The annual Kloof High School National Football Tournament returns, with the action taking place from Friday, 26 June, to Monday, 29 June, with 32 schools from across the nation competing for the prestigious title.
The competition will be fierce, but the defending champions, Pinetown Boys’ High, who secured the title by defeating Virginia High, will not be participating in this year’s tournament. Virginia High, though, will be back for another crack at the title.
Catch the action of the Kloof High National Football Tournament LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
They have yet to go all the way, and their Football Manager, Lekhoba Ngakane, told SuperSport Schools News they’re going to do their utmost to win it, especially after missing out 3-4 from the penalty spot after an exciting 3-3 draw in regulation time in the title game against Pinetown Boys’ High.
In 2024, in their inaugural appearance at the tournament, Virginia High made a lasting impression but fell to the eventual champions, Nqabakazulu Comprehensive High School, also in a penalty shootout, in the semifinals. They went on to win the bronze medal. In 2025, they claimed silver. Now, they’re focused on taking one further step and capturing gold. They do, however, face a challenging path.
Virginia High is placed in Group A, where they will face a stern challenge in their quest to reach the next stage of the competition. Their opposition includes Northwood School. Since narrowly avoiding relegation from the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Coastal A-League in 2025, the Knights have been transformed and will pose a danger.
They finished 2025 by securing the Cowie Cup. Earlier this year, Northwood just missed out on qualifying for the Coastal A-League final, finishing in third place in the standings behind Westville Boys’ High, who lost in the final to Glenwood.
After placing 18th at last year’s Kloof High tournament, Northwood will be intent on recording a big improvement. They will expect more of themselves, especially as several of their players, including the reliable goal scorer Rhys Millar, have been in exceptional form.
Hillcrest High and Ashton International College Ballito are also in Group A. Hillcrest High enjoyed a splendid year in 2025, making a huge impact nationally and receiving the Halala Cup Spirit Award at the inaugural Curro Halala Cup. They also reached the KZN Coastal A-League final for the first time but lost to Westville Boys High.
Their performance in the Kloof High Tournament was disappointing, though, and they finished 28th out of 32 teams. They’ll aim much higher than that. Earlier this year, in the Coastal A-League, Hillcrest High finished in sixth place, just two spots above the relegated Bechet.
Ashton Ballito struggled in the KZN Coastal C-League earlier this season, finishing in seventh. On paper, both Hillcrest High and Ashton Ballito will face a tough challenge against Northwood and Virginia High, who finished seventh at the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament earlier this year while defending the title they won in 2025.
In Group B, Nqabakazulu, the 2024 tournament champions, who defeated HTS Louis Botha in the final, will compete against Amanzimtoti (Toti), Sareli Cilliers High School, and Brettonwood.
Earlier this month, Brettonwood lost in the KZN Coastal B-League final, which meant they missed out on winning promotion to the A-League, going down 0-1 to Queensburgh High, for whom Siphesihle Danisa scored the winning goal.
Brettonwood will have another opportunity to test their capabilities at Kloof High, but they face a tough challenge against the 2024 champions, Nqabakazulu, while less is known about the challenges that Sarel Cilliers and Toti will pose.
In Group C, New Forest High, Durban North College, Nigiri Secondary School, and St Nicholas Diocesan School will do battle.
The tournament hosts, Kloof High, who fielded two teams last year, will have only one team participating this year. Their first team placed right in the middle of the pack last year, finishing 16th, while their second side ended 32nd.
This season, Kloof High made its inaugural appearance in the KZNHSFA Coastal C-League and produced a strong campaign, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the B-League next year. They finished in third place and were kept out of the final on goal difference by Canaan College after both teams ended with 13 points
After that encouraging showing, the hosts will have another opportunity to impress when they go up against Paul Roos Gimnasium, The Glen High, and Crawford International La Lucia in Group D.
Group E features KZN Coastal A-League runner-up, Westville Boys’ High. Last year, the Griffins won the Shield, outplaying Northwood 6-0 in the final. This year, however, they’ll aim for success in the main cup competition.
Westville will face familiar rivals in the group, including KZN’s Alexandra High and Thomas More College, along with an intriguing new addition, Navalsig High, the 2026 Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament winners.
Maritzburg College, after being one of the dominant forces in KZN schools’ football over the past three years, is in a rebuilding phase and has faced challenges this year, not reaching the heights one typically associates with the Red, Black, and White.
They missed out on defending their KZN Inland A-League title, which was won by Edendale Technical High, finishing fourth in the standings. During the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament, they finished winless and placed 19th overall, ahead of only Queen’s College.
College faces Vuyiswa Mtolo, Woodlands International College, and Reddam House Umhlanga in Group F.
In Group G, Tuks Sport High, Durban High School (DHS), St Francis College, and Bechet will target places in the Cup competition.
HTS Louis Botha is expected to shine in Group H, where they take on Kearsney College, Birdswood, and Howick High School.
Groups
Group A: Virginia High, Northwood School, Ashton International College Ballito, Hillcrest High.
Group B: Nqabakzulu Comprehensive School, Amanzimtoti (Toti), Sarel Cilliers High School, Brettonwood.
Group C: New Forest High School, Durban North College (DNC), Nilgiri Secondary School, St Nicholas Diocesan School.
Group D: Paul Roos Gimnasium, Kloof High School, The Glen High, Crawford International – La Lucia.
