Navalsig High School and Ntsu Secondary School under-19 teams will represent the Free State at the Kay Motsepe National School tournament which will take place from 24 to 28 September 2026 in Soshanguve, Pretoria.
Navalsig were crowned provincial champions after defeating Ntsu in the final over the weekend at the University of the Free State (UFS) sports fields in Bloemfontein.
Despite their defeat, Ntsu will also progress to the national tournament as runners-up.
The two Bloemfontein sides will now look to make a strong statement on the national stage.
Navalsig coach, Mzwakhe James, described their triumph as a reward for months of hard work and dedication.
He said the victory reflected the commitment shown by his players since the beginning of their preparations.
“I dedicate this win to the boys and their efforts. Since the fifth of January until this point, we have been preparing for this moment. This is the reward for the boys,” James said.
He believes his team maintained consistency and continued improving throughout their campaign despite facing challenges.
“It has been a good journey for us. We had good preparation.
“We have not had any losses so far. The boys have been doing well.
“We took a couple of notes on where we need to improve because not every game is perfect,” he continued.
James noted that preparatory matches against ABC Motsepe League teams played a crucial role in preparing the squad mentally and physically.
“We played against ABC teams - the more experienced guys - just to take some notes and prepare for this. We also play in the Hollywoodbets regional league, so we take that experience and bring it here,” he stated.
The Navalsig coach further expressed appreciation to the Navalsig community, including parents, the governing body, and school staff for their support.
“To the Navalsig community, parents, SGB, principal, teachers, and groundsmen, I want to thank them for their efforts. Especially the parents for trusting us with their boys. This victory belongs to everyone in the Navalsig community,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ntsu mentor, Kolotsa Mthimkhulu, said their objectives remain unchanged despite finishing as runners-up.
“Nothing much has changed. The only thing we are working extra hard on is scoring goals,” Mthimkhulu said.
The Kay Motsepe National School Tournament will feature 18 teams across the country, with two representatives from each province competing for national honours.
