Hosts into the semis as shocks rock the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament
In a dramatic twist, the defending champion, Virginia High, was eliminated from the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament on Sunday, beaten 1-0 by Navalsig.
The hosts, Kimberley Boys’ High, also sent shockwaves through the event, avenging an earlier loss to Northern Academy to book their place in the semi-finals while sending the reigning Curro Halala Cup champions packing.
Group Stage Wrap
Several group matches were played on Sunday morning, with quarterfinal spots still up for grabs. Northern Academy, who had won four out of four matches, had already secured their position in the last eight on Saturday.
In Group A, Kimberley Boys’ High made sure of their place with a 2-0 win over Norkem Park High. That left the hosts with seven points, while Northern Academy progressed with a maximum haul of 12 points.
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Brebner scored their first victory of the tournament, beating Victoria Park 3-2, which ended the Eastern Cape side’s chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals.
Virginia High powered to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Springs Boys’ High on Sunday, thereby wrapping up first place in Group B. Clapham High, the 2024 Absa Wildeklawer champion, beat Queen’s College 3-0 to finish second.
Last year’s runner-up, the Wildeklawer Academy, narrowly missed out, totalling seven points, just one behind Clapham
Another big gun, HTS Louis Botha, the winners in 2022 and 2023, failed to advance to the quarterfinals after placing third in Group C.
The Bloemfontein school finished their group assignments on a positive note, defeating Northwood 3-0, while Paul Roos Gimnasium downed Jeppe High School for Boys 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. They placed second, behind Navalsig, who topped the group with 10 points.
In Group D, Maritzburg College was winless, finishing with a record of four losses from four matches after a narrow 0-1 defeat to Emmang Mmogo. Northwood, in Group C, suffered the same misfortune.
Grey College, meanwhile, completed a clean run through Group D, finishing with the maximum 12 points after comfortably beating Reddam House Bedfordview 3-0.
Although the Johannesburg side started strongly, outplaying Maritzburg College 6-1, they didn’t win another game and placed third in the group, with four points. Emmang Mmogo secured second spot, with nine points.
Quarterfinals
In the quarterfinals, Virginia High fell to Navalsig. Despite the loss, Lehlohonolo Ntjana, from Virginia, was named the Man of the Match. Navalsig’s Sello Mokholo received the Checkers “Most Gees” Award. On Monday, the Bloemfontein boys will face Kimberley Boys’ High for a place in the final.
The locals have improved throughout the competition. On Sunday, they kept Northern Academy goalless in regulation time, and then won 4-2 from the penalty spot. Kitso Kaseleta, from Kimberley Boys’ High, received the Man of the Match Award.
Grey College held off Emmang Mmogo, claiming a tight 1-0 win to keep their title hopes alive. In the semi-finals, they’ll put their flawless winning record to the test against Clapham High.
Clapham advanced after a penalty shootout. Their quarterfinal clash with Paul Roos Gimnasium failed to produce a goal in regulation time, but Clapham handled the subsequent penalty shootout with aplomb, advancing 5-2 from the spot.
Group A
Kimberley Boys’ High 2-0 Norkem Park High
Brebner 3-2 Victoria Park
Group B
Clapham High 3-0 Queen’s College
Virginia High 4-0 Springs Boys’ High
Group C
HTS Louis Botha 2-0 Northwood
Paul Roos 2-0 Jeppe
Group D
Grey College 3-0 Reddam House Bedfordview
Emmang Mmogo 1-0 Maritzburg College
Quarterfinals
Navalsig 1-0 Virginia High
Kimberley Boys’ High 4-2 Northern Academy
Grey College 1-0 Emmang Mmogo
Clapham 5-2 Paul Roos Gimnasium
FIXTURES
Semifinals – Monday, 27 April
08:00
Clapham vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
Navalsig vs Kimberley Boys’ High
