Jeppe shines on day one of APBSA Football Festival
The inaugural Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (APBSA) Football Festival kicked off at King Edward VII School (KES), in Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
The event is intended to be a festival, which means there is no overall winner, but the intensity on the fields was palpable on a day of very evenly contested competition.
Jeppe High School for Boys have put together some outstanding performances in 2025 and they showed up well again.
Earlier this season, they defeated the champion of the Mancosa KZHSFA Coastal A-League, Westville Boys’ High in a pre-tournament match leading up to the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament at which Jeppe finished 15th position, just behind another KwaZulu-Natal and South African powerhouse in school football, Maritzburg College, the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland A-League champions, which highlighted the competitiveness of that tournament.
It was a chastening final position for Jeppe, though, but coach Kevin McCarthy told SuperSport Schools Plus earlier this year in an exclusive interview that Jeppe football is progressing and on a positive trajectory. That appeared to be the case on Tuesday as they drew 1-1 with Northwood before outplaying St Andrew’s School 5-1.
Against St Andrew’s School, Nkosinathi Maselela and Yusuf Sarfudin both struck twice, with Cian Edmeades netting their fifth. Diego Freire was on the score sheet against Northwood.
The hosts, KES, were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in a highly anticipated match between two of the top guns from Gauteng and the Western Cape. In their following match, KES faced another reputable opponent, Grey College, and had to again settle for a draw, with the contest ending 1-1.
Parktown Boys’ High went up against the Eastern Cape’s Dale College and came away with a tight 1-0 win. The Johannesburg school also drew 0-0 with St Andrew’s School.
Dale, whose football fortunes slid in 2024 after a strong season and huge improvements in 2023, is gradually regaining its footing.
They’re part of the East London High Schools Football League, also known as the B-Block BWFLA High Schools Soccer League, where their opposition includes, among others, Selborne College, Stutterheim High, and Hudson Park High.
Following their loss to Parktown, Dale took on Grey College. A hard-fought game finished goalless, but it was a boost for the boys from Qonce.
St David’s Marist Inanda made a favourable impression. They kicked off their APBSA Football Festival assignments with a 3-0 win over Rondebosch Boys’ High. They also shared a 0-0 stalemate with Potchefstroom Boys’ High.
In other matches, Rondebosch Boys’ High and Springs Boys’ High drew 0-0, Pretoria Boys High secured a 1-0 victory over Queen’s College, while Queen’s College drew 0-0 draw with Springs in their second match of the day.
Northwood snatched a 2-1 win over Paul Roos, which stood out on a day in which nine of the 14 matches ended in draws.
RESULTS
Grey College 0-0 Dale College
KES 0-0 Paul Roos
Jeppe 1-1 Northwood
Parktown Boys’ High 0-0 St Andrew’s School
Rondebosch High 0-0 Springs High
Pretoria Boys High 1-0 Queen’s College
KES 1-1 Grey College
St David’s 0-0 Potch Boys
Parktown Boys’ High 1-0 Dale College
Northwood 2-1 Paul Roos
Queen’s College 0-0 Springs Boys
St David’s 3-0 Rondebosch Boys’ High
Potch Boys 0-0 Pretoria Boys High
Jeppe 5-1 St Andrew’s School
