{"id":69331,"date":"2025-04-29T16:42:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T14:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=69331"},"modified":"2025-04-29T16:42:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T14:42:41","slug":"what-makes-the-absa-wildeklawer-soccer-tournament-unique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=69331","title":{"rendered":"What makes the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament unique?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Photo. Kimberley Boys’ High School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fourth edition of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament<\/strong><\/a> kicks off on Wednesday and runs through to Saturday, 3 May. The defending champion, Clapham High School<\/strong><\/a>, appears to be the team to beat.<\/p>\n

Recently, in a recent exclusive interview, SuperSport Schools Plus<\/strong> <\/a>spoke with the Headmaster of Kimberley Boys’ High School, Xolile Taba<\/strong>, the host of the tournament, to discuss the preparations, the tournament’s origins, and its development over the years.<\/p>\n

History of the Absa Wildeklawer Tournament\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

To understand the Absa Wildklawer Soccer Tournament, Taba took us back to the founding of Wildeklawer Sport<\/strong> in 2009, by Louis<\/strong> and Cora de Kock,<\/strong> the owners of Wildeklawer<\/a><\/strong>. It began with a dozen rugby teams.<\/p>\n

With the rugby event proving to be a huge success, netball was then included. More recently, in 2022, football was added to the event, with Louis Botha<\/strong> <\/a>winning the inaugural Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“It was one of the discussions that we had with the organisers of the tournament when they approached the school (Kimberley Boys’ High School), looking to use the facilities. It made sense because we are predominantly a soccer school. We then proposed that our school should be added to the tournament, so that our boys can also participate. That’s how the discussion started.”<\/p>\n

Taba said he also took a hard look at rugby on the Wildeklawer website. He noted how many future Springboks developed their game at the tournament, and that led to him recognising the value of participating in the Wildeklawer Tournament.<\/p>\n

Given the challenges associated with managing football in the country, he said he was eager to be involved in a tournament that upholds high standards of integrity. Furthermore, he acknowledged that Wildeklawer was committed to nurturing potential football players who might one day represent national teams.<\/p>\n

“And I must say, even though we started in 2022, we already see the results, with some of the players playing in the Multichoice Diski Challenge<\/strong>.\u00a0 Some of them, from the schools that have participated in this tournament, have also been playing in the National Soccer League.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

Overcoming early challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Kimberley Boys’ High School Headmaster, Xolile Taba. Photo. Supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Taba said that the primary obstacle for his team and the stakeholders was a fear of age cheating.<\/p>\n

Football needed to be integrated into a system that had been functioning effectively for years without causing disruption. The critical challenge was how to conduct a legitimate tournament that aligned with the highest standards of integrity upheld by Absa Wildeklawer Sport.<\/p>\n

Another crucial component of the challenge was which teams to invite. Without any experience of hosting a football tournament, that was new ground that had to be covered. Thus, in the beginning, teams were invited without the use of any criteria. As it gained momentum, performance became a key consideration for the qualification of sides for the tournament.<\/p>\n

Last year, the top eight teams were automatically selected for the 2025 event, which was another reflection of the growth of the tournament.<\/p>\n

A schools’ ranking system is also used to select the schools, which, now, also includes sides performing at the top level of South African and development football.<\/p>\n

Taba said those challenges have been met and overcome. Now, the challenge has become which schools to leave out as top schools are eager to be a part of the prestigious event.<\/p>\n

Growth of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

“In 2022 we started with eight teams, with 144 players and 16 officials, and I’m glad that we grew. In 2023, it was 16 teams, double the number. We had 288 players and 32 officials.<\/p>\n

“Last year, we had 20 teams, and this year we are still going to be 20 teams, with 360 players and 40 officials,” Taba said.<\/p>\n

Through livestream platforms, like SuperSport Schools<\/strong>, talent scouts are identifying players from the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament<\/strong>. This year, scouts have, once again, been invited to attend. Those unable to make it in person can watch the matches live on SuperSport Schools.<\/p>\n

