Gauteng’s Queenswood, Mpumalanga’s St Mark’s clinch national titles
Gauteng may have lost the big title in other divisions, but Queenswood Laerskool’s U13 victory kept the province’s footballing spirit alive.
The Motsepe Foundation, in partnership with Sanlam, crowned the 2025 U19 and U13 champions after a thrilling Kay Motsepe Schools Football Championship (KMSFC) final at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve this past weekend.
St Mark’s Academy from Mpumalanga lifted the national U19 boys’ title after edging Gauteng’s Fumana Secondary School 1-0 in a tightly contested final.
The tournament again delivered high-quality football and showcased some of SA’s brightest young talent.
ALSO READ: Local soccer tournament to empower youth
The KMSFC remains one of the country’s most lucrative school football tournaments, with over R11m in prize money dedicated to legacy projects that improve school facilities, equipment and learning resources.
The national finals offered serious rewards for excellence. The U19 champions received R3m, the runners-up R700 000, third place R600 000 and fourth R500 000.
The champions in the U13 boys’ and girls’ divisions each won R1m. The second-, third- and fourth-placed teams received R400 000, R300 000 and R200 000, respectively.
St Mark’s coach Lungile Mokone was proud of the win, calling it the result of years of preparation.
“We are happy to have won this tournament. It’s been our dream for the past five years. Our goal from the start of the year was to win this title, and all the hard work paid off.”
In the U13 category, Queenswood Laerskool from Gauteng claimed the boys’ crown after defeating Madika Primary School from Limpopo 5-0.
The girls’ division saw St Anne’s Primary School from the Free State edge St Mark’s Academy 5-4 on penalties.
Kadi Monyane, the coach of St Anne’s, was proud of her side’s dedication.
ALSO READ: Local soccer tournament to empower youth
“This win shows the effort we put in. Preparation is everything, and the girls made me proud.”
The tournament, celebrating its 21st anniversary, drew participation from over 12 500 schools.
Motsepe Foundation co-founder Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe said the event continues to empower youth through sport, proving that development and football can grow hand in hand.
