Urban Academy make it a hat-trick of titles with Wynberg Freedom Cup triumph

The Urban Academy Private School boys’ first soccer team are enjoying a stellar season, having recently scooped up their third consecutive tournament victory.

After their triumph in the Victoria Park tournament earlier this year, the academy team were crowned champions in the Super Soccer Schools tournament in Gqeberha, and followed this up by winning the Wynberg Freedom Cup competition in Cape Town.

Driven by his love for football, Zolani Swelindawo has transformed his passion into a lifeline for Missionvale children, creating a haven where young talents can shine and be noticed. Swelindawo, 39, left his home in Whittlesea 18 years ago bound for Gqeberha to pursue his football dreams. And while his stint as a player produced modest results, his performance as a champion of the youth in Missionvale with limited resources is inspiring. All the while, he has refused to let financial hurdles stall his vision. “In 2008, after finishing matric and struggling to find a job, I was invited by someone to join Missionvale Eleven FC,” Swelindawo said on Tuesday. “Because he was genuinely interested in my football potential, I decided to join his team. During that period, the team was competing in the Northern Areas Football Association. “But since I didn’t have a stable job, I returned home to Whittlesea. “A few months later, I received another call from him, and he said I needed to return to play in Gqeberha, and he would help find me a job. “While I was playing for the senior team, I decided to start a junior team for them, and that’s how the development programme began. “Seeing the situation and environment that children in Missionvale lived under was the reason I formed the junior team. “I noticed that Missionvale was lagging in sports development, and the area’s biggest issues included gang violence, school dropouts, and drug and alcohol abuse from a young age. “Those are the challenges I was trying to shield the kids from. “In 2018, I relocated to Graaff-Reinet, now known as Robert Sobukwe Town, for work. “However, while I was working there, parents in Missionvale repeatedly called for my return, saying that since I had left, their children had stopped participating in sports and were getting involved in criminal activities. “I returned in 2020, and in 2023 I decided to start my own initiative, the Rising Stars Soccer Development Programme. “I concentrated not just on football development but also on exploring other programmes such as life skills, education, and helping them with homework where necessary, as well as entertainment to keep them occupied during school holidays.” Swelindawo said he also aimed to provide the children with opportunities to showcase their football talents. In 2023, the initiative opened its doors to all children from Gqeberha, not just those from Missionvale. He said collaborating with other football development programmes in the Bay, such as Future Stars FC, South End United and Ebhayi Football Club, had significantly improved opportunities for his players, as his own programme lacked adequate resources. “I have players such as Sive Lombo and Hlumelo Ndlolo who are with Future Stars, and Onke Mzozoyana is with Pro Skills Soccer Academy. “Luphawu Jekemba, Ntsika Ngwendu and Simiso Mxoveni are with South End United. “We also have Athi Johannes, our former development goalkeeper, who is now playing for North West University, and Simamkele Pefile, who is currently playing for Major Chiefs in the Hollywoodbets Regional League. “We don’t only play here in Gqeberha, but we travel as far as St Francis Bay to play in tournaments, Greenbushes and Humansdorp. “Those are some of the areas we travel to with these boys, with the hope of giving them experience and exposure to playing competitive football. “We also collaborate with teams that are not under the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. “Hence, even now, we are getting calls from teams outside that want to invite us to their events.” Swelindawo, who works as a security officer at Volpes in Gqeberha, said the programme had grown immensely. He said they had a total of 90 players from U11 to seniors in their database. “We also host an annual event called the Missionvale Sport Festival, which this year is scheduled to take place from June 13 to 16 as the programme celebrates its 18-year milestone. I usually cover the costs of running the programmes myself since there are currently no sponsorships. We’ve made multiple attempts to get help, but it’s tough to find support. “The sport festival is in its third edition now; we have been hosting it for the past three years. “In previous years, we have had guests such as Daine Klate, Bruce July, Marc Manuel, and Lwazi Sahula from Keep Active. “I usually cover the costs of running the programmes myself since there are currently no sponsorships. “We’ve made multiple attempts to get help, but it’s tough to find support. “However, instead of being inactive, I decided we should proceed so that anyone who wants to help can do so with something that is already in progress. “With the tournament, we do get assistance from aQuellé. They have been helping us with water since we started the event. “I have also received a three-piece soccer kit from my workplace, and Ebhayi donates their playing kits to us as well. “We have a very good working relationship with them.” He continually pushes his recruits to aspire to greater heights. “I’m still in discussions with Stars of Africa in Johannesburg. I’ll be spending a week there to observe how they develop players from a young age into national assets. “Those are the development structures I would love for my boys to play under. “I would also like to see the sport festival as one of the biggest sporting events in the Bay and for it to also get support from the municipality and local businesses.” But his biggest plea is for township parents to support their children Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

After losing in the 2025 Freedom Cup final to Zeekoevlei High, this time they went all the way by beating Bishops 3-1 in the final.

