The annual event was hosted at the Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) AstroTurf and featured many of the region’s top primary schools’ teams.
Beaumont claimed the boys’ crown after beating Bishops Diocesan College 3-1 in the final, while the Eversdal girls edged out Durbanville 2-1 in a penalty shootout after their title game ended goalless.
The sides’ journeys to the title-deciding contests were quite similar, with both excelling during their pool stage assignments.
In the boys’ competition, Beaumont finished top of Pool B, with 10 points, after three wins and a draw in their four fixtures.
They next met De Hoop Primary in the semifinals and scraped through to the final after a 2-1 victory.
Bishops, meanwhile, beat Gene Louw 2-1 in their final four clash but couldn’t replicate that performance in the final and missed out on retaining the title they won in 2024.
Beaumont won the boys’ section at the Western Province u13 Top Schools Tournament. Photo: ES MEDIA.
In the girls’ section, Eversdal quickly asserted their dominance in Pool A by winning all four of their group matches, scoring 11 goals while conceding only one.
They brushed aside last year’s winners, De Hoop, in the semifinals but had to dig deep to win gold against Durbanville.
Eversdal, who also hail from Durbanville, held their nerve to win a pulsating shootout, which meant they claimed the Top Schools title.
Final standings
Boys
Beaumont
Bishops
Gene Louw
De Hoop
Kenridge Primary School
Sweet Valley Primary
SACS
Somerset House
Panorama
Western Province Prep
Girls
Eversdal
Durbanville
De Hoop
Springfield Convent School
Kenridge
Somerset College
Panorama
Beaumont
Kirstenhof
Sweet Valley Primary
The annual Champion of Champions tournament of the High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, will take place in Potchefstroom from Friday.
The defending champions, Grey College of Bloemfontein, will be in attendance to defend their title. The school hosted the previous two Champion of Champions tournaments in the City of Roses.
They will face Dale College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Hoërskool Rustenburg and the Forward Foundation in their four pool matches in this year’s competition.
Grey College defeated Monument of Krugersdorp by 31-21 in last year’s final.
Monument is also in attendance and will face Diamantveld, Fichardtpark, Potchefstroom Gimnasium and Hentie Cilliers in Pool D.
In Pool B, Helpmekaar Kollege and Welkom Gimnasium could emerge as title contenders. Other schools within this pool are Westville Boys’ High, Merensky and Wesvalia.
The Pools:
Pool A: Grey College, Dale College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Hoërskool Rustenburg, Forward Foundation. Pool B: Westville Boys’ High, Wesvalia, Helpmekaar, Merensky, Welkom Gimnasium. Pool C: Sentraal, Potchefstroom Volkskool, Witteberg, Northwood, Waterkloof. Pool D: Fichardtpark, Diamantveld, Potchefstroom Gimnasium, Monument, Hentie Cilliers.
The Fixtures
Friday, 19 September 2025
A-Field
16:20 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Grey College; 16:40 – Helpmekaar vs Westville Boys’ High; 17:00 – Northwood vs Sentraal; 17:20 – Monument vs Fichardtpark; 17:40 – Forward Foundation vs Hoërskool Rustenburg; 18:00 – Merensky vs Welkom Gimnasium; 18:20 – Witteberg vs Waterkloof; 18:40 – Potchefstroom Gimnasium vs Hentie Cilliers; 19:00 – Dale College vs Forward Foundation; 19:20 – Wesvalia vs Merensky; 19:40 – Potchefstroom Volkskool vs Witteberg; 20:00 – Diamantveld vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium.
C-Field
16:20 – Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Dale College; 16:40 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Wesvalia; 17:00 – Waterkloof vs Potchefstroom Volkskool; 17:20 – Hentie Cilliers vs Diamantveld; 17:40 – Dale College vs Jeppe High School for Boys; 18:00 – Wesvalia vs Helpmekaar; 18:20 – Potchefstroom Volkskool vs Northwood; 18:40 – Diamantveld vs Monument; 19:00 – Hoërskool Rustenburg vs Grey College; 19:20 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Westville Boys’ High; 19:40 – Waterkloof vs Sentraal; 20:00 – Hentie Cilliers vs Fichardtpark.
