helpmekaar, with unrelenting will, hit back quickly through Zuan Krige, his second, before DHS captain Zion Smith ran back a clearing kick from the halfway to make it 39-17.
The inspirational DHS leader was included in the Festival XV, along with DHS loosehead prop Likho Konza, their powerful inside centre Byron Klaasin, and right wing Ama Mataboge.
It was all over bar the shouting, but Helpies, impressively, kept fighting and added further unconverted tries from Daniël van der Linden and Daylan Ferreira to finish the game with a flourish.
Westville Boys’ High vs Milnerton High
Westville Boys’ High completed a clean run at Kearsney for a second successive year, dispatching a game Milnerton High 41-3.
It was a comfortable win, but Millies, although outgunned, showed a strong team spirit to cause a few flutters in the Westville ranks. When their captain Chadlin Sellidon landed a late penalty to get them onto the scoreboard, it felt right that they weren’t blanked.
Westville boasts some searing pace in their backline, and it was left-wing Lisa Sijadu who stole the spotlight on Saturday, crossing for a hat-trick. However, the unquestionable class of a classy unit was South African Schools’ wing, Jadrian Afrikaner, who filled the outside centre role for the Griffins.
A devastating finisher, blessed with power, pace, and vision, he was an easy choice for the Festival XV, which also included SA Schools’ lock Lwandile Mlaba and utility back, Lux Sonkononkono, who cracked the nod on the left wing.
Much like DHS, Westville’s success was built upon a solid foundation laid by their pack, with their tight five performing strongly in the set scrums, their lineouts functioning efficiently, and their loose forwards putting in dominant shifts. Both sides enjoyed outstanding performances from their powerful no. 8s, with Daniel Kazambo doing the job for DHS, and Lwandile Makhanya catching the eye for Westville.
Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Zwartkop
Kearsney College captain Nhlanhla Ndlovu puts Lwandle Mkhize in for the One-Stripe’s third try against Hoërskool Zwartkop. Photo: Gabby Swanepoel.
Kearsney College closed the festival with a battling 24-21 victory over HoërskoolZwartkop, leaving the local lads with an unbeaten run. Zwarries, a late replacement for the Italian outfit, Verona, won themselves many admirers for their outstanding play and never-say-die spirit. Their inclusion proved to be a big boost for the event.
They stunned the One-Stripe on Saturday by crossing for two early tries, the first from a rolling maul, with loosehead prop Matthew Smith crashing over in the third minute, and the second after nine minutes, from left-wing Stiaan Botha, whose mazy run left three would-be tacklers grasping at a ghost.
Zwartkop’s general at no. 10, Tilon Baron, slotted the conversions to put Kearsney into a 0-14 hole, which was something they hadn’t yet had to deal with this season.
The home side’s inspirational captain, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, got them onto the scoreboard with a try from a maul, converted by flyhalf Daniel Miskey, which left Kearsney 7-14 down at the interval.
Ndlovu, who was named the Forward of the Festival, struck again early in the second half, and Miskey’s conversion hit the left-hand upright before bouncing over the crossbar, which levelled the scores.
The Kearsney skipper could have easily scored a third try, but he, unselfishly, put left-wing Lwandle Mkhize in for a try.
At 19-14, coach Grant Bashford‘s side was not safe, and they squandered some good scoring opportunities, which also had plenty to do with Zwarries’ desperate and stubborn defence.
Miskey was wide left with an attempted drop from about 27 metres. Undeterred, he landed a drop from 45 metres to take his side more than a converted try clear. It wasn’t a reflection of his or Kearsney’s desperation against Zwartkop’s ferocious defence. Rather, it spoke volumes about the hours of practice Miskey must have put into executing the skill in a pressure situation.
Down but not out, Zwarries had the final say, with Jurie Janse van Rensburg, with the backing of his fellow forwards and a group of backs, being shoved over the try line in the last movement of the match.
Their captain, David van Jaarsveld, was an impressive performer in the midfield, a physical presence on both attack and defence, who set the standard and the tone for the Pretoria school. His all-out, put your body on the line effort was inspiring
Miskey joined Ndlovu in the Festival XV, which also featured Kearsney fullback, Lwazi Mbebe, whose unpredictable counterattacking tore opposition defences to shreds. Zwartkop, meanwhile, placed hooker Regan Blignaut in the Festival XV.
