St John’s College is proud to present its basketball tournament –a-four-day festival of fun from 27 February to 1 March.
Now in its 14th year, their tournament started with a vision to offer school boys the opportunity to play more games this season. They aim to give schools who don’t play against each other the chance to do so and local teams to play touring sides.
Games will be played over four days at St John’s College and the indoor courts at Wits Hall 29 and the Old Mutual Sports Hall. The final matches will take place at the Old Mutual Sports Hall at Wits.
The tournament will be a highlight on the boys’ school basketball calendar with an U15 age-group category introduced this year to complement the ever-popular U19 and U13 divisions.
They will host 56 teams from across South Africa and the continent as they welcome back sides from the neighbouring countries –Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. New entry Lusaka International School joins in for the first time from Zambia.
“This event incorporates a variety of teams from across the country, with support from our neighbouring countries. If you are a fan of basketball this is the event to watch this season,” said Ngoza Phiri-Mazarura, head coach of basketball at St John’s College.
There will be plenty of exciting matches to look forward to throughout the four days of the tournament.
The U19 Group A pool will see St Stithians College facing Maru-a-Pula from Botswana. St Stithians has earned itself a significant following in Gauteng with Maru-a-Pula, which is hailed as the ‘dark horse’ side.
Group B will have many tough and thrilling encounters. Waterford College from Swaziland will meet local team Michael Mount Waldorf School, which promises to be a highly contested fixture. Maritzburg College from KwaZulu-Natal will face Jeppe High School for Boys and this matchup should deliver a quality game.
Group C will showcase Zimbabwean side Falcon College against St Charles from KwaZulu-Natal. Dominican Convent from Gauteng is also a team that may cause an upset in this group.
Group D includes the hosts St John’s College who will continue the rivalry against St Alban’s College, Pretoria and Michaelhouse, a dominant KwaZulu-Natal side, will undoubtedly reach the later rounds of the competition.
Developing up-and-coming sides are an important feature of the St John’s College Basketball Tournament. “This year, we welcome the Soweto Academy U15s. These young men, coached by Monwabi Dlamini, play exceptional basketball and are top contenders in their age group,” said Phiri-Mazarura.
“St John’s also welcomes the Mangaung Knights U13s. These young players join the tournament from Bloemfontein and are sure to exhibit some exceptional skills on the courts in Gauteng.
“We wish everyone an enjoyable weekend of basketball. May we support our boys and remember that while there will only be three winning teams at the end, we encourage everyone to play and support in the spirit of the game, demonstrating good sportsmanship and character.
“It is not who wins that matters, but how we represent our sport at high school level.”
Tickets are R20 per day and can be purchased at the gate. Tickets will grant you access to all games at St John’s College and Wits. For all teams, pools and schedules, visit
Related article:
Get in on all the basketball action at St John’s College Basketball Tournament
