The King of Glory Provincial Sports tournament, held at Bunkers Hill, saw Ngqeleni's Paul Academy secure the senior title by defeating Young Lions. Mthatha's Mercy Academy triumphed over Future Boys in the U17 final. The tournament featured 32 senior sides, 16 U17 football teams, and 16 netball squads competing over the weekend.
The senior champions, Paul Academy, will take home a prize of R30,000, while the U17 winners, Mercy Academy, are set to receive R15,000. The defending champions were Kilimanjaro from Buffalo Flats (seniors) and Coastal All Nation (U17). Sbusiso Nodada, the brains behind the competition, expressed satisfaction with the tournament's organization and the number of participating teams.
The tournament had an impressive entry of teams, with 32 senior teams and 16 U17 teams, as well as 16 netball sides. Nodada mentioned that the young participants came with great expectations and high hopes, and the tournament delivered as promised. The event started with an opening ceremony on Friday, followed by games on Saturday and Sunday.
African soccer champions Mamelodi Sundowns sent a delegation of two coaches to the tournament, impressed with what they saw last year. The coaches identified some players who would go for an assessment at the club's academy structures. Nodada stated that the level of competition was very high, with teams being very disciplined, and the guests were impressed.
The King of Glory Foundation was happy with the tournament's success, and Nodada mentioned that Sundowns has identified great talent, with some players set to go to Johannesburg for further assessment. The foundation also had special guests, including Sport and Social Change Network Africa CEO Allan Williams and COO Hendrick Modise, CPF chair Lwandi Ngebe, Andile Jali, and members of the Mbhashe municipality.
The guests played a significant role in encouraging and motivating the young participants. In the 2025 edition, Downs scouted centre-back Lwandile Godloza, who is now operating in their developmental ranks and is working on cracking the Diski Challenge team. Some players from the tournament have gone on to achieve success, including Lakham Gqongo and Ukhonaye Magele, who were part of the SA U20 Cosafa Cup-winning team in Mozambique.
The King of Glory tournament has become a platform for young players to showcase their talent, with talent scouts from top clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns in attendance. The tournament's success is a testament to the hard work of the organizers and the support of the community. The 2026 edition is expected to be just as exciting, with teams already looking forward to participating.
Key points
- Paul Academy won the senior title, defeating Young Lions and taking home R30,000.
- Mercy Academy won the U17 final, defeating Future Boys and set to receive R15,000.
- Mamelodi Sundowns identified talented players from the tournament for trials at their academy in Johannesburg.