Group E: Westville Boys’ High School, Alexandra High, Thomas More College, Navalsig
Group F: Vuyiswa Mtolo High, Woodlands International College, Maritzburg College, Reddam House Umhlanga
Group G: Tuks Sport High, Durban High School (DHS), St Francis College, Bechet
Group H: HTS Louis Botha, Kearsney College, Birdswood Secondary School, Howick High School
FIXTURES
Day One: Friday, 26 June
08:00
Main Field – Virginia High vs Hillcrest
Top A – Brettonwood vs Sarel Cilliers
Top B – Ashton Ballito vs Northwood
KSP Field – Nqabakazulu vs Toti
09:00
Main Field – Paul Roos vs Kloof High
Top A – St Nicholas vs Nilgiri
Top B – The Glen High vs Crawford
KSP Field – New Forest vs DNC
10:00
Main field – Westville vs Navalsig
Top A – Maritzburg College vs Reddam House
Top B – Vuyiswa Mtolo vs Woodlands
KSP Field – Alexander vs Thomas More
11:00
Main Field – Tuks vs St Francis
Top A – HTS Louis Botha vs Howick
Top B – DHS vs Bechet
KSP Field – Kearsney College vs Birdswood
12:00
Main Field – Nqabakazulu vs Brettonwood
Top A – Virginia High vs Ashton Ballito
Top B – Toti vs Sarel Cilliers
KSP Field – Northwood vs Hillcrest
13:00
Main field – St Nicholas vs New Forest
Top A – Kloof High vs The Glen High
Top B – Nilgiri vs DNC
KSP Field – Paul Roos vs Crawford
14:00
Main field – Maritzburg College vs Woodlands
Top A – Westville vs Thomas More
Top B – Navalsig vs Alexander
KSP Field – Reddam House vs Vuyiswa Mtolo
15:00
Main field – HTS Louis Botha vs Kearsney College
Top A – Tuks vs Bechet
Top B – Howick vs Birdswood
KSP Field – DHS vs St Francis
Day Two: Saturday, 27 June
08:00
Main field – Virginia High vs Northwood
Top A – Toti vs Brettonwood
Top B – Ashton Ballito vs Hillcrest
KSP Field – Nqabakazulu vs Satel Cilliers
09:00
Main field – Maritzburg College vs Vuyiswa Mtolo
Top A – Westville vs Alexander
Top B – Navalsig vs Thomas More
KSP Field – Woodlands vs Reddam House
10:00
Main Field – Kloof High vs Crawford
Top A – Nilgiri vs New Forest
Top B – Paul Roos vs The Glen High
KSP Field – St Nicholas vs DNC
11:00
Main field – Tuks vs DHS
Top A – HTS Louis Botha vs Birdswood
Top B – Kearsney College vs Howick
KSP Field – Bechet vs St Francis
12:00
Main field – 1st A vs 2nd E
Top A – 1st B vs 2nd F
Top B – 3rd A vs 4th E
KSP Field – 3rd B vs 4th E
13:00
Main field – 1st E vs 2nd A
Top A – 1st F vs 2nd B
Top B – 3rd E vs 4th A
KSP Field – 3rd F vs 4th B
14:00
Main field – 1st C vs 2nd G
Top A – 1st D vs 2nd H
Top B – 3rd C vs 4th G
KSP Field – 3rd D vs 4th H
15:00
Main Field – 1st G vs 2nd C
Top A – 1st H vs 2nd D
Top B – 3rd G vs 4th C
KSP Field – 3rd H vs 4th D
Day Three, Sunday, 28 June
08:00
Main field – Loser 1 vs Loser 2
Top A – Loser 3 vs Loser 4
Top B – Loser 9 vs Loser 10
09:00
Main field – Loser 5 vs Loser 6
Top A – Loser 7 vs Loser 8
Top B – Loser 11 vs Loser 12
10:00
Main field – Winner 5 vs Winner 6
Top A – Loser 13 vs Loser 14
Top B – Loser 15 vs Loser 16
11:00
Main field – Winner 7 vs Winner 8
Top A – Winner 13 vs Winner 14
Top B – Winner 15 vs Winner 16
12:00
Main field – Winner 1 vs Winner 2
Top A – Winner 9 vs Winner 10
Top B – Winner 11 vs Winner 12
13:00
Main field – Winner 3 vs Winner 3
Top A – Winner 21 vs Winner 22
Top B – Winner 23 vs Winner 24
14:00
Main field – Winner 17 vs Winner 18
Top A – Loser 21 vs Loser 22
Top B – Loser 23 vs Loser 24
15:00
Main field – Winner 19 vs Winner 20
Top A – Loser 17 vs Loser 18
Top B – Loser 19 vs Loser 20
16:00
Main field – Winner 25 vs Winner 26
Top A – Winner 27 vs Winner 28
Day Four: Monday, 29 June
08:00
Main field – Winner 29 vs Winner 30
Top A – Loser 25 vs loser 26
Top B – Loser 27 vs Loser 28
09:00
Main field – Winner 31 vs Winner 32
Top A – Loser 29 vs Loser 30
Top B – Loser 30 vs Loser 31
10:00
Main field – Winner 35 vs Winner 36
Top A – Loser 35 vs Loser 36
Top B – Loser 43 v Loser 44
11:00
Spoon 3rd/4th
Main field – Loser 33 cs Loser 34
Top A -Loser 39 vs Loser 40
Top B – Loser 43 vs Loser 44
12:00
Spoon Final
Main field – Winner 33 vs Winner 34
Bowl 3rd/4th
Top A – Loser 41 vs Loser 42
Top B – Loser 39 vs Loser 40
13:00
Bowl Final
Main field – Winner 41 vs Winner 42
Plate 3rd/4th
Top A – Loser 37 vs Loser 38
Top B – Loser 47 vs Loser 48
14:00
Plate Final
Main field – Winner 37 vs Winner 38
Cup 3rd/4th
Top A – Loser 45 vs Loser 46
Top B – Winner 47 vs Winner 48
15:00
Cup Final
Main field – Winner 45 vs Winner 46
