What makes the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament unique?

The fourth edition of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament kicks off on Wednesday and runs through to Saturday, 3 May. The defending champion, Clapham High School, appears to be the team to beat.

Recently, in a recent exclusive interview, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with the Headmaster of Kimberley Boys’ High School, Xolile Taba, the host of the tournament, to discuss the preparations, the tournament’s origins, and its development over the years.

History of the Absa Wildeklawer Tournament 

To understand the Absa Wildklawer Soccer Tournament, Taba took us back to the founding of Wildeklawer Sport in 2009, by Louis and Cora de Kock, the owners of Wildeklawer. It began with a dozen rugby teams.

With the rugby event proving to be a huge success, netball was then included. More recently, in 2022, football was added to the event, with Louis Botha winning the inaugural Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament.

“It was one of the discussions that we had with the organisers of the tournament when they approached the school (Kimberley Boys’ High School), looking to use the facilities. It made sense because we are predominantly a soccer school. We then proposed that our school should be added to the tournament, so that our boys can also participate. That’s how the discussion started.”

Taba said he also took a hard look at rugby on the Wildeklawer website. He noted how many future Springboks developed their game at the tournament, and that led to him recognising the value of participating in the Wildeklawer Tournament.

Given the challenges associated with managing football in the country, he said he was eager to be involved in a tournament that upholds high standards of integrity. Furthermore, he acknowledged that Wildeklawer was committed to nurturing potential football players who might one day represent national teams.

“And I must say, even though we started in 2022, we already see the results, with some of the players playing in the Multichoice Diski Challenge.  Some of them, from the schools that have participated in this tournament, have also been playing in the National Soccer League.”

Overcoming early challenges

Taba said that the primary obstacle for his team and the stakeholders was a fear of age cheating.

Football needed to be integrated into a system that had been functioning effectively for years without causing disruption. The critical challenge was how to conduct a legitimate tournament that aligned with the highest standards of integrity upheld by Absa Wildeklawer Sport.

Another crucial component of the challenge was which teams to invite. Without any experience of hosting a football tournament, that was new ground that had to be covered. Thus, in the beginning, teams were invited without the use of any criteria. As it gained momentum, performance became a key consideration for the qualification of sides for the tournament.

Last year, the top eight teams were automatically selected for the 2025 event, which was another reflection of the growth of the tournament.

A schools’ ranking system is also used to select the schools, which, now, also includes sides performing at the top level of South African and development football.

Taba said those challenges have been met and overcome. Now, the challenge has become which schools to leave out as top schools are eager to be a part of the prestigious event.

Growth of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament 

“In 2022 we started with eight teams, with 144 players and 16 officials, and I’m glad that we grew. In 2023, it was 16 teams, double the number. We had 288 players and 32 officials.

“Last year, we had 20 teams, and this year we are still going to be 20 teams, with 360 players and 40 officials,” Taba said.

Through livestream platforms, like SuperSport Schools, talent scouts are identifying players from the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament. This year, scouts have, once again, been invited to attend. Those unable to make it in person can watch the matches live on SuperSport Schools.

Some talented players who participated in the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament have moved on to make their mark at a higher level. They include Sechaba Gaseitsiwe, from Kimberley Boys’ High, who joined the Mamelodi Sundowns DDC Team in 2024, and Mateo Horstead, who captained Maritzburg College, and now plays for the AmaZulu DDC Team.

Sense of Community and Belonging 

Taba said the tournament also helps to steer children away from crime and drugs.

It also facilitates the formation of communities among schools and administrators, fostering an exchange of ideas and strategies for organising a successful event, he added.

By learning from schools, like Victoria Park High School and Grey College, which hosts the renowned annual Nedbank Grey Soccer Tournament, Taba said valuable lessons could be learnt.

He also acknowledged the significant contribution of the Kimberley community to the success of the tournament.

Taba described the Absa Wildklawer Soccer Tournament as the main event on the schools’ calendar for Kimberley.

“It’s an event we want not only to keep but to grow as well,” he concluded.

Note: Northern Academy, Victoria Park High School, Reddam House Bedfordview, and Jeppe High School for Boys are the newcomers to the Absa Wilderklawer Soccer Tournament.

Positions 1 to 16 reflect last year’s final rankings.

