Maritzburg College into Cowie Cup semis
The semifinals’ lineup of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup has been confirmed after Maritzburg College stormed to a 5-2 victory over Brettonwood High on Wednesday in the last of the quarterfinals, played on Barns Field, in Pietermaritzburg.
After suffering a defeat to Michaelhouse in the Jody Momplé Cup final on Sunday, College was back in knockout cup action and eager to move past the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle on the weekend.
Their clash with Brettonwood brought together two champion teams. During the second term, Brettonwood captured the KZNHSFA Coastal C-League title to earn promotion to the B-League in 2026. College, meanwhile, was crowned the KZNHSFA Inland A-League champion.
The Red, Black, and White, motivated by their defeat to Michaelhouse, was favoured to advance to the semi-finals, especially since they are also the reigning champions of the Cowie Cup, after defeating Port Shepstone in the 2024 final. The goal scorers in that game were Mazithi Qasha and Philasande Khuzwayo, who played a crucial role in securing a 2-0 victory for College.
On Wednesday, Qasha, once again, proved to be a devastating finisher for College. He fired in a hat-trick as College won by three over the visitors from Durban, with Nzolo Ngcemu and Zilizipho Duma also striking for the home side.
Nic Haswell, the Director of Soccer at Maritzburg College, commenting on his team’s qualification for the semifinals of the Cowie Cup, described the match against Brettonwood as exceptionally entertaining and fast-paced.
“Brettonwood were pressing us from the outset and played with great determination and energy,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. But, he added, Maritzburg College gained an early advantage with a superb headed goal from Duma.
Brettonwood mounted a strong fightback and stunned College when they took a 2-1 lead. The hosts, though, levelled just before the break.
“Brettonwood’s impressive pressing, however, took a toll in the Pietermaritzburg heat, and College took control of the game in the second half and ran out comfortable 5-2 winners on the day,” Haswell said.
In the semi-finals, the defending champions will face a stiff challenge from a reenergised Northwood, who twice drew with College in the Primo Big 10, but eliminated the Pietermaritzburg school in the quarterfinals after their penalty shootout went to sudden death.
In the other semifinal, it will be an all-Pietermaritzburg clash between Alexandra High and the runner-up in the Inland A-League, Carter High.
Both were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Jody Momplé Cup on Sunday, with Alex falling to Hilton College 7-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Carter exiting 0-1 against Michaelhouse, who went on to lift the trophy.
