Maritzburg College in Primo Big 10 title defence
Hilton College hosts the Primo Big 10 on Saturday, 27 July, and Sunday, 28 July, with 10 of KZN’s top football-playing schools in action.
Maritzburg College, who won Primo Big 10 last year, will have a serious challenge on their hands in their title defence. Coach Chemon Petersen’s team is also chasing a first title of the 2024 football season.
In early May, they finished in the top six of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament after falling to the eventual champions, Clapham High School, in the quarterfinals. That high finish, though, secured College a place in next year’s Absa Wildeklawer tournament.
More recently, they went down to their Pietermaritzburg rivals, Carter High School, in the final of the KZN High Schools Football Association’s Inland 2nd Term League, with Nthuthuko Mnguni’s goal securing the silverware for Carter for a first time since 2014.
In 2023, in an exceptional season, College claimed three titles. That side was led by the outstanding midfielder Mateo Horstead, who excelled both in attack and defence.
College still boasts plenty of talent. Mazithi Qasha is prolific in front of goal and able to strike with either foot. Zipho Makangela is a rock in defence, and CJ Sukraj, in goal, is a formidable final barrier for opposing attackers.
The Red, Black and White has been drawn in a challenging Group B, alongside Glenwood High and Clifton College.
Glenwood was their opposition in last year’s final and, at the end of May, the Durban school also won the KZN High Schools Football Association’s Coastal League title for a second season in succession. They’re tough.
Clifton was somewhat inconsistent at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament two weeks ago, but they bagged a couple of notable victories, defeating the eventual runners-up Siyajabula 2-1, and thumping TuksSport High School 4-0.
Group A features Hilton College, St Charles College, and Durban High School (DHS), while Group C is four-strong and includes Northwood School, Kearsney College, Westville Boys’ High School, and Michaelhouse.
Tournament Format
The 10 teams are placed in three groups: two groups of three teams each and one group of four teams. The teams in the groups of three will play cross-group games for their 3rd group match and that match will count for points.
Teams have been placed in the groups according to who they were fixtured against in the main schedule and in the cross-group matches. The schedulers have tried to provide matches between teams that were not scheduled to play one other.
The top two teams in each group and the two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. The remaining two teams will play off for the ninth and 10th places.
GROUPS
Group A: Hilton College, St Charles College, Durban High School
Group B: Maritzburg College, Glenwood High School, Clifton College
Group C: Northwood School, Kearsney College, Westville Boys’ High School, Michaelhouse
FIXTURES
Saturday, 27 July
Group A (Field 1 – Zungu)
09:00 – Hilton College vs St Charles
11:00 – St Charles vs Durban High School
13:00 – Hilton College vs Durban High School
Group B (Field 2 – Etheridge)
09:00 – Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School
11:00 – Glenwood High School vs Clifton College
13:00 – Clifton College vs Maritzburg College
Cross-Group Matches (A and B)
15:00 – Zungu Field: Durban High School vs Glenwood High School
15:00 – Etheridge Field: Maritzburg College vs St Charles
16:00 – Zungu Field: Hilton College vs Clifton College
Group C: (Field 3 – New Field, and Field 4 – Lombard)
10:00 – Michaelhouse vs Westville
11:00 – Northwood vs Kearsney
13:00 – Lombard Field: Kearney vs Michaelhouse
13:00 – Westville vs Northwood
15:00 – Michaelhouse vs Northwood
16:00 – Kearsney vs Westville
Playoffs: Sunday 28 July
Quarterfinals
QF1, 09:00 – Zungu Field: A1 vs 2nd Best 3rd
QF2, 09:00 – Etheridge Field: B1 vs Best 3rd
QF3, 10:00 – Zungu Field: C1 vs B2
QF4, 10:00 – Etheridge Field: A2 vs C2
*If the 2nd Best 3rd team is from Group A, they will change with the Best 3rd Place team.
9th & 10th Play-Off
9th/10th, 11:00 – Zungu Field: C4 vs 3rd-Best 3rd
Semi-finals
SF1, 12:00 – Zungu Field: W QF1 vs W QF4
SF2: 12:00 – Etheridge Field: W QF3 vs W QF2
Final
14:30: Zungu Field – W SF1 vs W SF2
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