Saturday, 20 September 2025
A-Field
09:20 – Grey College vs Dale College; 09:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Wesvalia; 10:00 – Sentraal vs Potchefstroom Volkskool; 10:20 – Fichardtpark vs Diamantveld; 10:40 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Hoërskool Rustenburg; 11:00 – Helpmekaar vs Welkom Gimnasium; 11:20 – Northwood vs Waterkloof; 11:40 – Monument vs Hentie Cilliers.
B-field
09:20 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Forward Foundation; 09:40 – Merensky vs Helpmekaar; 10:00 – Witteberg vs Northwood; 10:20 – Potchefstroom Gimnasium vs Monument; 10:40 – Grey College vs Forward Foundation; 11:00 – Westville Boys’ High vs Merensky; 11:20 – Sentraal vs Witteberg; 11:40 – Fichardtpark vs Potchefstroom Gimnasium.
The road to the final of the North West Schools SA20 comes down to a Potchefstroom derby to determine who will face defending champions Hoërskool Rustenburg in the final at the JB Marks Oval.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium and Potchefstroom Volkskool will meet on the morning of 24 September at the Witrand Oval, with the winner to take on Rusties that same afternoon at the JB Marks Oval, home of the North West Dragons.
Both Gimmies and Volkies won their respective matches comfortably, thanks to some exceptional batting performances.
Gimmies’ in-form opener, Christivan Coetzer, smashed his second century of the round. Having already recorded a 150 earlier, Coetzer blasted his way to an unbeaten 109 from a mere 36 deliveries as Gimmies demolished Hoërskool Klerksdorp by 10 wickets on their home turf in Klerksdorp.
Thanks to Coetzer’s extraordinary innings, the side from Potchefstroom chased down the target of 170 runs in just 12.3 overs. With a breathtaking strike rate of 302,8, Coetzer’s innings included 14 fours and seven sixes. This meant that 89%, or 98 of his 109 runs, came via boundaries.
Coetzer’s partner in crime in achieving the 10-wicket feat was the experienced Ulrich Botha, who, although batting slightly slower, still managed a knock of 51 not out off just 40 balls, including seven fours and one six.
The target of 170 was mostly thanks to Klerksdorp’s Gerrit Koen. A natural attacking batsman, he scored 169 not out in the 50-over league recently and continued his good form to give the Gimmie bowlers some headaches of their own. Koen, too, wasted no time for an unbeaten 85 from just 40 deliveries, smashing a staggering 11 sixes and a solitary four at a strike rate of 212.
In Lichtenburg, Riekert Kruger hit 80 not out from only 48 balls to lead the Volkies to an eight-wicket victory over Hoërskool Lichtenburg. Needing only 133 for victory, thanks to great bowling spells from Johandré Jacobs (2/8) and Handré de Beer (2/15), Kruger smashed 14 boundaries, which included 12 fours and two sixes. He was well supported by fellow opening batsmen, AW van der Merwe, who scored 26 in the pair’s partnership of 66 runs.
Jürgern Hesse was the Liggies’ best performer on the day. Firstly, he scored a valuable 31 runs, alongside the top scorer, Oratile Masa (33), and then snapped up 2/28 in his allotted four overs, with the new ball, in the powerplay, to boot.
Hoërskool Lichtenburg 132/8 (Oratile Masa 33, Jürgen Hesse 31; Johandré Jacobs 2/8, Handré de Beer 2/15); Potchefstroom Volkskool 133/2 (Riekert Kruger 80*, AW van der Merwe 26; Jürgen Hesse 2/28). Potchefstroom Volkskool won by eight wickets.
