The second edition of the Curro Halala Cup got underway today at HeronBridge College, with four days of high-intensity boys’ football ahead. A week later, HeronBridge College will host the inaugural girls’ Curro Halala Cup, bringing together 16 of South Africa’s leading girls’ school sides from 14 to 16 August, with an under-19 division making its debut.
A title race to settle
Northern Academy claimed the inaugural title with a win over Norkem Park High in the final, with both finalists securing spots in the 2026 national finals alongside Navalsig High School and Grey College. This year, 24 boys’ teams are competing, with 16 qualifying through regional round robins and play-offs, while the remaining teams earned their places based on last year’s performance.
Pool contenders
The pools have thrown up some mouth-watering matchups, with several sides carrying strong form into the first day at HeronBridge College.
Navalsig and Virginia High face Flora Park High, Curro Soshanguve, Camps Bay High and Curro Thatchfield in Pool A. Navalsig arrive fresh off winning the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament earlier this season and will fancy their chances.
Pool B brings a welcome return for Barberton High and Meridian Cosmo City, who narrowly missed out on the main draw last year, joined by Curro Century City, Christian Brothers’ College (CBC) Mount Edmund, Grey College and Clapham High.
Northern Academy returns as one of the teams to watch after their run to last year’s final. They’re drawn in Pool C alongside the Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School, a regular in the Gauteng Development League, and Glenwood, reigning champions of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association Coastal A-League, who will be looking to build on a quieter 2025 campaign and go further than the group stage this time.
Pool C is completed by Polokwane’s Westenburg Secondary School, Virginia’s St Anne’s Technical High, and Johannesburg’s Waterstone College.
Last year’s runners-up, Norkem Park High, lead Pool D, alongside Meridian Pinehurst, Curro Nelspruit, Durban High School and Mondeor High.
Day one shocks
Day one produced two of the results that will define how this tournament is talked about. Rosina Sedibane scored 15 seconds into their opening match, the quickest goal in Halala Cup history, and backed it up with a solid day overall. Northern Academy, the defending champions, lost their second match to debutants St Anne’s Technical High. Norkem Park, last year’s runners-up, were beaten 1-0 by Durban High School, another first-time entrant.
Meridian Pinehurst beat Vaal High School, adding to a positive start to their tournament. Clapham won three of their day one matches, as did Virginia High School.
Pool A
|
Pos
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
1
|
Virginia
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
+3
|
9
|
|
2
|
Navalsig
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
+5
|
7
|
|
3
|
Curro Soshanguve
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
|
4
|
Camps Bay
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
-1
|
2
|
|
5
|
Flora Park
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
-1
|
1
|
|
6
|
Curro Thatchfield
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
-6
|
0
|
Pool B
|
Pos
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
1
|
Clapham High
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
+3
|
9
|
|
2
|
Curro Century City
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
+1
|
4
|
|
3
|
Grey College
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
+1
|
4
|
|
4
|
CBC Mt Edmund
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
|
5
|
Barberton High
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
-1
|
2
|
|
6
|
Meridian Cosmo City
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
-4
|
0
|
Pool C
|
Pos
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
1
|
St Annes
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
+3
|
7
|
|
2
|
Northern Academy
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
+7
|
6
|
|
3
|
Rosina Sedibane
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
+3
|
4
|
|
4
|
Waterstone College
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
-1
|
3
|
|
5
|
Glenwood
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
-3
|
3
|
|
6
|
Curro Hazeldean
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
-9
|
0
|
Pool D
|
Pos
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
1
|
Meridian Pinehurst
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
+8
|
6
|
|
2
|
Mondeor High
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
+2
|
4
|
|
3
|
Norkem Park
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
|
4
|
Durban High
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-1
|
4
|
|
5
|
Vaal High
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
+3
|
3
|
|
6
|
Curro Nelspruit
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
-12
|
1
|