14 August 2025
A year ago, Glenwood High finally climbed the mountain they had so narrowly been unable to scale previously. Twice the runner-up, they, at last, lifted the Primo Big 10 title at Hilton College.
This weekend, they return to the Midlands to defend their crown, but their path to glory looks anything but straightforward.
It’s been a stop-start 2025 for the Green Machine, who were eliminated in the semi-finals of the second term’s Mancosa KZN High School Football Association Coastal A-League. Over the past weekend, they were beaten by Hillcrest High in the semi-finals of the Plate section at the Curro Halala Cup.
The challengers for their title include the KZN Coastal A-League champions, Westville Boys’ High, and the KZN Inland A-League winners, Maritzburg College. They boast two of the best strikers in the game – Dayyan Fudu, for Westville, and Mazithi Qasha, for College.
Glenwood has been drawn in Group A alongside the hosts, Hilton College, and St Charles College. Hilton, fresh from the St David’s Marist Inanda Nedbank Challenge Cup, posted three wins and three draws last weekend, while St Charles has played less football, which adds an element of unpredictability to their challenge.
Tournament football, though, demands something different from league play, and tournament-hardened teams often carry a crucial edge.
The Primo Big 10 is unpredictable, That lesson was underlined last year when Clifton College almost derailed Glenwood’s title challenge in the group stage by beating the Green Machine 1-0. Glenwood, then, had to fight back from a goal down to beat Maritzburg College 2-1. They moved on to the quarterfinals by the slimmest of margins when College did them a favour by beating Clifton 3-1.
Group B offers no easy road either. Durban High School (DHS), Northwood, and Maritzburg College will battle it out.
DHS, the 2024 runners-up, enjoyed a third-place finish at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament, despite a modest KZN Coastal B-League season. Northwood’s fortunes were even more precarious. They flirted with relegation from the Coastal A-League before a timely late revival, and they’re playing good football lately.
College, though, will carry the favourite’s tag in the group. Champions in 2023, they were ousted in last year’s semi-finals by Glenwood after knocking out highly rated Westville in the quarters. That pedigree, plus their Inland A-League title, makes them a serious threat.
Group C is a four-team affair, featuring Michaelhouse, Westville, Clifton, and Kearsney.
Westville’s Coastal A-League triumph and the presence of Fudu – who put pen to paper with Durban City this week – gives them the edge on paper, but Michaelhouse’s stunning run to last year’s Jody Momple Cup title – against many of the same sides – proves that form can be deceptive in knockout football.
Kearsney, competitive in every outing this season, is a side that could trouble the favourites if they sharpen their finishing. Clifton remains mercurial. They’re capable of springing an upset or two, but inconsistent enough to make a deep run improbable.
With Groups A and B having only three teams each, compared to Group C’s four, Saturday afternoon will feature cross-pool playoffs between the A and B teams.
For Glenwood, history says defending a title is harder than winning it. This weekend, in Hilton’s pristine surroundings, they’ll be put to the test.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 16 August
Group A (Field 1 – Zungu)
09:00 – Hilton vs St Charles
11:00 – St Charles vs Glenwood
13:00 – Hilton vs Glenwood
Group B (Field 2 – Etheridge)
09:00 – DHS vs Northwood
11:00 – Northwood vs Maritzburg College
13:00 – Maritzburg College vs DHS
Cross-group matches (A and B)
15:00 (Etheridge) – St Charles vs Northwood
15:00 (Zungu) – Hilton vs DHS
16:00 (Zungu) – Glenwood vs Maritzburg College
Group C (Field 3 – New Field)
09:00 – Michaelhouse vs Westville
10:00 – Clifton vs Kearsney
12:00 – Westville vs Clifton
13:00 – Kearsney vs Michaelhouse
15:00 – Westville vs Kearsney
16:00 – Michaelhouse vs Clifton
Playoffs: Sunday, 17 August
Quarterfinals
QF1 – 09:00 – Zungu – A1 vs 2nd best 3rd
QF2 – 09:00 – Etheridge, B1 vs Best 3rd
QF3 – 10:00 – Zungu, C1 vs B2
QF4 – 10:00 – Etheridge, A2 vs C2
* If the 2nd best 3rd place team is from Group A, they will change with the best 3rd place team.
9th/10th Playoff
12:00 – Zungu – C4 vs 3rd-best 3rd
Semi-finals
SF1 – 13:00 – Zungu – W QF1 vs W QF4
SF2 – 13:00 – Etheride – W QF3 vs W QF2
Final
15:00 – Zungu – W SF1 vs W SF2
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