The Chatsworth Hub Girls’ u18 XI fired off a massive salvo in the opening rounds of the KwaZulu-Natal Schools SA20 competition, powering their way to a one-sided 264-run win over Umlazi Comtech High on the weekend, in Chatsworth.
Thando Matamela led the way, blasting 103 from only 46 deliveries, including 16 fours and three sixes.
Her opening partner Shreya Subbiah, meanwhile, took only 28 balls to tally 66, with 10 fours and three sixes, before she was the first to fall, hit wicket.
By then, the opening pair had put on an astounding 156 runs in just 8.3 overs.
Mohana Rugnath, in at three, contributed a more measured 49 not out from 40, and the Chatsworth Hub was further boosted by 59 extras as they totalled 282/2.
Umlazi Comtech was unable to mount any sort of challenge, spending 10 overs at the crease before being bowled out for 18, with five successive ducks from batters two to six. In total, seven players were dismissed without scoring.
Sihana Naidu, with 3/3, led the Chatsworth attack, while Asanda Mkhize picked up 2/1, and Sayurie Govender 2/5.
Chatsworth found the going tougher later in the day against Sivananda Technical High and were on 40/3 in the eighth over when rain brought an end to that game.
In the opening match of the Schools SA20, played at Grantleigh, Mtubatuba Hub beat Felixton College by 52 runs on 5 September.
Mtubatuba posted 92/7 in their 20 overs, with Sphiwe Dladla‘s patient 22 off 51 balls their best batting effort, while Smangaliso Mjadu claimed 3/14 in four overs. The batting side was also hugely boosted by 39 extras.
Felixton mustered only 40 all out in reply, with Ziyanda Ndaba returning a sparkling 4/2 from three overs for Mtubatuba.
The KCCD Hub Girls XI faced Grantleigh High on the same day and charged to an easy nine-wicket win despite a fine innings from Leandri Marinus. She made 43 from 41 to help Grantleigh to 89 all out, but that wasn’t nearly enough. Noxolo Biyela did most of the damage, knocking over 4/11 in four.
In just 7.3 overs, the KCCD Hub Girls’ side cruised to 90/1 in reply, with Noxolo Biyela making 35 not out from 18 balls, and Amanda Shandu contributing an unbeaten 27 from 24.
On 7 September, Nqabakazulu beat Chesterville by seven wickets at Ocean View Primary, in Chatsworth, and Qhilika High pulled off a heart-stopping two-wicket win over Phezula, thanks mostly to 42 extras.
Nqabakazulu, then, added a second win, easing to a 53-run victory over Qhilika.
The highlight of those games was Ziyanda Xulu‘s 5/12 in Nqabazulu’s win over Chesterville.
Leg-spinner Julian Pilkington will be aiming for a fifth three-wicket haul in succession against Paarl Gim, if not for even more wickets. Photo: Bishops College ZA on Instagram.
The visitors, Paarl Gimnasium, have a daunting challenge ahead of them when they take on Bishops on the Frank Reid on Saturday.
Against Stellies, Cameron Macbeth top-scored with 84 for the hosts, and he’ll be eager to turn those two digits into three.
His top order partners, Adnaan Lagadien and James Robb-Quinlan, are also due some runs in the 300-ball format.
However, scoring won’t come easy. The home batting lineup will be wary of the challenges posed by the visitors’ bowling attack.
Back in the summer, when the sides met in a Schools SA20 fixture, Wian Munnik claimed 2/11 in two overs, while Charles King returned 2/28 in four overs.
Munnik is also a handy opening batsman, although he wasn’t able to show that when Gim met Bishops last time. Matt Dippenaar and Dirk Hugo will also want to prove themselves against the southern suburbs’ side.
Another player to keep an eye on is middle order dangerman, Louis Koen, who is more recognised for his exploits at flyhalf for the 1st XV. He owns an educated boot, but he’s a clean hitter of the cricket ball, too.
