THE KwaZulu-Natal High School Football Association (KZNHSFA) competed in the Local Football Association Tournament, which took place at Benoni Northern Sports Club from September 27 to 29, featuring four learners from Grosvenor Boys’ High School.
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The participation of the learners contributed to the U15 team’s win in the tournament.
Wandile Mlebuka and Oluthando Mdiya represented the U15 team, while Thabiso Latha represented the U16 team and Lungelo Ngwane represented the U19 team.
Head of the U15 team and coach at Grosvenor Boys’ High School, Delron Pillay, celebrated the winning team, saying the tournament has been an incredible journey.
“The players have grown, and the growth is not just in the game itself but in their commitment. It was fulfilling to watch the players grow, develop their skills and come together as a cohesive unit. It was inspiring to see how dedicated and hardworking they were in practice and during games. Celebrating that win felt like it was all our efforts culminated into one thing,” he said.
Pillay said the win also raises Grosvenor Boys’ High School’s reputation in the community with regards to commitment to sports excellence. “It instils school spirit and motivates more learners to be engaged in sport and teamwork, creating a good legacy that future teams can emulate,” he said.
Oluthando, an U15 team player, described the build-up to the tournament as a mix of excitement and nerves. “My teammates and coaches – those who had been in the tournament before – just kept being so supportive. They would always share valuable insights with me on what was going to happen, and this really helped soothe my nerves. Once we arrived in Johannesburg, my confidence grew because I knew we had a strong team ready to compete,” he said.
The most memorable moment of the tournament, according to Wandile, was winning the final match against the Cape Town schools. “Our goalkeeper saved the last penalty, and we all rushed to celebrate with him. It was one of the most memorable games I’ve ever played,” he added.
Lungelo, who played in the U19 team, said his main takeaways from the tournament were the teamwork, the communication and developing mental resilience. “The tournament showed me the importance of mental toughness – how to stay focused in the game when the pressure is on makes a big difference in the tight games,” said Lungelo.
These young athletes’ hard work and success up to this point have also motivated them to keep working harder.
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