Will the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament go Free State’s way again?
Since the first edition of the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament in 2022, Free State schools have shone, winning the tournament every year, except in 2024, when Clapham High claimed victory.
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The forthcoming Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament kicks off on Friday, 24 April, and runs through to Monday, 27 April. It features some of South Africa’s best sides in one of the country’s toughest events.
HTS Louis Botha won the first two Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament titles, going back-to-back in 2022 and 2023. Pretoria’s Clapham High then won in 2024, defeating Grey College in the final. If Grey had won, the title would have belonged to a Free State side every year because Virginia High rose to the challenge and won the tournament last year.
They met the event’s surprise package, the Wildeklawer Academy, in the 2025 final and were taken to penalties after regulation time ended with the teams level at 2-2. Holding their nerve, in a tense finish, Virginia High clinched the title 4-3 from the spot.
Six players in the Team of the Tournament underlined their dominance.
Virginia will face a tough task defending the title. Among those trying to stop them will be the two-time winners, HTS Louis Botha, and the 2024 champs, Clapham High.
KwaZulu-Natal sides have not enjoyed much luck in the tournament, but Maritzburg College, a regular participant, will aim to change that. They’ll be joined by Northwood, which is an intriguing side.
The Knights were almost relegated from the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League last year, but they caught fire later in the season, winning the Cowie Cup and also finishing as the runner-up in the Primo Big 10.
Paul Roos Gimnasium will bear watching. They have a strong football tradition, but have not yet made a significant impact at the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament. It will be their goal to change that in 2026.
In 2025, Xolile Taba, the Headmaster of the host school, Kimberley Boys’ High, described the tournament as one that creates an immediate impact and fosters real growth, providing exposure to young talent. In 2026, the event will again offer a national stage upon which some of the country’s most talented and exciting footballers will be able to express their skills.
FIXTURES
Friday, 24 April
Field 1
14:00 – Kimberley Boys’ High vs Northern Academy
15:00 – Northwood vs Navalsig
16:00 – Queen’s College vs Virginia High
19:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Jeppe
Field 2
14:00 – Clapham vs Wildeklawer Academy
15:00 – Grey College vs Vaal High
16:00 – Norkem Park High vs Victoria Park
19:30 – Reddam Bedfordview vs Maritzburg College
Saturday, 15 April
Field 1
08:00 – Grey College vs Maritzburg College
09:30 – Northern Academy vs Brebner High
10:30 – Navalsig vs Paul Roos
11:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High vs Victoria Park
12:30 – Navalsig High vs Jeppe
13:30 – Spring Boys’ High vs Queen’s College
14:30 – Paul Roos vs HTS Louis Botha
15:30 – Northern Academy vs Victoria Park
16:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High vs Brebner High
17:30 – Northwood vs Paul Roos
18:30 – Northern Academy vs Norkem Pak High
19:30 – Reddam Bedfordview vs Vaal High
Field 2
08:30 – Northwood vs Jeppe
09:30 – Wildeklawer Academy vs Springs Boys’ High
10:30 – Vaal High vs Emmang Mmogo
11;30 – Clapham High vs Virginia High
12:30 – Brebner High vs Norkem Park High
13:30 – Vaal High vs Maritzburg College
14:30 – Emmang Mmogo vs Reddam Bedfordview
15:30 – Wildeklawer Academy vs Virginia High
16:30 – Clapham High vs Springs Boys’ High
17:30 – Grey College vs St Mark’s Academy
18:30 – Queen’s College vs Wildeklawer Academy
19:30 – HTS Louis Botha vs Navalsig High
Sunday, 26 April
Field 1
08:30 – Kimberley Boys’ High vs Norkem Park
09:30 – Northwood vs Brebner High
10:30 – Victoria Park vs Brebner High
11:30 – Jeppe vs Paul Roos
13:00 – Quarterfinal Match 1
14:00 – Quarterfinal Match 2
Field 2
08:30 – Clapham High vs Queen’s College
09:30 – Grey College vs Reddam Bedfordview
10:30 – Virginia High vs Springs Boys’ High
11:30 – Maritburg College vs Emmang Mmogo
13:00 – Quarterfinal Match 1
14:00 – Quarterfinal Match 2
Monday, 27 April
Field 1
08:00 – Semifinal: Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2
Field 2
08:00 – Semifinal: Winner Match 2 vs Winner Match 4
Field 1
12:00 – Final
