Beyond the scoreboard: Curro Halala Cup finals present SA’s rising football stars

From thousands of passes to the final 16, the Curro Halala Cup has reached its most exciting chapter. Across eight provinces, young footballers have battled it out with heart and hustle. Now, the top teams are ready to compete for national pride and the grand prize this August at HeronBridge College in Gauteng.

07 July 2025: The opening rounds of the Curro Halala Cup saw hundreds of young footballers take to fields across eight provinces, united by a shared commitment to the game. From the first whistle to the last goal, the tournament delivered more than just competitive football; it highlighted the role the sport plays in building resilience, confidence, and community among South Africa’s youth.

‘We created the Halala Cup to give our young footballers a stage, not just to play, but to believe,’ says Cindy van der Merwe, Portfolio Manager, Curro Sport. ‘Each goal, handshake, and Halala chant is part of a bigger message: their futures are worth investing in. The tournament is an opportunity for young players to be seen, develop, and dream.’

Now that the pools have been drawn, what began with 60 school teams across eight regions has now reached its final stage, with 16 schools set to give it their all. The finals will kick off with a round-robin format, giving each team the chance to face off and prove their place among the country’s best.

The Western Cape will be represented by Meridian Pinehurst and Camps Bay High School. The Free State is represented by the strong teams of Grey College and Navalsig High School. From Limpopo, Meridan Northern Academy and Flora Park Comprehensive have consistently shown their skills on the pitch. KwaZulu-Natal will have Hillcrest High School and Glenwood High Schools competing, while Mpumalanga is represented by Stintile Secondary and Barberton High School.

As the finals head to Gauteng, the province will be represented by Curro Soshanguve, Clapham High School, Mondeor High School and Norkem Park High School. Eastern Cape schools, Brylin High School and Westering High School have also earned their spot and are ready to take on the national stage.

The tournament will see the top 16 schools divided into four pools of four teams each. Teams will play three round-robin matches within their respective pools, with the top two from each progressing to the Cup competition. These schools will battle it out in the quarterfinals, semi-finals and final to determine positions one through to eight.

The remaining teams in each pool will compete in the Plate competition, playing three play-off matches to determine positions nine to sixteen. All the action will unfold at HeronBridge College in Gauteng from 7 to 10 August.

‘What we saw in the schools’ responses was extraordinary,” says van der Merwe. Every school accepted the invitation to play each other on the field. These matches are more than just games. Seeing learners from across the country come together and support one another is what the Halala Cup is about.’

As the competition heats up, all eyes now turn to HeronBridge College, where South Africa’s top 16 school teams will battle it out for Curro Halala Cup glory. The qualifying teams from across the country will gather at a single venue. Fans can expect a weekend filled with edge-of-the-seat action, vibrant spirit, and plenty of reasons to cheer.

With national glory and a R100 000 grand prize at stake, fans can look forward to action-packed matches filled with skill and determination. Along with the championship title, several individual and team honours will be awarded, including the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper, the Golden Boot for the top scorer, the Player of the Tournament, and the Team Spirit Award, given to the team that consistently shows outstanding sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

‘We are so proud of the 16 schools that made it through,’ says van der Merwe. ‘They will bring together everything great about youth sport in South Africa, the talent, the heart, and the hope,’ she concludes.