Labuschagne, scored a hat-trick against a game Peterhouse side. Photo: Gabby Swanepoel.
Peterhouse vs Hoërskool Rustenburg
In the day’s other matches, Zimbabwe’s Peterhouse had Hoërskool Rustenburg reeling, with their high-tempo approach setting Rusties on the back foot.
Lock Thian Labuschagne was having none of it, however, and he delivered a fiery performance, setting a superb example, which brought him three tries as Rustenburg turned a 7-10 halftime deficit into a battling 26-17 victory.
He was the contest’s standout performer, but it was Peterhouse’s powerhouse no. 8, Prosper Zimbango, who cracked the nod for the Festival XV. His inclusion meant Kearsney skipper, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, was selected at no. 6 flank.
Glenwood High vs Dr EG Jansen
After back-to-back losses to Helpmekaar and Framesby, Glenwood High gave their local supporters something to cheer by outlasting Dr EG Jansen 14-12.
Their number eight, Makhaya Mbaile, had himself a game, dotting down twice, while Vincenzo Loutz, who shone at scrumhalf, added the all-important conversion kicks.
Jansies played some good rugby, but were undone by unforced errors, which plagued them throughout the festival. They didn’t lack effort.
While Mbaile picked up two tries, Glenwood’s hooker, Tyler Leon, made his presence felt with a couple of barnstorming runs. He was strong, too, at the breakdowns, contesting possession.
The Green Machine‘s captain, Sambesiwe Ndamase, all 1.98m and 110 kilograms of him, was named in the Festival XV. He produced a lead-by-example, solid performance.
A last-minute penalty conversion by flyhalf Miles Feltham lifted Hoërskool Framesby to victory over Hoërskool Transvalia. Photo: Gabby Swanepoel.
Hoërskool Framesby vs Hoërskool Transvalia
The final word, though, goes to Hoërskool Framesby. Thrashed 83-0 by Westville on the opening day, they demonstrated huge heart, beating Glenwood in their second outing before finishing with a 10-7 win over Hoërskool Transvalia.
In a physical sport, like rugby, there are few places to hide, and the Gqeberha school, admirably, used their big defeat as motivation to outlast their next two opponents in matches that went down to the wire.
Their wins were a triumph of the spirit, and Framesby’s players will benefit from the life lessons they taught themselves in those gripping victories.
Transvalia finished with a record of one win and two losses, with their other defeat coming against Kearsney on Saturday. Ironically, their second half in the loss to the One-Stripe was, arguably, the best rugby they played. In fact, they shaded it 10-7, outscoring the hosts by two tries to one in the second stanza.
With three KZN sides going unbeaten, and others, including Hilton College and Michaelhouse, scoring headline-stealing wins over the Easter weekend, enthusiasm for the forthcoming derbies in the province is at an all-time high. A mouthwatering season awaits.
Scores
Transvalia 7 (0) – Tries: Lorenzo Flynn. Conversion: Chester MacCammel. Framesby 10 (7) – Tries: Josh Potgieter. Conversion: Miles Feltham. Penalty: Miles Feltham.
Glenwood 14 (14) – Tries: Makhaya Mbaile (2). Conversions: Vincenzo Loutz (2). EG Jansen 12 (0) – Tries: Christopher van Rooyen, Elshaan Duminy. Conversions: AJ Oeschiger.
KES captain Matthew Bromley made some important defensive stops during his side’s 5-0 win over Queen’s College on the final day of the KES Easter Festival. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
The hosts, King Edward VII(KES), Westville Boys’ High, and Pearson High, ended their respective campaigns at the KES Easter Festival in style on Monday.
All three sides had played entertaining hockey during the festival and entered the last day with unbeaten records.
On Sunday, KES held off Northwood School 2-1, while Pearson edged out Glenwood High School 1-0. Westville made a statement by outplaying Grey College 4-2.
The KwaZulu-Natal side had one last final hurdle to clear on Monday, and it was Selborne College, who had drawn 2-2 with Kearsney College the previous day.
