Top teams to meet at KES in inaugural APBSA Football Festival
From Tuesday, 15 July, to Thursday, 17 July, King Edward VII School (KES) is set to host the Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (APBSA) Football Festival.
The festival, which makes its bow this year, will feature some of the most competitive u19 schoolboy football teams in South Africa.
The competition will be played on two fields over three days.
Among the schools in action will be Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), primarily recognised for its robust rugby programme and for being a regular supplier of Springbok rugby players, including Damian Willemse, Willie le Roux, Steven Kitshoff, and Herschel Jantjies.
PRG, though, also excels in football and not only in the Western Cape. It’s one of the country’s top football institutions and its alumni includes Ziyaad Eksteen, who has played for Ajax Cape Town and Maritzburg United in the top tier of South African football, the Premier Soccer League.
Former Orlando Pirates‘ wing, Riyaad Norodien, is also a product of the PRG football programme. With their rich history in the sport, Paul Roos will be one of the teams to keep an eye on.
Another school with a rich rugby history, which also excels on the football field, is Grey College. Up against many of South Africa’s top teams, the Bloemfontein boys placed sixth at the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament in May.
While Grey College is renowned for its legendary rugby programme, it is also recognised as one of the most formidable and daring schools in South African football.
Under the leadership of Monde Hlatshwayo, the Director of Football at Grey College – a passionate football aficionado and the holder of a CAF A License, which he obtained in 2024 – Grey has excelled on the football field.
They’ve qualified for the Curro Halala Cup Finals, where they are scheduled to face Curro Soshanguve on 7 August at HeronBridge College. That makes them one of only six in the running to lift the inaugural Curro Halala Cup. Relentless, they’ll be a team to watch at KES.
The hosts, KES, should not be overlooked. They boast a commendable reputation and a robust and successful football programme. Their old boys include Cape Town City midfielder Thabo Nodada and former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.
Historically, the school has enjoyed title-winning success in national tournaments, including the Grey College Football Tournament, the St David’s Challenge Cup, and the St Peter’s Tournament.
Northwood School will represent KZN interests in Johannesburg. They’ve played plenty of football already this year, participating in the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament and the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association Coastal A-League. It has, thus far, been a challenging year for the Durban school, but they have shown signs of improvement in recent outings.
The APBSA Football Festival does not declare a winner. It is, instead, intended to be a celebration of the beautiful game.
It will also serve, for many of the participants, as ideal preparation for the forthcoming fixtures in the third term.
Among the other teams that will be in action are Jeppe High School for Boys, Dale College, Pretoria Boys High, Parktown Boys’ High, Rondebosch Boys’ High, St David’s Marist Inanda, St Andrew’s School, Springs’ Boys’ High, Potchefstroom Boys’ High, and Queen’s College.
With a high calibre of schools gracing the inaugural Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (APBSA) Football Festival, top quality football and competition is on the cards.
Tuesday, 15 July
Field A
08:00 – KES vs Paul Roos
09:00 – Jeppe vs Northwood
10:00 – Queen’s College vs Pretoria Boys High
11:00 – Grey College vs KES
13:00 – Dale College vs Parktown Boys’ High
14:00 – Saint Andrew’s School vs Jeppe
15:00 – St David’s vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
Field B
08:00 – Grey College vs Dale College
09:00 – Parktown Boys’ High vs Saint Andrew’s School
10:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Springs Boys’ High
11:00 – St David’s vs Potchefstroom Boys’ High
13:00 – Northwood vs Paul Roos
14:00 – Queen’s College vs Springs Boys’ High
15:00 – Pretoria Boys’ High vs Potchefstroom Boys’ High
Wednesday, 16 July
Field A
08:00 – Parktown Boys’ High vs Northwood
09:00 – Grey College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
10:00 – Springs Boys’ High vs Saint Andrew’s School
11:00 – Dale College vs St David’s
13:00 – Parktown Boys’ High vs Potchefstroom Boys’ High
14:00 – KES vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
15:00 – Saint Andrew’s School vs Pretoria Boys High
Field B
08:00 – Jeppe vs Queen’s College
09:00 – KES vs Potchefstroom Boys’ High
10:00 – Pretoria Boys High vs Paul Roos
11:00 – Northwood vs Queen’s College
13:00 – Jeppe vs Grey College
14:00 – Dale College vs Springs Boys’ High
15:00 – St David’s vs Paul Roos
Thursday, 17 July
Field A
08:00 – Paul Roos vs Springs Boys’ High
09:00 – Potchefstroom Boys’ High vs Saint Andrew’s School
10:00 – Grey College vs Parktown Boys’ High
11:00 – KES vs Queen’s College
Field B
08:00 -Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Jeppe
09:00 – Dale College vs Pretoria Boys High
10:00 – St David’s vs Northwood