Meanwhile, in the Bishops’ bowling attack, Julian Pilkington will be targeting a fifth three-wicket haul in succession on Saturday. He’s in fine form, but it is the all-round variety and versatility of the home side’s attack, led by Waco Bassick, that will pose a major threat to Paarl Gim. They’ve been at the forefront of Bishops’ successes in 2025.
With the Bishops’ attack leading the way, the biggest questions to be asked and answered on Saturday will be posed to the Paarl Gim batsmen and, with a number of the hosts’ batsmen due, the visitors will hope that their wait continues.
Boland Landbou’s batsmen unleashed a fiery attack on Hoërskool Dirkie Uys’s bowlers. Photo: Boland Landbou on Instagram.
Boland Landbou delivered an absolute masterclass to rocket to an enormous 199-run win over Hoërskool Dirkie Uys on Thursday in a Schools SA20 clash in Paarl.
FrancoisPrins was astounding with the willow, lashing an unbeaten 119 runs off only 69 balls. His phenomenal innings included 14 fours and three sixes, at a strike rate of 178.
Divan Meyer batted slightly faster, smashing eight fours and two sixes in an impressive 66 off 36, for a strike rate of 183.
After the Farmers had put 237/3 on the board, Dirkie Uys was unable to deal with the pressure of having to score at 11.9 runs per over to win against a dialled-in Boland Landbou bowling attack.
Kobus Conradie was the best of the bowlers and the only one to send down the maximum four overs, which he ended with 2/3, with two maidens. Most can only dream of securing an economy rate of 0.8, never mind that he achieved it in a T20 fixture.
Diwan Schoeman’s 2/6 in 2.4 overs also helped to seal the deal as the visitors crumbled to 38 all out. Ernie Crow was the only Dirkie Uys batsman to reach double figures, striking two four in his 10 runs off 11 balls.
Boland Landbou could hardly have asked for a better result in the opening game of their Schools SA20 campaign. However, they will know the standard of opposition is going to ramp up considerably when big guns, including Rondebosch and Bishops, join the fray in mid-October
Nonetheless, a win is a win, and the Farmers will be buoyed by it ahead of further battles to come.
In round two of the Titans Platinum League‘s “big-four” clashes, both the wounded Hoërskool Garsfontein and Die Hoërskool Menlopark are fizzing to return to winning ways.
Follow and read all about the Titans Platinum League action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
Facing off on Saturday at Hoërskool Menlopark certainly doesn’t make matters any easier for either of the two sides. It promises to be a perfectly balanced encounter.
Garsfontein suffered a meltdown in the batting department, hence their 199-run defeat at the hands of Hoërskool Waterkloof, although Rico van der Walt’s sublime innings also played a major role.
That said, the Ysbere remain a dangerous side, especially when they’re looking to bounce back after a disappointment. They still possess the prowess of the in-form Reuben van Zyl, who boasts two centuries during the earlier stages of the league, as well as the all-round capabilities of captain Xander Venter. They also suffered the recent loss after having won both their opening matches of the league.
The Parkies, however, need to up the ante to earn their standing alongside the other three. They’ve only been on the winning side once in three outings, placing themselves under certain pressure. The young star with the bat, Jan-Willem Pienaar, has been a shining light, stringing together some innings that suggest he might be due for a big contribution soon. Whether it is this weekend remains to be seen, and, if so, it could spell trouble for the Ysbere.
Another team that can be thrown into the mix, making it the “big five”, Pretoria Boys High School, faces Cornwall Hill College at Pretoria Boys High’s Hofmeyr Oval. Boys High enjoyed a wonderful outing against Menlopark, handing them one of their two defeats in the opening three encounters, as well as a thumping victory over Trinity Grammar School, by 182 runs. The latter, a T20 on 16 September, saw Timothy Gordon‘s return to form with a mammoth 159 from only 52 balls.
