African Schools Football Championship
It was a day of celebration and victory for South Africa as both the Boys’ and Girls’ teams emerged victorious at the African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Saturday. This marked the second consecutive year that South Africa completed the double at the tournament, and both teams will now progress to the continental tournament to be played next year.
The Girls’ team, led by Coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo, set the stage for victory by defeating Botswana 3-1, with Khwezi Khoza leading the charge with a brace and finishing as the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals. Rethabile Molefe also found the back of the net, securing a well-deserved victory for South Africa. On the boys’ side, the team secured the title after a tense 3-0 penalty shootout win against Malawi, following a 1-1 draw in the final match.
An elated Coach Khumalo expressed her joy at the teams’ success and emphasized the need to protect and support the young players as they continue on their football journey. She thanked everyone who has supported the teams, including the parents, coaches, and the South African community, urging continued support for the future of the country.
SAFA President Dr. Danny Jordaan also congratulated the teams, highlighting the pride they have brought to the country and the importance of schools in football development. He described the double win as a great Christmas present and applauded the teams for their outstanding performance.
In recognition of their exceptional performances, several players from the South African teams were honored with individual awards. In the Boys’ competition, Simama Inganathi was named Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper Sabrie Losper received the Golden Glove award. Additionally, South Africa’s Rhys Ferguson and Zimbabwe’s Sadomba shared the Golden Boot with four goals each. In the Girls’ category, Katleho Malebana was named Player of the Tournament, with Angel Zibula and Khwezi Khoza taking home the Golden Glove and Golden Boot awards, respectively.
The tournament hosts, Zimbabwe, were also recognized with the Fair Play award, underscoring the sportsmanship and integrity displayed throughout the competition.
As a reward for their success, the winning associations in each category received $100,000, while the runners-up and third-place teams received $75,000 and $50,000, respectively. These awards were determined by the Technical Study Group at the tournament, based on the players’ performances in each match.