Curro Halala Cup play-offs deliver penalty drama as teams book places in next stage
26 May 2026Halala Cup play-offs deliver penalty drama as teams book places in next stage
Knockout football took over the Halala Cup this past weekend, with regional play-offs deciding which teams move forward in the 2026 competition.
Across eight regions, 64 schools shifted from round-robin pools into high-stakes fixtures where each match carried immediate consequence. Played from 17 to 19 April, the opening phase gave way to a tighter format, with results on the day shaping progression to the next round.
Pressure moments define the stage
In Mpumalanga, Curro Nelspruit’s Respect Muila pointed to a shootout that settled unfinished business. ‘They knocked us out last year and when we managed to take them to penalties we knew that this was our moment,’ he said. ‘The last penalty save had us on our toes… I think that was my team best moment for the weekend.’
At Meridian Cosmo City, the margins proved just as fine. Reflecting on a reduced side pushing for a result, Thembalamantungwa Khumalo said: ‘A huge moment when we were a man down against Clapham High School, we managed to push them hard… we were solid defensively.’ Even in defeat, the response stood out: ‘The boys outdone themselves and we are proud of them.’
What it looks like when teams click
Before the play-offs, coaches and team managers described what defines their sides at their best. Across regions, a shared theme emerged: structure and collective effort.
Gavin Andrew of Waterstone College framed it simply: ‘We constantly support and encourage each other, stay organised, and work together with a positive attitude.’ Tshepang Mohlakwana of Curro Hazeldean echoed that cohesion: ‘At our best, my team consistently functions as one unit in every phase of the game… we play simple but intelligent football.’
For Thabane Moerane of Curro Clayville, that unity sets the tone: ‘At our best, the game isn’t about 11 individuals trying to shine.’ Austin Baloyi of Curro Soshanguve added: ‘The players understand their roles, work hard for one another, and stay focused from the first whistle to the last.’
Character under pressure
In the Western Cape, Meridian Pinehurst’s Malik Lotters described a turning point that went beyond tactics. ‘Instead of blaming him, every player immediately rallied around him,’ he said after a semi-final error. ‘In the second half, the players did exactly that… fighting back and scoring.’
He continued: ‘That moment reflected the character of our team… united, resilient, and supportive of one another.’
That sense of unity carried through to the final whistle. At Curro Century City, Angelo Adams summed up the release that follows: ‘It’s followed by singing, dancing and loads of eating!’
Results shape the next phase
Across Gauteng, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape, fixtures ran to schedule and produced clear outcomes, with penalty shootouts and narrow scorelines separating sides.
Each result now feeds into the pathway toward the national final, as the Halala Cup moves deeper into its knockout stages.
Gauteng 1
Clapham High School 3 – Queen’s High School 0
Curro Clayville 1 – Meridian Cosmo City 4
Queen’s High School 2 – Curro Clayville 0
Clapham High School 0 (4) – Meridian Cosmo City 0 (2)
Gauteng 2
Rosina Sedibane 2 – Mondeor High School 0
The Vaal High School 2 – Curro Hazeldean 0
Mondeor High School 5 – Curro Hazeldean 0
Rosina Sedibane 2 – The Vaal High School 0
Gauteng 3
Curro Soshanguve 5 – Steyn City School 1
CBC Mount Edmund 3 – Waterstone College 2
Steyn City School 1 – Waterstone College 6
Curro Soshanguve 0 – CBC Mount Edmund 3
Free State
Saint Anne’s Technical High School 2 (10) – Hodisa Secondary School 1 (9)
Moroka High School 0 – Virginia High School 2
Moroka High School 3 (2) – Hodisa Secondary School 3 (4)
Saint Anne’s Technical High School 2 – Virginia High School 3
KwaZulu-Natal
Pinetown Boys’ High School 2 – Durban High School 4
Glenwood High School 2 – Hillcrest High School 1
Pinetown Boys’ High School 3 – Hillcrest High School 2
Durban High School 1 – Glenwood High School 3
Limpopo
Flora Park High School 3 – The Future Comprehensive 0
Louis Trichardt High School 0 – Westenburg High School 2
The Future Comprehensive 6 – Louis Trichardt High School 0
Flora Park High School 1 – Westenburg High School 0
Mpumalanga
St Mark’s International School 2 – Portia Shabangu Secondary School 1
Barberton High School 1 (4) – Curro Nelspruit 1 (5)
Portia Shabangu Secondary School 0 – Barberton High School 1
St Mark’s International School 2 – Curro Nelspruit 0
Western Cape
Reddam House Constantia 1 – Meridian Pinehurst 2
Curro Century City 1 (4) – Camps Bay High School 1 (5)
Reddam House Constantia 1 (2) – Curro Century City 1 (4)
Camps Bay High School 0 – Meridian Pinehurst 3