It certainly renders him, alongside Dylan Kruger, Boys High centurion in the match against the Parkies (123*), and Tinashe Mbingo, one of the prized wickets come Saturday. On the side of Cornwall, Oliver Richards and captain Ab Rasool will be the danger men.
Newcomers, Hoërskool Eldoraigne, kick off a tough seven days against Lesedi Mabena and a dangerous Prestige College. Mabena returned from the recent u17 Tap Camp hosted at Irene Country Club last weekend.
The Eldos play four matches within the seven days, from Saturday, to catch up on outstanding matches, including Boys High (Wednesday), Garsfontein (the following Saturday) and Menlopark in a Day/Night match on the Monday thereafter, leaving a string of possibilities for shifts on the log before the end of the 2025 league.
Matthew Sampson, the first player to accomplish a five-wicket haul for the Eldos in this year’s league, will again be a threat throughout the four matches.
Ombesa Matsha is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball around. Photo: Supplied.
Ombesa Matsha has lofty ambitions. The St Stithians College learner has set his sights on earning a place at the Cubs Week, being selected for South Africa u19, and developing into one of the top five batters in the country in the next two years.
A left-hander, he is firmly on track, if his recent performances are anything to go by.
At the start of the third term, Matsha demonstrated his aptitude for red ball cricket at the Fasken Time Cricket Festival, hosted by St David’s Marist Inanda, scoring three half-centuries in succession. He finished the showpiece with 220 runs in three innings for an average of 73, which left him among the top five run-scorers at the festival.
“Ombesa is a wonderful player. He has a well-rounded game and values his wicket,” Wim Jansen, the St Stithians Director of Cricket, told SuperSport Schools Plus.
A few weeks later, on 12 and 13 September, the Grade 10 learner stamped his authority at the CSA u17 camp, held in Irene. Opening the batting, he tallied 188 runs in two matches for an average of 94 at a strike rate of 96.9. FG Botha was the next-best batter with 105 runs in two innings.
“My cricket role models are Yashasvi Jaiswal and David Miller,” the teenager, whom Jansen described as a fearless match-winner, shared.
Jansen’s assessment of Matsha as a match-winner isn’t based only on what the 16-year-old has done for Saintswith the bat. Matsha has been leading teams to success since he was eight.
In 2017, he flayed an unbeaten 149 to lead Laerskool Jan Cilliers to victory in a Junior tournament at Trinity House. He was also crowned the Best Batsman of the tournament, a sign of things to come.
Three years later, Matsha dominated with the bat at the Central Gauteng Lions‘ (CGL) u12 tournament by plundering three centuries, which included a highest score of 225 not out.
He maintained his huge appetite for “big” runs in representative cricket for the CGL’s u11 side in 2019 and the u13s in 2021 and 2022. It was enough to convince St Stithians to offer the youngster a scholarship. Matsha also played for the Lions’ u15s in 2023, was a member of the u16A side in 2024, and travelled to the 2024 Coca Cola Khaya Majola Week with the CSA Invitation team.
Jansen said Matsha isn’t afraid of high pace and is happy to take on aggressive bowlers who try to instil fear into top-order batters. That is what he did at the u17 camp.
Matsha led the Markram XI from the front and scored a brilliant 87 from 96 balls in an innings in which no other batter on his side reached 20. His crucial knock lifted the Markram XI to 209 and laid the foundation for a 28-run victory over the Bavuma XI.
The opener then scored a 98-ball 101 in the second match. The story of that encounter was similar to the first tie: Matsha played the role of a lone ranger as he held the Markram XI innings together while wickets tumbled around him. When he was dismissed after spending 36 overs in the middle, the Markram XI’s innings collapsed. Unfortunately for him, his one-man effort wasn’t enough to save his team from a 56-run defeat.
In addition to his batting, Matsha is also an accomplished wicketkeeper. Photo: Supplied.