While Westville were far from their best, and the fatigue of playing 10 matches in the space of two weeks started to creep in, they found a way to win. Coach Harold Siyaya’s side sealed a tight 1-0 victory with a penalty corner conversion in the third chukka by Ethan James.
Pearson had caught the eye during the festival, and they picked up from where they left off on Sunday, defeating St Charles College, 3-1.
Aenry Biggs was on the scoresheet, along with Deanu Bezuidenout and Callum Peltenberg.
The Gqeberha school plays its first Eastern Cape derby on Friday, 10 April, against Selborne College, and they’ll head into that showdown full of confidence after their impressive showing at KES.
The Westville Boys’ High players enjoyed a game of touch rugby before taking on Selborne College in their final match at the KES Easter Festival. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
The hosts, meanwhile, wrapped up their assignments with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Queen’s College.
Andrew Arouca, one of their standout players this season, added to his growing list of goals, striking twice. Valentino Howe and Rofhatutshedzwa Mathabi converted penalty strokes, while Kamohelo Tsoka also joined in on the scoring action as KES delivered a spectacle for their home supporters.
In other matches, Northwood edged past Grey College 2-1, thanks to strikes by Ryan Hersalman and Cameron White.
Makhanda’s St Andrew’s College claimed the big scalp of Maritzburg College, winning 2-0 to end the Red, Black, and White‘s clean festival record, while Glenwood played to a thrilling 3-3 draw with Waterkloof.
Helpmekaar and Kearsney had mixed results during the course of the festival, but they finished on a high, recording wins over Dale College and Parktown Boys’ High, respectively.
St John’s College put three past Eldoraigne to end their campaign with two wins, a draw, and one loss in four matches.
RESULTS
Monday, 4 April
Westville 1-0 Selborne College
Northwood 2-1 Grey College
Pearson High 3-1 St Charles
KES 5-0 Queen’s College
Glenwood High 3-3 Waterkloof
St Andrew’s College 2-0 Maritzburg College
Kearsney College 2-0 Parktown Boys’ High
Helpmekaar 2-1 Dale College
St John’s College 3-0 Eldoraigne
The champions of the 2026 Bayhill Premier Cup, Antalyaspor JMP Cape Town, celebrate after beating Mamelodi Sundowns in the final. Photo: Antalyaspor on Facebook.
After six days of exciting football in the Western Cape, Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town captured the 2026 Bayhill Premier Cup (BPC), by defeating the favoured Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in the title game to lift the BPC Roger Clayton Trophy.
The title stays in the Cape, thanks to Antalyaspor
Antalyaspor’s number nine, Lwandle Mdingi, rose to the occasion by scoring the all-important only goal of the match.
With his title-winning strike, Mdingi etched his name on the list of young stars who have lit up the BPC over the 37 years of the tournament. Antalyaspor’s win was, to many, a surprising outcome, given Sundowns’ pedigree and status as one of South Africa’s most prominent youth development teams.
In the title game, played at the Athlone Stadium, the Braziliansenjoyed the majority of possession, which is customary for Bafana Ba Style, but their Cape Town opponents were undeterred and delivered a robust defensive performance. Sundowns pushed hard for an equaliser after falling behind, but Antalyaspor held their ground, bending but not breaking, and their win ensured that the title remains in the Mother City.
The last time a team from outside of Cape Town won the prestigious title was in 2019. Victory on that occasion went to Gauteng’s Highlands Park. Since then, though, the proud residents of Cape Town have valiantly defended the title, and Antalyaspor’s victory was the latest chapter in their defiant resistance.
In 2020 and 2021, the tournament was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, Cape Town Spurs won the title, and they repeated their success in 2024. The champions of 2023 were Grassy Park United, another team from Cape Town, who defeated Cape Town Spurs 2-1 in an all-Cape Town final at Athlone Stadium.
In 2025, Randburg made the final, but they were stopped by the Ubuntu Football Academy, who won 2-0. In 2026, Antalyaspor stunned Sundowns to earn the right to have their name recorded as champions of the Bayhill Premier Cup Football Tournament.