Some talented players who participated in the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament have moved on to make their mark at a higher level. They include Sechaba Gaseitsiwe<\/strong>, from Kimberley Boys’ High, who joined the Mamelodi Sundowns DDC Team<\/strong> in 2024, and Mateo Horstead,<\/strong> who captained Maritzburg College,<\/strong> and now plays for the AmaZulu DDC Team<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sechaba Gaseitsiwea, formely a learner at Kimberley Boys’ High, turned out for Galeshewe FC during the 2024 Engen Cup Champ of Champs at Wits Mark Park, in Johannesburg. Photo. Soccer Laduma.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sense of Community and Belonging\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taba said the tournament also helps to steer children away from crime and drugs.<\/p>\n

It also facilitates the formation of communities among schools and administrators, fostering an exchange of ideas and strategies for organising a successful event, he added.<\/p>\n

By learning from schools, like Victoria Park High School<\/strong> and Grey College, which hosts the renowned annual Nedbank Grey Soccer Tournament,<\/strong> Taba said valuable lessons could be learnt.<\/p>\n

He also acknowledged the significant contribution of the Kimberley community to the success of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Taba described the Absa Wildklawer Soccer Tournament as the main event on the schools’ calendar for Kimberley.<\/p>\n

“It’s an event we want not only to keep but to grow as well,” he concluded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NAME OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOL<\/strong><\/td>\nFINAL POSITION<\/strong><\/p>\n

2024<\/strong><\/td>\n

SA SCHOOLS RANKING<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CLAPHAM HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n1<\/strong><\/td>\n7<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GREY COLLEGE<\/td>\n2<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HTS LOUIS BOTHA<\/td>\n3<\/strong><\/td>\n11<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
KIMBERLEY BOYS\u2019 HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n4<\/strong><\/td>\n27<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PAUL ROOS GIMNASIUM<\/td>\n5<\/strong><\/td>\n16<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MARITZBURG COLLEGE<\/td>\n6<\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n7<\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EMMANG MMOGO HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n8<\/strong><\/td>\nNot ranked<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NAVALSIG HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n9<\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WILDEKLAWER ACADEMY<\/td>\n10<\/strong><\/td>\nNot ranked<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NORKEM HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n11<\/strong><\/td>\n31<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
POTCHEFSTROOM BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n12<\/strong><\/td>\n47<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n13<\/strong><\/td>\n29<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SELBORNE COLLEGE<\/td>\n14<\/strong><\/td>\n68<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BREBNER HIGH SCHOOL<\/td>\n15<\/strong><\/td>\n42<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NORTHWOOD SCHOOL<\/td>\n16<\/strong><\/td>\n41<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0NORTHERN ACADEMY<\/td>\n17<\/strong><\/td>\nMOTSEPE NATIONAL CHAMPS.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VICTORIA PARK<\/td>\n18<\/strong><\/td>\n23<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
REDDAM BEDFORDVIEW<\/td>\n19<\/strong><\/td>\n24<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JEPPE HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS<\/td>\n20<\/strong><\/td>\n14<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note:<\/strong> Northern Academy, Victoria Park High School, Reddam House Bedfordview, and Jeppe High School for Boys are the newcomers to the Absa Wilderklawer Soccer Tournament.<\/p>\n

Positions 1 to 16 reflect last year’s final rankings.<\/p>\n

GROUPS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Group A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kimberley Boys’ High School, Potchefstroom High School for Boys, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Glenwood High School, Wildeklawer Academy<\/p>\n

Group B<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clapham High School, Norkem Park High School, Emmang Mmogo, Northwood School, Northern Academy<\/p>\n

Group C<\/strong><\/p>\n

HTS Louis Botha, Victoria Park High School, Virginia High School, Reddam House Bedfordview, Brebner High School<\/p>\n

Group D<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grey College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Maritzburg College, Navalsig High School, Selborne College<\/p>\n

