While the third edition of the annual MUT Schools Community Cup has been hailed by all as huge success, at least one of the attendees of the event that took place from 18 to 19 August 2025, at Umlazi Township’s King Zwelithini outer field, and the Victoria Mxenge Hall, at the township’s D Section, said the highlight of the event was the high level of the football that was played by the primary schools. The level of football by primary schools is exceptionally high. Those were 11 to 13-year-old kids; the amount of coaching they received would have had a limited effect. Their grand performances could easily be put down to natural talent, a fact that one of India’s greatest cricket players, Sunil Gavaskar, highlighted in a handwritten letter about a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar became one of the greatest of all time. He is the highest batter in both Test and One Day International (ODI) formats of the game, with 15,921 Test runs, and 18,426 ODI runs.
With respect to the tournament, the little boys, just like Tendulkar, were amazing. Here are some that really shone, much to the joy and amazement of the scouts who were among the crowd. The captain of Wendy Heights Primary, who was wearing jersey number 6, and a player who was wearing jersey number 10 of the same school. Those who are familiar with football surely understood why the little fellow was given jersey number 10. It is, however, doubtful if he felt the weight that comes with this number in football. Both players are just 13 years of age; they could not be interviewed without their parents’ permission. Number 11 was also good, but spoiled his performance by talking back to the coach and walking away from him. Zandile Primary’s 10 was exceptional. Fans were looking at pure talent on display. This school got the third price for its performance. They beat Imisebe with a goal to nil.
Imisebe Primary School goalkeeper, a very little guy, also impressed the fans. He is very good, and very brave. His performance equals that of profession goalkeepers. Mind you, these young players are using real match balls – size 5! His teammate, number 11, also played very well; as did number 5, from Manzolwandle Primary School. Other numbers 10 and 11 from Bhekaphambili Primary School, Lamontville Township, Durban, also played beyond their tender ages.
One of the scouts mentioned that some of these players were already listed in his books. “I have already made the necessary connections,” the scout said.
While Umlazi Primary School’s victory is commendable – they beat Wendy Heights by a goal to nil, it was the level of football that mattered most, especially to those that are thinking about the future of the game. That is why it is important that these young players are guided to the schools that see value in having sport as part of the mission to raise the children well, as was pointed by some authorities who commended MUT’s Sport Unit, the CEAD and their partners at the end of the tournament.
Coming back to the champions’ victory, Nokubonga Nxumalo, a security guard from Umlazi Primary, was very worried that the score was still nil with the match nearing its end. Nxumalo said they had been unfortunate to lose in the penalty shootout against the same school, Windy Heights, last month. We are not very lucky when it comes to penalty shootouts, Nxumalo said. But the heavy load was taken off her shoulders when her team scored during the last minutes of the final by number 12.
The other primary school that took part in the football tournament was Tholisu, an Umlazi school.
All those partnered with MUT’s two divisions – Sport and the CEAD- hailed the tournament as a huge success. Nkosinathi Mbhele, sports promotion and development coordinator at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, eThekwni District, thanked MUT for assisting him with their efforts to promote playing sports. “MUT’s intentions are similar to the department’s,” he said.
Victor Molefe, Chairman of Umlazi Sports Confederation, said everything went well; “the local organising committee (LOC) did their work well”. Vela Mkhize, from the Department of Education, was also satisfied with the way the tournament went. Mkhize was supported by Ayanda Mbhele of Umlazi Schools Soccer Association. Mbhele also said the learners were well looked after.
These sentiments were also echoed by Siyabulela Mkwalo, Deputy Director: MUT Sport and Recreation unit. Mkwalo reiterated that it was important for all high schools participating in the tournament to have a minimum grade 12 score of 80%. This condition forces the learners to prioritise their studies. Mkwalo implored the learners to listen to the teachers and parents, and not get into relationships, which tend to disrupt their future plans. One of the aims of the tournament is to shield the learners from making immature decisions like getting into relationships and abusing drugs and alcohol.
The Director of the CAED, Professor Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni, thanked everyone for the success of the tournament and said that the tournament was an outreach programme as required by Goal 3 of the University’s Strategic Plan. “MUT is not an ivory tower,” Professor Nkonki-Mandleni said.