Hout Bay United lifts the Plate title
In the Pat Connolly Plate Section, Rygersdal overpowered Hout Bay United 4-0 with silverware on the line. Four different scorers took them to victory.
Aminnuddin Gaiden initiated the scoring for Rygersdal, Cayden Liam Daniels increased their advantage, and Mogamat Fawwaz O’Malley made it 3-0. Keanu Enrico registered the fourth and final goal of the match.
Cape Town Spurs crowned Pat Connolly Mid Section winners
The 2024 champions of the BPC, the Urban Warriors, fell short in their quest to win the title for a third time in five years. However, they had a chance to claim the Pat Connolly Mid Section honours when they faced Randburg in the final on Monday.
The match was challenging for both teams, as Randburg, the representatives from the Gauteng Development League (GDL) who had lost the final to Ubuntu Football Academy in 2025, were eager for retribution in the mid-section competition. Defending their honour in their home city, Cape Town Spurs had equal cause for motivation, and they pulled through, claiming a 2-0 victory.
Sibabalwe Valela netted the first goal of the match in the first half, which forced Randburg to pursue the game aggressively.
Spurs exploited that, with Msimelelo Qokelwa extending their lead in the closing minutes of the match.
Randburg had a chance to make a late charge, earning a penalty kick, but that attempt was thwarted, and Spurs celebrated a hard-fought win.
Individual Honours
After the referee blew the final whistle, signalling Antalyaspor’s victory in the title match, individual and team titles were presented.
Denovian Davids, from Cape Town Spurs, claimed the Golden Boot for scoring four goals, receiving the award from the former Cape Town Spurs and Bafana Bafana striker, Shaun Bartlett, who made his name with Charlton Athletic, in the English Premier League.
The Goalkeeper of the Tournament title was presented to Ayaan Jacobs of the BPC champions, Antalyaspor. Farouk Abrahams, a well-known figure in South African football, recognised for his career as a professional goalkeeper coach and community builder, handed over the award. He famously served as the goalkeeper coach for Bafana Bafana during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Muziwakhe Dladla, from Sundowns, was honoured as the Manager of the Series, while the coach of Banyana Banyana, Dr Desiree Ellis, presented Gareth Ncaca, from Antalyaspor, with the Coach of the Series Award.
Stanturf United was named the Most Promising Amateur Team, and Antalyaspor was named the Team of the Series.
The BPC 2026 Player of the Series went to Sechaba Tlotlang, of Mamelodi Sundowns, with Lance Davids, the BPC Ambassador and former Cape Town Spurs player, presenting the title to the young athlete.
The referees were acknowledged for their contributions, with Sophumelela Gxowa recognised as the Referee of the Series, while Akhona Khuse received the Assistant Referee of the Series Award.
The South African u16 National Team delivered an outstanding performance at the u16 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Four Nations Development Tournament in Bulgaria on Monday, outplaying Kosovo 5-1 in their second match.
Established in 2012 and organised by UEFA, the tournament is part of a global football initiative aimed at promoting the development of young aspiring footballers.
It is not solely focused on competition or results. Rather, it provides a platform for national associations in Europe and also allows participation from non-European members, such as the South African Football Association (SAFA). An invitation was extended to the South African national u16 team to participate in this year’s competition, thus providing the players with international experience through high-intensity games.
The line-up includes the hosts, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Georgia, and South Africa, who were beaten 3-0 by the Georgians on Saturday in their opening match of the tournament.
On Monday, though, South Africa found their rhythm, and Rhys Ferguson opened the scoring for SA in the 16th minute. An own goal doubled South Africa’s advantage, then Ferguson made it a comfortable 3-0 lead in the 38th minute.
Tsheamo Mosana struck twice within a minute in the second half, netting his first in the 66th minute and his second in the 67th to put the result to bed.
Kosovo conjured up a late consolation goal, but it was South Africa’s day, and they walked away with a 5-1 win.
South Africa’s last game is against the host nation, Bulgaria, on Wednesday, 8 April.
The South African u16 National Team delivered an outstanding performance at the u16 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Four Nations Development Tournament in Bulgaria on Monday, outplaying Kosovo 5-1 in their second match.