Champions roar as Kloof High National Tournament kicks off
The first day of the Kloof High School National Football Tournament started with the favourites – including Nqabakazulu, Maritzburg College, and Virginia High School – performing strongly and showing off their pedigree.
Group A
The defending champions, Nqabakazulu, who convincingly beat HTS Louis Botha 3-0 in the 2024 final, laid down a marker by picking up three wins on Friday in Group A.
In their opening match, Nqabakazulu handed Kloof High School B a 3-0 loss. Then, in their second outing, against Alexandra High School, they were relentless as they powered their way to a 5-0 victory. In their final fixture of the day, they handled Durban High School (DHS) comfortably, scoring a 3-0 win to finish the day with 11 goals scored and none conceded.
With that perfect record, they also advanced to the knockout stages with ease.
In other matches in Group A, DHS began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Alexandra High. They also romped to a 7-0 victory over Kloof High B. Those two wins meant they joined Nqabakazulu in the knockout stage of the Cup competition.
Both Alexandra High and Kloof High B have no chance of contending for the Gold Cup. They will, however, face each other on Sunday morning, with an opportunity to compete for the Plate on the line.
Group B – The 2024 Runners-up HTS Louis are prepared for blood and retribution.
The 2024 runners-up, HTS Louis Botha, look formidable. On Friday, like Nqabakazulu, they went three for three, beating New Forest, Hillcrest High, and Northwood School in Group B action.
Northwood, who narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Coastal A-League, was the first team to succumb to HTS Louis Botha, with the Bloemfontein school easing to a 4-0 victory.
New Forest was overwhelmed, with the Free Staters winning 6-0, but Hillcrest High put up a tough fight. In the end, though, HTS Louis Botha claimed a 2-1 win
New Forest, despite the big thrashing they suffered at the hands of HTS Louis Botha, are still in with a shout of joining the Bloemfontein boys in the next round. They scored a 1-0 win over Northwood and drew 0-0 with Hillcrest in their other matches.
Much will depend on the outcome of the clash between Hillcrest and Northwood when they meet at 08:30 on Saturday morning. A victory for Hillcrest, the recent runners-up in the KZN Coastal A-League, would see them join HTS Louis Botha in the knockout for the Gold Cup.
Group C
In Group C, the champions of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, Virginia High School, featuring players including Lebohang Mobe, Kabelo Mukhuoane, and South Africa u17 National forward Oageng Lebesane, cruised into the knockout stage after an impressive showing on the first day of competition.
They kicked of their campaign with an 8-0 thrashing of George Campbell, which was followed by a 5-0 triumph over Ashton Ballito before a hard-fought 1-0 win against Kearsney College.
After suffering that heavy defeat to Virginia, Ashton Ballito regrouped and performed well in their other two Group C matches. They easily dealt with George Campbell, winning 5-1. Then, in one of the day’s most entertaining contests, they edged out Kearsney College 4-3.
With those wins, they accompanied Virginia High into the knockout stages of the Gold Cup. George Campbell and Kearsney College meet on Saturday, with their result determining their future path in the tournament.
Group D
The champions of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland A-League, Maritzburg College, caught the eye with a strong showing on Friday.
The Red, Black, and White were one of the top performing sides on day one, showing that they have designs on going all the way.
College bagged victories in all three of their matches, with Mazithi Qasha, who concluded the KZN Inland A-League as the leading scorer, once again spearheading the attack with four goals across three matches.
In their opening game, Maritzburg College defeated Amanzimtoti High 1-0, and that was followed by another 1-0 win, this time over Birdswood. They found their goal-scoring form against Mondeor High, overrunning the Johannesburg school 5-0.
Birdswood and Amanzimtoti drew 1-1, while Mondeor High reversed their fortunes with a decisive 4-1 victory over Birdswood.
Group E
TuksSport High School opened their challenge with successive victories in Group E, beating Kloof High A 2-0 and Durban North College 3-0.
