9 April 2025: The much-anticipated Curro Halala Cup officially kicked off this week with an exciting live draw event, setting the stage for one of the most exciting school football tournaments in South Africa. The event will feature 60 of the top school football teams, both public and private, in a national competition showcasing their skills and determination to win.

The tournament will consist of two knockout rounds. In the first round, 60 invited schools will compete, with the top 32 teams advancing to the second knockout round. From there, the top 16 teams will progress to the grand finals, set to take place from 8 to 10 August at HeronBridge College in Gauteng.

With the draw now complete, excitement is already building as teams prepare for action. The Curro Halala Cup is more than just a competition; it is a celebration of talent, opportunity, and sportsmanship, offering young players the chance to demonstrate their skills on a national stage.

A standout team in South African school football is Meridian Northern Academy, part of the Curro schools, whose recent success at the 2024 Kay Motsepe Schools Championship where they were crowned Under-19 National Champions, has set their reputation as a football powerhouse. Their thrilling 2-1 victory in the final catapulted many of the academy’s players into the national spotlight. Adding to their growing list of accomplishments, the Northern Academy Under-19 A football team recently took on Orlando Pirates in a friendly match and secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Some of Northern Academy’s players have gone on to represent the country at national level, and the school’s continued success highlights both the calibre of talent emerging from Curro schools and the growing importance of nurturing football at the grassroots level.

Cindy van der Merwe, Portfolio Manager at Curro Sport, expressed her excitement about the tournament’s potential: “This tournament is a world-class event that brings together young talent from every region in South Africa. We are proud to provide a platform where these players can shine and pursue their football dreams.”

The tournament will be hosted across eight regions, with the knockout rounds taking place at the following Curro schools:

“Competing in this tournament gives young athletes the chance to demonstrate their talent, open doors for future opportunities, and form lasting friendships that will extend beyond their school years, into university and adulthood,” said van der Merwe. “Curro is incredibly proud to contribute to the development and growth of football at school level in South Africa.”

The tournament will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools (channel 216), the SuperSport Schools app, and the WhatsApp broadcast channel. Fixtures, results and updates will be available on Curro Sport’s Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube pages

The Meridian Northern Academy team winners of the 2024 Kay Motsepe Schools Championship, where they were crowned Under-19 National Champions.