“He has grown a lot over the past 18 months,” Malibongwe Maketa, the SA u19 coach, said. “I sat down with him after the first match at the u17 camp. He showed great awareness of the opposition’s bowling plans and what approach the match required. He is no longer just trying to get runs by any means necessary.”
According to Maketa, who met the youngster when it seemed as if he was trying to launch every second ball over the ropes, Matsha now knows how to formulate a game plan to suit conditions. The left-hander is happy to shelve his best shots if the situation demands it.
To drive that point home, Maketa said that in both of Matsha’s innings at the u17 camp, the teenager rotated the strike well, was happy to soak up the pressure, and ready to pounce on the bad ball.
Saints’ Director of Cricket, Wim Jansen, would have been pleased to hear that. “We worked on various aspects of his game over the past few months,” he said. “In particular, strike rotation and his game against spin.”
Matsha’s success against spinners and his ability to take control of the middle overs was helped by the months he spent with Scarborough College as part of an exchange programme between St Stithians and the Yorkshire school. There, he learned to play the ball late and he improved his striking through the square region.
“The time he spent in the UK took him out of his comfort zone and didn’t just help him as a cricketer, but also as a person,” Jansen said.
The youngster is one of many St Stithians learners who have benefitted from the programme, which is now in its 12th year. Others who have benefitted from it include Proteas’ Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. If that is used as a predictor of the future, the odds are in favour of Matsha achieving his dreams.
While abroad and playing for Wykeham in the Scarborough Evening Cricket League Division A, he struck a stunning 112 off 62 balls to help his club secure top spot with a seven-wicket win over Flixton, their title rivals. That match-winning knock underlined his potential.
“One of our core values is to back our guys. If they are good enough, they are old enough,” Jansen said.
“Ombesa showed that he was good enough when he was in Grade 9, and we backed him to perform. He has been outstanding since then.”
Die tweede ronde van kragmetings tussen die Titans Platinum Liga se “groot vier” behoort eerskomende Saterdag nogmaals skouspelagtige aksie op te lewer.
Dit is juis die ronde waarin twee van die Jakarandastad se tradisionele aartsvyande mekaar die stryd aansê, met Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool wat vanjaar tuisveldvoordeel geniet teen Hoërskool Waterkloof op die Affie-ovaal.
Dit is terloops waar Waterkloof die laaste keer, oor die laaste twee seisoene, ‘n nederlaag in die Titans Liga gely het. Affies het by die geleentheid, in 2023, met vyf paaltjies koning gekraai.
Vanjaar behoort dit oudergewoonte weer ‘n stryd tussen die langstele af te gee.
Die Affies-blad is alombekend as een wat gunstig is teenoor kolwers, en iets wat die Klofies se lopievraat, AJ de Villiers, ten volle sal wil benut. De Villiers, wat die beurt vir sy span open, het in sy vorige vyf ligawedstryde reeds 224 lopies opgestapel, teen ‘n gemiddeld van 44.8 per beurt, wat onderskeidelik ‘n honderdtal en ‘n vyftigtal ingesluit het.
Paaltjiewagter, Rico van der Walt, is self nie te versmaai nie en het net verlede week ‘n puik honderdtal teen Hoërskool Garsfontein aangeteken.
Aan Affies se kant het die veelsydige Ruben Groenewald egter ook sy ritme met die kolf gevind. Affies is tradisioneel bekend vir eerstespan-losskakels wat ook uitstekende krieketspelers uitmaak, met Groenewald se voorganger, Ruan de Swardt, wat in sowel rugby as krieket die SA Skole gehaal het. Groenewald het self reeds vanjaar vir die SA Skolerugbyspan verteenwoordig en kan, indien hy sy onlangse goeie spelpeil voortsit, die eerste tree na die SA Skolekrieketspan gee deur vir die Titans se Khaya Majola-span gekies te word.