FIXTURES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 30 April<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPU 1 – 14:00 – Kimberely Boys’ High vs Wildeklawer
\nSPU 1 – 15:00 – Victoria Park High School vs Brebner
\nSPU 1 – 16:00 – Paul Ross vs Glenwood
\nSPU 1 – 17:00 – Virginia High School vs Reddam House<\/p>\n

SPU 2 – 14:00 – Norkem vs Northern Academy
\nSPU 2 – 15:00 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Selborne College
\nSPU 2 – 16:00 – Emang Mmogo vs Northwood School
\nSPU2 – 17:00 – Maritzburg College vs Navalsig<\/p>\n

Thursday, 1 May<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPU 1 – 08:30 – Potchefstroom vs Wildeklawer
\nSPU 1 – 09:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Brebner
\nSPU 1 – 10:30 – Potchefstroom vs Paul Ross
\nSPU 1 – 11:30 – Victoria Park High School vs Virginia High
\nSPU 1 – 13:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High School vs Glenwood
\nSPU 1 – 14:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Reddam House
\nSPU 1 – 15:30 – Wildeklawer vs Paul Roos
\nSPU 1 – 16:30 – Brebner vs Virginia High
\nSPU 1 – 18:00 – Kimberley Boys’ High School vs Paul Ross
\nSPU 1 – 19:00 – HTS Louis Botha vs Virginia High School
\nSPU 1 – 20:00 – Glenwood vs Potchefstroom<\/p>\n

SPU 2 – 08:30 – Clapham High School vs Northern Academy
\nSPU 2 – 09:30 – Grey College vs Selborne College
\nSPU 2 – 10:30 – Norkem vs Emang Mmogo
\nSPU 2 – 11:30 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Maritzburg College
\nSPU 2 – 13:00 – Clapham High School vs Northwood School
\nSPU 2 – 14:30 – Grey College vs Navalsig
\nSPU 2 – 15:30 – Northern Academy vs Emang Mmogo
\nSPU 2 – 16:30 – Selborne College vs Maritzburg College
\nSPU 2 – 18:00 – Clapham High School vs Emang Mmogo
\nSPU 2 – 19:00 – Grey College vs Maritzburg College
\nSPU 2 – 20:00 – Northwood School vs Norkem<\/p>\n

Friday, 2 May<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPU 1 – 08:30 – Reddam House vs Victoria Park High School
\nSPU 1 – 09:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High School vs Potchefstroom
\nSPU 1 – 10:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Victoria Park High School
\nSPU 1 – 11:30 – Glenwood vs Wildeklawer
\nSPU 1 – 12:30 – Reddam House vs Brebner<\/p>\n

SPU 2 – 08:30 – Navalsig vs Jeppe High School for Boys
\nSPU 2 – 09:30 – Clapham High School vs Norkem
\nSPU 2 – 10:30 – Grey College vs Jeppe High School for Boys
\nSPU 2 – 11:30 – Northwood School vs Northern Academy
\nSPU 2 – 12:30 – Navalsig vs Selborne College<\/p>\n

4 Pools of 5 Pools Teams (Top 2 in Pool proceed to quarterfinals)<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPU 1 – 15:30 – Winner Pool A vs Runner-up Pool B
\nSPU 1 – 16:30 – Winner Pool B vs Runner-up Pool A<\/p>\n

SPU 2 – 15:30 – Winner Pool C vs Runner-up\u00a0 Pool D
\nSPU 2 – 16:30 – Winner Pool D vs Runner-up Pool C<\/p>\n

Saturday, 3 May\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Semifinals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPU 1 – Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 4
\nSPU 2 – Winner Match 2 vs Winner Match 4<\/p>\n

Finals<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPU 1 – 13:00 – Winner Match 5 vs Winner Match 6<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The fourth edition of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament kicks off on Wednesday and runs through to Saturday, 3 May. The defending champion, Clapham High School, appears to be the team to beat. Recently, in a recent exclusive interview, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with the Headmaster of Kimberley Boys’ High School, Xolile Taba, the host […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":71024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=69331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/71024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=69331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=69331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=69331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}