They’re top of the group with six points, but it remains competitive with Kloof High and Reddam House Umhlanga both on three points but with a game to play.
After losing to TuksSport, the hosts, Kloof High, rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Reddam House, while Reddam bagged a convincing 2-0 win over Durban North College.
Group F
In Group F, the champions of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Coastal A-League, Westville Boys’ High School, were taken aback by a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Vuyiswa Mtolo.
Westville, though, soon found their way, outplaying Sarel Cilliers 4-0, with the prolific Dayyan Fudu netting twice.
Vuyiswa Mtolo, after their draw with Westville, scored a tight 1-0 win over Nilgiri Secondary School.
Nilgiri was beaten for a second time, going down 1-2 to Sarel Cilliers.
Group G
Pinetown Boys’ High are considered among the favourites to lead Group G after overpowering Hilton College 5-1 in their first match.
They were just as impressive in their second outing, outplaying Linpark 4-0. With nine goals scored and only one conceded in two games, Pinetown has shown they have the striking power and the defensive fortitude to test the top contenders.
They’ll be aiming for a perfect record in Group G when they take on Umvuzo Secondary School on Saturday. They’ll be in for a tough challenge.
Umvuzo excelled in a 4-0 victory over Linpark, but they were also held to a 1-1 draw by Hilton College
Group H
Carter High and Edendale Technical High, who finished second and third in the KZNHSFA Inland A-League on the same number of points, are also tied atop Group H after two matches, with both beating Howick High and St Henry’s College.
In the first match of Group H, Edendale made a strong statement by battering St Henry’s 8-0. Howick pushed Edendale hard in their second game, but the Pietermaritzburg side came away with a 4-3 win.
Edendale’s goals came from many sources, with Alwande Bekwa and Wanade Zuma netting twice, while Andile Magwaza, Ayabonga Sibiya, Ayanda Mtshakazi, and Habatho Mnikatho scored once each.
Carter High had no problems with Howick, picking up a one-sided 5-0 win, and they repeated that scoreline against St Henry’s.
On Saturday, Carter High takes on Edendale for first place in the group. It promises to be an intense clash.
RESULTS
Group A
Nqabakazulu 3-0 Kloof High School B
Durban High School 2-1 Alexandra High School
Nqabakazuku 5-0 Alexandra High School
Durban High School 7-0 Kloof High School B
Nqabakazulu 3-0 Durban High School
Group B
HTS Louis Botha 4-0 Northwood
Hillcrest High 0-0 New Forest
HTS Louis Botha 2-1Hillcrest High
New Forest 1-0 Northwood
HTS Louis Botha 6-0 New Forest
Group C
Virginia High School 8-0 George Campbell
Ashton Ballito 5-1 George Campbell
Virginia High 1-0 Kearsney
Virginia High High 5-0 Ashton Ballito
Ashton Ballito 4-3 Kearsney
Group D
Mondeor High 4-1 Birdswood
Maritzburg College 1-0 Toti
Maritzburg College 5-0 Mondeor High
Toti 1-1 Birdswood
Maritzburg College 1-0 Birdswood
Group E
Tuks 2-0 Kloof High School A
Reddam House 2-0 Durban North College
Tuks 3-0 Durban North College
Kloof High 2-0 Reddam House
Group F
Westville 1-1 Vuyiswa Mtolo
Nilgiri 2-1 Sarel Cilliers
Westville 4-0 Sareli Cilliers
Vuyiswa Mtolo 1-0 Nilgiri
Group G
Pinetown 5-1 Hilton College
Umvuzo Secondary 4-0 Linpark
Pinetown 4-0 Linpark
Hilton College 1-1 Umvuzo Secondary
Group H
Edendale 8-0 St Henry’s Marist College
Carter High 5-0 Howick
Carter High 5-0 St Henry’s
Edendale 4-3 Howick
