Kevin McCarthy talks about the rise of Jeppe football
The Jeppe High School for Boys’ football team has put together a good run thus far in 2025.
As usual, the school’s 1st XI hockey side has caught the eye, as has their exciting rugby 1st XV, but, under Head of Football, Kevin McCarthy, the boys playing the beautiful game have also been making their mark. SuperSport Schools Plus chatted with McCarthy about Jeppe’s football programme.
McCarthy was emphatic about what is prioritised: “We are educators first, so that’s a very important aspect to the school itself, but also to me, that we focus on comprehensive education and that we focus on educating the boys on all aspects. Obviously, sport is a huge aspect of that.
“My passion for football has been very long standing. I’ve worked as a football coach previously at St Peter’s College, where I coached both the boys’ first team and girls’ first team.”
McCarthy has also worked at St David’s Marist Inanda, one of Gauteng leading football-playing schools. He’s a St David’s old boy, having attended the school from grade one to grade 12, and he witnessed how football was promoted there. St David’s was where he developed his passion for the sport, said McCarthy.
As a South African, he finds an inherent connection to football and appreciates the guidance he has received from different mentors over the years.
Earlier this season, Jeppe faced elite competition at the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, in Kimberley, and finished in 15th place. Their group included Navalsig, who finished fifth overall, Grey College, who placed sixth, Maritzburg College, and Selborne College.
In a pre-tournament match, Jeppe showed their quality when they defeated Westville Boys’ High 4-2. Next week, Westville will face Hillcrest High in the final of the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League. McCarthy said he saw taking on an established football power like Westville as an important test for his team.
Building relationships through football
With the support of teachers, football serves to build bonds between players, not only on the field but also off of it, McCarthy said. Some boys, he warned, rush to prioritise club football, but balance is necessary.
“At this stage in Gauteng, we are definitely losing because the boys are choosing clubs when it comes to a decision between major tournaments, for a club or a school, they will choose the club, unfortunately,” he said.
McCarthy has over 15 years of experience coaching young students His greatest joy comes from working with them, he said: “I absolutely love working with kids. That’s why I’m a teacher.”
Merging his enthusiasm for education with his passion for football, he takes pleasure in being out in the open air.
“There is no better thing for me. When the rain comes in the afternoon, and I know I’m going to miss training, it does upset me, even though I’m going to get home a little bit earlier,” he revealed.
Some of his most successful years as a football coach came during his time at St. David’s Marist Inanda, alongside Chaid White.
“We were there from 2014 to 2017, and we worked together. We built some lovely youth sides there, and they often made finals.”
McCarthy remains in contact with some of the boys he coached at St David’s, observing their progress as they complete their degrees, including several of them who received football scholarships to United States’ universities.
In 2023, he also did well with the St Peter’s College girls’ first team, winning the women’s league. He recalled that during his initial three games as the coach of St Peter’s, the team suffered three big defeats, losing 0-11, 0-10, and 0-9, conceding 30 goals without scoring.
However, he successfully transformed that team into a competitive unit, and St Peter’s ultimately went on to enjoy victories over those same teams that had overwhelmed them.
In 2024, his u14 boys’ team was one of the top sides in the country, dropping only two games, one of them against the Tuks u15 team, and the other a narrow 2-3 defeat against Grey College.
Current Jeppe Squad
Turning to Jeppe’s first team, McCarthy said he feels good about the side. They have a very good energy about them.
“The boys have great relationships with each other and treat each other in a really positive way. They build each other up. There’s a lot of banter, but it never goes past that line that then goes into breaking boys down. I’m really positive about this team.”
McCarthy firmly believes that in the coming years, Jeppe will emerge as a formidable force in football, citing an abundance of talent, particularly in the younger age groups.
Jeppe has undergone significant changes in its coaching structure over the past two years, with Caesar Maphalla currently serving as the head coach of the first team.
McCarthy praised Maphalla, a former professional player, as an outstanding youth coach with extensive experience, including at the University of the Witwatersrand.
While football has not yet reached the heights of the Jeppe’s hockey and rugby programmes, he’s aiming to emulate their success and believes the side has what it takes to reach that level of consistent achievement.
McCarthy said the success of Jeppe’s other teams serve as inspiration for the football team to elevate themselves.