Their standout player, Qhamani Gubevu, played a crucial role for the team throughout the tournament, and was a deserving recipient of the player of the tournament award for his exceptional performances.

He dominated the final against Bishops, controlling the game against a team who had won the St Andrew’s College Football Cup in 2025.

The plate title went the way of Pinelands High, who scored a 2-0 victory over last year’s champions, Zeekoevlei.

The Urban Academy’s remarkable accomplishment is a reflection of their unwavering dedication, discipline and passion for the game.

Cope FC were among the major winners at the second annual Mgudlwa Attorneys Tournament, held in Ntibane at the weekend. Ngqeleni-based team Cope ensured that the title stayed at home after they beat KuGompo City’s Nkwenkwezi 2-1 in the senior men’s final on Sunday. All the goals came in the second half. Despite playing some of the game with 10 men after a red card to one of their players, Cope managed to hold on and ensure that they crossed the line. One of the exciting talents in the province, striker Lonwabo Bayeni, was among the goal scorers for Cope. Bayeni was the Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League top goal scorer for the recently ended season. Cope collected R40,000 for their efforts. In the semifinals, Cope were made to sweat by Viggie in regulation time and had to win the game through a penalty shootout. Nkwenkwezi came back from trailing to win against Ngqeleni Swallows. In the junior ranks, Mercy Football Development Academy were crowned the winners of the U17 category after defeating Elida. In netball, Leeds were the superstars of the weekend and, at the end, got the accolades of being the title-holders. They proved too much for XFV Netball Club, winning the final 23-15 and R10,000 in prize money. Flagstaff claimed the bronze medal after dismantling Khanyisa 40-7 in the 3rd-4th place final. Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone. Daily Dispatch

Such success would not be possible without the exceptional leadership of their coach, Kagan Assam.

Speaking of the players’ achievements, Assam said: “This team is special. The hunger, desire and commitment to succeed are what has driven their achievements.

“I am incredibly proud of them, especially considering the demands of competing in the Victoria Park High School Tournament, the Super Soccer Schools Tournament and the Wynberg Freedom Cup in such a short space of time.”

The Alexander Road High School U19 girls’ team delivered a standout performance to be crowned Super Soccer Schools Provincial Champions on Sunday, successfully defending the title they won last year. Alex again proved their quality on the big stage, showing resilience and growth throughout the tournament. Their campaign began with a 2-0 victory, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Solomon Mahlangu in the group stages. The team recovered from the earlier defeat on Saturday with an emphatic 3-0 win over Urban Academy. Simonique Kayser and a brace from Delray Woods led the charge. Alex carried the momentum into the semifinal, securing a convincing 3-1 victory over VP in an enthralling match. Goals came from Kayser, Zaarah Paulsen and an own goal forced by a free kick from Woods. In the final match Alex again faced Solomon Mahlangu. Demonstrating great composure, they turned their earlier defeat into triumph, edging their opponents 1-0 thanks to a decisive goal from Woods. This marks the team’s second successive tournament victory after they won the VP Soccer Challenge title in March. The team’s success was further highlighted by individual honours, with Olwetu Matroos named goalkeeper of the tournament and Charisma Oerson recognised as coach of the tournament. Alex have qualified for the Super Soccer Schools National Tournament to take place in August. The Alex U19 boys’ team showed flashes of quality but ultimately fell short of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Their campaign included solid wins over Stedin College (1-0) and Linkside (2-1), both featuring goals from Sihlahla Mkalipi, who was a consistent attacking threat throughout the tournament. They also recorded a 2-1 victory against Newton Tech, with goals from Mkalipi and Onwaba Mki. However, draws against Chapman (1-1) and Cape Recife (0-0), along with a 2-0 defeat to Nzondelelo, proved costly. Despite creating several opportunities, the team struggled to convert chances consistently. The U16 boys team experienced a challenging tournament, narrowly losing 2-1 to Chapman and Westview, drawing 0-0 against VP and securing a 2-1 win over Happy Homes. Chevano Afrika was a standout performer, scoring twice in the tournament, including a long-range effort from 22m, while Iminathi Jindela also found the net.

Competing at a high level in the Super Soccer Schools Tournament and then, just three days later, travelling to Cape Town to participate in the Wynberg Freedom Cup, speaks volumes about the resilience, determination and character of these young players.

Their relentless pursuit of excellence and their hunger to succeed continue to set them apart. – additional reporting by SuperSportschools.com

The Herald