Met die twee geleenthede wat hy reeds gekry het om te kolf, het hy 109 lopies aangeteken sonder om sy paaltjie te verloor, en dit teen ‘n indrukwekkende treftempo van 155.71. Dit beteken dat hy, volgens die syfers, 155 lopies behoort aan te teken vir elke 100 balle wat hy trotseer. Groenewald hou boonop ‘n gevaar in met sy slim boulwerk tydens die middelperiode van die beurt.
Boulwerk was juis, volgens Klofies-afrigter, Cobus Pienaar, ‘n deurslaggewende faktor in sy span se yslike 32 50-beurt wedstryde wat hulle reeds gespeel het. Rivan Booysen was tot dusver voor in die koor. Dié linkerhandse draaier het in sy vyf ligawedstryde reeds 14 paaltjies laat kantel, teen ‘n besonderse boulgemiddeld van 6,36. Die boulgemiddeld verteenwoordig die hoeveelheid lopies wat ‘n bouler afstaan vir elke paaltjie wat hy neem, wat Booysen s’n, van hoogstaande gehalte maak.
Ricardo Crous en De Villiers, nie slegs ‘n gevaar met die kolf nie, volg kort op sy hakke. Crous en de Villiers pronk elk met 11 paaltjies oor vyf wedstryde, albei met gemiddelde van 10 of minder.
Vir Affies sal sy voorslagbouler, Vihan Pretorius, ‘n beduidende rol hê om te speel. Pretorius is sy span se voorste paaltjievraat, met agt slagoffers in sy drie ligawedstryde, terwyl Nico Logenberg se akkurate swaaiboulwerk aan hom reeds sewe paaltjies besorg het teen ‘n uitstekende gemiddeld van net sewe. Groenewald het self ‘n week gelede vier paaltjies laat spat in Affies se gemaklike vyf-paaltjie sege oor Die Hoërskool Menlopark.
Die uitslag in enige krieketwedstryd tussen ‘n liga se voorlopers is nooit maklik om te voorspel nie, maar een ding is seker, die vonke gaan Saterdag op die Affie-ovaal spat.
South Africa u17 striker, Oageng Lebesane, in action for the Virgina Sports Academy at the the Bayhill Premier Cup earlier this year. Photo: Supplied.
Oageng Lebesane, a striker for the South African u17 National Team and Virginia High School, has grabbed the attention of SuperSport Schools Plus and many fans of the beautiful game during an exceptional year on the football field.
Hailing from Bloemfontein, the 17-year-old, born in October 2008, began his football journey at Brandwag Primary School. In 2017, at the age of nine, he received the Player of the Year Award while playing for the school’s u11 team.
From 2018 to 2020, Lebesane played for the Soccer Kids Football Factory Academy. Subsequently, he attended HTS Louis Botha, where he represented the u15 team at one of South Africa’s leading football institutions.
Among his accomplishments while there was being the top goal scorer in both the u15 Nedbank Grey Soccer Tournament and the u15 Free State Football Development Initiative in 2023.
In an interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Lebesane expressed his enthusiasm for the game. “I enjoy exposing the defence of an opponent,” he said.
“I bring stability to the team with my ability to keep the ball and to win it for the team. In addition, I make killer passes, and I am a very good finisher.”
He said he aspires to be among the top players in the nation, and, with God’s grace, he hopes to eventually play overseas.
In 2024, he joined Virginia Sports Academy and Virginia High, where he plays both club and school football.
Oageng Lebesane representing the South African u17 National Team at the recent u17 Afcon game in Morocco against Cameroon. Photo. Supplied
Since he arrived in Virginia, Lebesane’s performances have ascended to a higher level.
In March 2025, he was selected for the Amajimbos, the u17 South African National Team, which he represented at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) u17 African Cup of Nations (Afcon), where he made three appearances, turning out against Cameroon, Morocco, and Burkina Faso.
Since joining Virginia, Lebesane has participated in the Bayhill Premier Cup, in Cape Town, in both 2024 and 2025.
