Schoolboy football wrap, Urban Academy shines
The third term of 2025 has begun and with that the football season has fully kicked into gear with great enthusiasm.
SuperSport Schools Plus reports on some of the football matches that took place during the week and on the weekend, featuring, among others, Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), Urban Academy, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Jeppe High School for Boys, Maritzburg College, Hillcrest High, and Westville Boys’ High School.
Urban Academy, from Gqeberha, continues to ascend and has proven their pedigree competing against the most formidable schools in the country.
During the week, they took on Lawson Brown High and recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory, with goals from Oyisa Ngeni, Qhamani Gubevu, Tashreeq Rademeyer, and Okuhle Khemese.
During the mid-year holiday, Urban Academy went through the Kearsney Soccer Tournament without conceding a goal, but they were beaten 3-1 on penalties in the final after a goalless draw with the defending champion, Pinetown Boys’ High, the second time the teams had finished in a 0-0 stalemate in the event.
Pinetown also won the Kloof High Football Tournament, which underlined the size of the challenge that Urban Academy faced, but also reflected their class.
Also on Thursday, another Gqeberha side, Westview School, delivered an exceptional performance to defeat Cape Recife High 4-0.
In Gauteng, Pretoria Boys High showcased their skill in a 2-1 win over Princethorpe College, a touring team from the United Kingdom.
On Saturday, Rondebosch Boys’ High secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Paul Roos in the Western Cape, while Hudson High defeated Queen’s College 2-1 in the Eastern Cape.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Northwood School, after a disappointing run in the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Coastal A-League, Second Term League, which almost led to their relegation, are finding their form. They’ve played far better football in recent times, including at the end of the second term.
Their upward trend resumed on Saturday when they scored a surprisingly commanding 6-1 victory over a decent Clifton College outfit. Northwood, perhaps, has turned the corner.
On Saturday, Westville Boys’ High, the winners of the 2025 KZNHSFA Coastal A-League and the Kloof High School Football Tournament’s Shield winners, picked up a tight 2-1 victory over Hilton College, with Nkanyezi Mkhungo and Asanele Shange scoring for the winners.
The KZNHSFA Inland A-League champion, Maritzburg College who also lifted the Plate at the Kloof High Football Tournament, made a good start to their third term’s fixtures with a convincing 3-0 win over Hillcrest High at Hillcrest High.
Mazithi Qasha, Sphelele Sibiya and Thubelihle Myeni were on target for the Red, Black and White.
While the 1st XI was outstanding, College’s other primary teams – u14A, u15A, u16A, and 2nd XI – were all held to draws.
Hillcrest High enjoyed an outstanding run during the second term’s KZNHSFA Coastal A-League and made it to the final, where they were beaten in a penalty shootout by Westville Boys’ High. Since then, though, their fortunes have slipped, and they didn’t enjoy a good showing at the Kloof High Football Tournament.
Hillcrest, though, has a young team that has demonstrated resilience and determination this season, and, given the performances they have previously produced, they should be able to regain their mojo.
They’ll be in action at the finals of Curro Halala Cup, which take place at HeronBridge College on 7 August. There, they’ll face, among others, Grey College, Clapham High School, Glenwood High, who are all vying for the prestigious title, with a prize of R100,000 at stake.
On Saturday, in Johannesburg, St John’s College hosted Christian Brothers’ College Boksburg (CBC). In a tight 1st XI game, St John’s secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
Durban High School (DHS) travelled up to Johannesburg for a showdown with Jeppe on Saturday as the schools engaged in rugby, hockey, squash, chess, golf, and football competition.
Jeppe’s strong season continued as they hung a 3-1 defeat on the Horseflies.
In Makhanda, St Andrew’s College played to a 1-1 draw with Victoria Park High.
Results
Thursday 24 July
Urban Academy 4-0 Lawson Brown High
Westview School 4-0 Cape Recife High
Pretoria Boys High School 2-1 Princethorpe College
Saturday 26 July
Rondebosch Boys’ High 2-1 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Hudson Park 2-1 Queen’s College
Westville Boys’ High 2-1 Hilton College
Northwood 6-1 Clifton College
Maritzburg College 3-0 Hillcrest High
St Andrew’s College 1-1 Victoria Park High
Jeppe 3-1 DHS
St John’s College 1-0 CBC Boksburg
