On Monday, a new champion of the Kloof High School National Football Tournament will be crowned.
The defending champion, Pinetown Boys’ High, did not participate in this year’s tournament, but the 2024 winner, Nqabakazulu Comprehensive High School, has moved a step closer to reclaiming the title.
Cup
In the quarterfinals of the Cup competition, Nqabakazulu faced 2025’s runner-up, Virginia High, and secured a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to an own goal and some outstanding defence.
The teams previously met in the 2024 semi-finals, with Nqabazulu triumphing on that occasion after a penalty shootout.
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Durban High School (DHS) needed penalties to get by Birdswood after their clash concluded with a 1-1 draw. DHS then won 2-1 from the spot. They’ll face a stern examination in the semi-finals when they take on Nqabakazulu.
Vuyiswa Mtolo continued their impressive run, defeating Northwood 3-1 in Sunday’s quarterfinals. They’ll face HTS Louis Botha for a place in the final after the Bloemfontein school won a fascinating battle against Tuks Sport High, progressing thanks to a penalty, which gave them a 1-0 win.
Plate
Pietermaritzburg rivals, Alexandra High and Maritzburg College, kicked off the Plate quarterfinals. While the results have usually gone the way of the Red, Black, and White in the past, it was Alex who came away with a 1-0 victory on Sunday. That defeat brought to an end College’s hope of defending the Plate, which they won in 2025.
Alex, though, won’t challenge for the Plate. They were beaten in the semi-finals, with Nilgiri claiming a 2-1 win, which followed a 2-1 win over Paul Roos Gimnasium in the quarterfinals.
Nilgiri will tackle New Forest in the title game on Monday. New Forest played to a 1-1 draw with The Glen High in the quarterfinals but advanced 4-3 from the penalty spot. In the semi-finals, they took down Brettonwood, winning 2-1.
Brettonwood had earlier defeated Westville Boys’ High 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Alexandra High faces Brettonwood on Monday.
Shield
In the Shield quarterfinals, Hillcrest High kicked off the matches with a decisive 3-0 victory over Woodlands International College.
Crawford International – La Lucia was eliminated in the quarterfinals by St Francis College, losing in a penalty shootout 2-3 after a 1-1 draw during regulation time. Ashton International Ballito College secured a 3-2 victory over Reddam House Umhlanga, while Kearsney College marched to a big 7-1 win against Bechet.
In the semifinals, Hillcrest High continued their strong performance with another 3-0 win, this time over St Francis, while Kearsney College matched that scoreline in a victory over Ashton Ballito.
On Monday, Hillcrest High and Kearsney College, near neighbours, meet in the Shield final, with St Francis and Ashton doing battle in the bronze playoff.
Spoon
Sarel Cilliers delivered an impressive performance in the quarterfinals of the Spoon, netting nine goals against the Invitational Team while maintaining a clean sheet.
St Nicholas Diocesan School bagged a hard-fought 3-2 over Howick High, while Amanzimtoti (Toti) picked up a 2-0 victory over Thomas More College.
In the tightest game of the day, Durban North College (DNC) squeezed by Kloof High 7-6 in a penalty shootout following an exciting 2-2 draw.
In the semifinals, Sarel Cilliers edged past St Nicholas 2-1, while Toti won by the odd goal in seven against DNC, triumphing 4-3.
That sets up a Sarel Cilliers versus Toti final, with St Nicholas and DNC competing for third place.
RESULTS
Sunday, 28 June
Cup Competition: Quarterfinals
Nqabakazulu 1-0 Virginia High
DHS (2) 1-1 (1) Birdswood
Vuyiswa Mtolo 3-1 Northwood
HTS Louis Botha 1-0 Tuks
Plate: Quarterfinals
Alexandra High 1-0 Maritzburg College
Nilgiri 2-1 Paul Roos
Brettonwood 3-2 Westville
New Forest (4) 1-1 (3) The Glen High
Plate: Semifinals
Nilgiri 2-1 Alexandra High
New Forest 2-1 Brettonwood
Shield: Quarterfinals
Hillcrest 3-0 Woodlands
St Francis (3) 1-1 (2) Crawford La Lucia
Ashton Ballito 3-2 Reddam House
Kearsney College 7-1 Bechet
Shield: Semifinals
Hillcrest 3-0 St Francis
Kearsney College 3-0 Ashton Ballito
Spoon: Quarterfinals
Sarel Cilliers 9-0 Invitational Team
St Nicholas 3-2 Howick
Toti 2-0 Thomas More
DNC (7) 2-2 (6) Kloof High
Spoon: Semifinals
Sarel Cilliers 2-1 St Nicholas
Toti 4-3 DNC
FIXTURES
Monday, 29 June
Cup Competition: Semifinals
08:00
Nqabakazulu vs DHS
09:00
Vuyiswa Mtolo vs HTS Louis Botha
Position 5-8
09:00
Virginia High vs Birdswood
Northwood vs Tuks
Plate: Final
14:00
Nilgiri vs New Forest
Plate: Bronze Playoff
13:00
Alexandra High vs Brettonwood
Position 13-16
11:00
Paul Roos vs The Glen High
12:00
Maritzburg College vs Westville
Shield: Final
13:00
Hillcrest vs Kearsney College
Bronze Playoff
12:00
St Francis vs Ashton Ballito
Spoon: Final
12:00
Sarel Cilliers vs Toti
Spoon 3rd/4th
11:00
St Nicholas vs DNC
Position 29-30
10:00
Howick vs Kloof
Position 31-33
Invitational Team vs Thomas More