He has also shown off his skills in the Kloof High National Football Tournament for the past two years, helping the team to reach the final in June where they went down to Pinetown Boys’ High after a penalty shootout. Lebesane’s contribution was a mighty 22 goals in eight matches.
Playing for the Virginia Sports Academy, Lebesane participated in the Free State Engen Provincial Challenge and the Engen Champs of Champs in 2024, and he was also in action in the Navalsig u17 Soccer Tournament and the Magnificent Wednesday Schools Football League.
Earlier this year, Virginia Sports Academy lifted the u17 As’Phelelanga Soccer Tournament title. Lebesane, the event’s top goal scorer, led the way for the team, scoring six times and providing three assists in four games.
Lebesane has furthermore competed in the Brebner High Primo National Soccer Tournament and the Kay Motsepe Schools Provincial Championship.
In the year 2025, Oageng Lebesane is recognised as one of the top talents in both club development and school football, consistently scoring goals and delivering assists for his team. Photo: Supplied.
In 2024, across all competitions, he netted 22 goals and provided 10 assists for Virginia High.
In an astonishing performance, he was involved in 18 goals for Virginia High in August when they overran Reatlehile Secondary 36-0 during a Kay Motsepe Regional match. He netted 10 times and assisted with eight other goals.
The Soccer Manager at Virginia High, Lekhoba Ngakane, characterised Lebesane as a player who demonstrates selflessness.
“He doesn’t have to score himself if someone else is in a better position to score. He will win you a match,” Ngakane stated.
Lebesane remains vigilant regarding the playing styles and movements of the opposing centre-backs and central midfielders, Ngakane said, and he is perpetually proactive in formulating strategies to counter them.
Another of Lebesane’s good qualities is that he is receptive to coaching. He actively listens to instructions and demonstrates a high level of attentiveness, Ngakane added.
“He can use his body to his advantage. He has speed and does not get tired. He can play every game in a tournament without showing signs of fatigue.
“At the Brebner Tournament,” he recalled, “there was a game where we were losing 0-1 before half-time. In the second half, Oageng scored a hat-trick. That’s the kind of player he is. He can take matters into his own hands, but it’s important that he is a team player and recognises the need to feed into a collective effort.”
Player Profile
Full Name – Oageng Lebesane
Date of birth – 17 October 2008
Nationality – South African
Profile
Preferred Foot – Right Footed
Nickname – OG/Osihmen
Position – Striker/Forward
Current Club and School
Virginia Sports Academy (Harmony)/Virginia High School
Previous Clubs and Schools
Brandwag Primary School, Soccer Kids Football Factory Academy, HTS Louis Botha, Free State Football Academy
Achievements
Brandwag Primary School – u11 Player of the Year (2019)
Grey College Elevate Tournament u11 Gold Medallist 2019 (FF Academy)
Bloemfontein Crescent Sports Club Tournament u13 Gold Medallist 2020 (HTS Louis Botha)
Football Development Initiative Tournament u15 Silver Medallist/Golden Boot 2023 (HTS Louis Botha)
Youth Cup Grey College u15 Tournament – Silver Medallist/Golden Boot 2023 (HTS Louis Botha)
Navalsig u17 Tournament – Gold Medallist/Golden Boot/Striker of the Tournament 2024 (Virginia Sports Academy/Virginia High)
Lejweleputswa u17 Magnificent Wednesday Champions (Virginia High)
Lwejeleputswa u19 Magnificent Wednesday Champions (Virginia High)
Free State u17 Engen Knockout Champions 2024 (Virginia Sports Academy)
Bayhill Premier Cup Knockout States 2024 (Virginia Sports Academy)
Kloof High School’s National Football Tournament Bronze Medallist and Silver 2024 and 2025 (Virginia High)
The Chatsworth Hub Girls’ u18 XI fired off a massive salvo in the opening rounds of the KwaZulu-Natal Schools SA20 competition, powering their way to a one-sided 264-run win over Umlazi Comtech High on the weekend, in Chatsworth.
