{"id":93609,"date":"2026-04-17T14:43:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T12:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=93609"},"modified":"2026-04-17T14:43:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T12:43:19","slug":"defending-champs-hit-all-the-right-notes-as-kzn-football-season-kicks-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=93609","title":{"rendered":"Defending champs hit all the right notes as KZN football season kicks off"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA)<\/strong>\u00a0 kicked off its Coastal and Inland leagues this week, with the reigning champions and other traditionally strong teams claiming victories.<\/p>\n

Coastal A-League<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Westville Boys’ High, the reigning champions of the Coastal A-league<\/a>,<\/strong> faced last year’s runner-up, Hillcrest High<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Westville didn’t allow Hillcrest the satisfaction of reversing the result, handing Hillcrest High a 2-0 defeat. Last year, Hillcrest, with a youthful lineup, surprised many, not only in KwaZulu-Natal but across the nation. Their achievements also included qualifying for the inaugural Curro Halala Cup<\/strong><\/a>, where they ultimately lost in the Plate final to Meridian Pinehurst<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Glenwood High<\/strong>, reeling from a disappointing 2025 season, which ended without silverware, faced a strong challenge in their opening match against Pinetown Boys’ High<\/strong>. Last year’s competition was not kind to Pinetown Boys’ High, but they later showed their quality by winning the Kloof High School National Football Tournament<\/strong><\/a> and the Kearsney Soccer Tournament<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Against Glenwood, though, their Coastal League troubles emerged, with Glenwood winning 3-1. Wandile Ndimande<\/strong> netted a consolation goal for Pinetown, but Glenwood captain Ndalo Mbatha<\/strong>, Ukwazi<\/strong> Dludla, and Aphelele Magwaza <\/strong>struck for the Green Machine<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a promising start for Glenwood, who were the champions of the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League in 2023 and 2024. Pinetown will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s disastrous league campaign, where they flirted with relegation alongside Northwood<\/strong>. Both went on to put together strong seasons.<\/p>\n

Northwood, they will surely be pleased to start the new season with three points following their 2-1 victory over Port Shepstone<\/strong>. In 2025, Northwood escaped relegation in the final round of league matches.<\/p>\n

Rhys Millar, a consistent goal scorer over the past three seasons, struck for the Knights<\/strong>. <\/em>Daniel Van Huyssteen <\/strong>also got his name on the scoresheet.<\/p>\n

Inland A-League\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The reigning Inland champions, Maritzburg College<\/strong><\/a>, kicked off the new season with a slim 1-0 victory over ML Sultan<\/strong><\/a>, who earned promotion after winning the Inland B-League last season. Ndzolo Ngcemu<\/strong> netted the decisive goal for the Red, Black<\/strong><\/em>, and White<\/strong><\/em>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Close matches were the order of the day in the Inland A-League. Ixopo Secondary School<\/strong> edged out Edendale Technical High <\/strong>1-0. Promoted last season, Edendale enjoyed a strong first campaign in the A-League, finishing third. But a goal from Luvuyo Mjwara<\/strong> meant they started with a loss to Ixopo.<\/p>\n

Last season’s runner-up, Carter High<\/strong>, was held to a 1-1 draw by Linpark<\/strong>, with Ayabonga Sibiya<\/strong> finding the back of the net for Carter.<\/p>\n

The clash between Alexandra High and Haythorne Secondary School also ended in a 1-1 draw, with Mthobisi Ngcono<\/strong> scoring for Alex.<\/p>\n

Coastal B-League<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Thursday, in the Coastal B-League, Sastri <\/strong>and Amanzimtoti<\/strong> shared an exciting 3-3 draw in one of the most entertaining matches of the opening week at Queensburgh High<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The home team, Queensburgh High, was also part of a draw, playing to a 1-1 result against Grosvenor Boys’ High<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

New Forest<\/strong> and the 2025 champions of the Coastal C-League, Brettonwood<\/a>, <\/strong>scored impressive wins. <\/strong>New Forest defeated Empangeni High<\/strong> 3-0, thanks to goals from Sfundo Khanyile, Ayabonga Gqoloba, <\/strong>and Siyabonga Mbili<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Newly promoted Brettonwood matched that result, with Fanele Ngili, Blessing Muzanembi<\/strong>, and Tebogo Ngcobo<\/strong> scoring in a convincing win over Redwood College<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Inland C-League\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also on Thursday, in the Inland C-League, Umvuzo Secondary School<\/strong> faced off against the newcomers, Siyanda High School<\/strong>, with their match ending in a 1-1 draw. Ntokozo Nxumalo<\/strong> netted for Umvuzo, while Kwanele Mdaka<\/strong> equalised for Siyanda.<\/p>\n

The Carter High B team took on Smero Secondary School<\/strong>, handing the newcomers a 2-0 defeat.<\/p>\n

RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, 14 April<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal A-League<\/strong><\/p>\n

Glenwood 3-1 Pinetown Boys’ High
\nWestville Boys’ High 2-0 Hillcrest High
\nNorthwood 2-1 Port Shepstone High
\nDHS 2-0 Bechet<\/p>\n

Wednesday, 15 April<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inland A-League\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexandra High 1-1 Haythorne Secondary School
\nIxopo 1-0 Edendale Technical High
\nCarter High 1-1 Linpark
\nMaritzburg College 1-0 ML Sultan<\/p>\n

Thursday, 16 April<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal B-League<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sastri 3-3 Amanzimtoti
\nQueensburgh 1-1 Grosvenor
\nNew Forest 3-0 Empangeni High
\nBrettonwood 3-0 Redwood College<\/p>\n

Inland C-League\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carter High School B 2-0 Smero Secondary School
\nUmvuzo Secondary School 1-1 Siyanda High School<\/p>\n

Forthcoming Fixtures\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday, 17 April<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Venue: Alexandra High School\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

15:00
\n<\/strong>Field 1 – Thornhill vs Alexandra High B
\nField 2 – Northbury vs Heritage Academy<\/p>\n

16:55
\n<\/strong>Field 1 – Riverwood vs Michaelhouse
\nField 2 – Maritzburg Christian School vs Maritzburg College B<\/p>\n

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

Venue: Queensburgh High<\/strong><\/p>\n

15:10
\n<\/strong>Field 1 – Durban North College vs Canaan College
\nField 2 – George Campbell vs Rossbuburgh<\/p>\n

16:10
\n<\/strong>Field 1 – Reddam Ballito vs Durban Academy
\nField 2 – Kloof High vs Ashton Ballito<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA)\u00a0 kicked off its Coastal and Inland leagues this week, with the reigning champions and other traditionally strong teams claiming victories. Coastal A-League On Tuesday, Westville Boys’ High, the reigning champions of the Coastal A-league, faced last year’s runner-up, Hillcrest High. Westville didn’t allow Hillcrest the satisfaction of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":75904,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93609","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\/93609","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=93609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/75904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}