GROUPS

Group A

Kimberley Boys’ High School, Potchefstroom High School for Boys, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Glenwood High School, Wildeklawer Academy

Group B

Clapham High School, Norkem Park High School, Emmang Mmogo, Northwood School, Northern Academy

Group C

HTS Louis Botha, Victoria Park High School, Virginia High School, Reddam House Bedfordview, Brebner High School

Group D

Grey College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Maritzburg College, Navalsig High School, Selborne College

FIXTURES

Wednesday, 30 April

SPU 1 – 14:00 – Kimberely Boys’ High vs Wildeklawer
SPU 1 – 15:00 – Victoria Park High School vs Brebner
SPU 1 – 16:00 – Paul Ross vs Glenwood
SPU 1 – 17:00 – Virginia High School vs Reddam House

SPU 2 – 14:00 – Norkem vs Northern Academy
SPU 2 – 15:00 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Selborne College
SPU 2 – 16:00 – Emang Mmogo vs Northwood School
SPU2 – 17:00 – Maritzburg College vs Navalsig

Thursday, 1 May

SPU 1 – 08:30 – Potchefstroom vs Wildeklawer
SPU 1 – 09:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Brebner
SPU 1 – 10:30 – Potchefstroom vs Paul Ross
SPU 1 – 11:30 – Victoria Park High School vs Virginia High
SPU 1 – 13:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High School vs Glenwood
SPU 1 – 14:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Reddam House
SPU 1 – 15:30 – Wildeklawer vs Paul Roos
SPU 1 – 16:30 – Brebner vs Virginia High
SPU 1 – 18:00 – Kimberley Boys’ High School vs Paul Ross
SPU 1 – 19:00 – HTS Louis Botha vs Virginia High School
SPU 1 – 20:00 – Glenwood vs Potchefstroom

SPU 2 – 08:30 – Clapham High School vs Northern Academy
SPU 2 – 09:30 – Grey College vs Selborne College
SPU 2 – 10:30 – Norkem vs Emang Mmogo
SPU 2 – 11:30 – Jeppe High School for Boys vs Maritzburg College
SPU 2 – 13:00 – Clapham High School vs Northwood School
SPU 2 – 14:30 – Grey College vs Navalsig
SPU 2 – 15:30 – Northern Academy vs Emang Mmogo
SPU 2 – 16:30 – Selborne College vs Maritzburg College
SPU 2 – 18:00 – Clapham High School vs Emang Mmogo
SPU 2 – 19:00 – Grey College vs Maritzburg College
SPU 2 – 20:00 – Northwood School vs Norkem

Friday, 2 May

SPU 1 – 08:30 – Reddam House vs Victoria Park High School
SPU 1 – 09:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High School vs Potchefstroom
SPU 1 – 10:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Victoria Park High School
SPU 1 – 11:30 – Glenwood vs Wildeklawer
SPU 1 – 12:30 – Reddam House vs Brebner

SPU 2 – 08:30 – Navalsig vs Jeppe High School for Boys
SPU 2 – 09:30 – Clapham High School vs Norkem
SPU 2 – 10:30 – Grey College vs Jeppe High School for Boys
SPU 2 – 11:30 – Northwood School vs Northern Academy
SPU 2 – 12:30 – Navalsig vs Selborne College

4 Pools of 5 Pools Teams (Top 2 in Pool proceed to quarterfinals)

SPU 1 – 15:30 – Winner Pool A vs Runner-up Pool B
SPU 1 – 16:30 – Winner Pool B vs Runner-up Pool A

SPU 2 – 15:30 – Winner Pool C vs Runner-up  Pool D
SPU 2 – 16:30 – Winner Pool D vs Runner-up Pool C

Saturday, 3 May 

Semifinals 

SPU 1 – Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 4
SPU 2 – Winner Match 2 vs Winner Match 4

Finals

SPU 1 – 13:00 – Winner Match 5 vs Winner Match 6

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Siya Pongco

A passionate reader and dedicated writer, Siya possesses three degrees from Rhodes University including a Postgraduate Diploma at Rhodes University. He also played amateur cricket and soccer, both during his university years. While honing his journalism skills at Grocott’s Mail in Makhanda, he developed a profound interest in the community’s response to crime. Additionally, he covered topics such as art/culture and student politics at Rhodes University in 2022. In his spare time, Siya can be found exploring galleries, dining at restaurants, indulging in literature, taking photographs or savouring his favourite dish, spaghetti.

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