Curro Halala Cup: Girls’ Football Takes Centre Stage. Sixteen U19 girls’ football teams are competing this weekend in the inaugural Curro Halala Cup. This landmark tournament is designed to give girls’ school football the national stage long reserved for the boys’ game.
Timed to coincide with Women’s Month, the competition reflects a surge in participation, with the number of girls’ football teams across the Curro network more than doubling in the past three years.
“Girls are not here as a supporting act, but as the main event,” said Curro Deputy CEO Marí Lategan at the opening. “Women’s football in South Africa is rising. Scouts are watching. More importantly, young girls across the country will see you compete and believe they can be next.”
Proven Strength on the Field
The tournament features teams with strong credentials. Curro Wilgeheuwel’s U19 side has dominated the Waterstone Super Cup, winning three consecutive titles. Curro Soshanguve’s Onkarabile Ramoganya represented her school at the prestigious 2026 Tximist Cup in Spain. Norkem Park tested itself against Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies U20 at the Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge. Steyn City and Parktown Girls also bring established programmes, with Parktown fielding five teams in the JVW Schools League.
Why This Platform Matters
Seventeen-year-old Bonolo Mokoma, who scored on her senior debut for Banyana Banyana at the 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship, returned to inspire the next generation. “Just keep believing. To play for Banyana Banyana, you can make it,” she told players, highlighting the pathways the tournament can open into professional clubs and national teams.
Norkem Park Head of Sport Andrew Gifford echoed the sentiment: “We’re using football as a vehicle for academics and opportunity. Tournaments like this give young players visibility and open doors beyond the game.”
The First Final
Semi-finals pit FH Odendaal against Norkem Park, and Curro Hillcrest against Pretoria High School for Girls, with winners advancing to the historic first girls’ final.
“I am proud that Curro is the organisation that said: girls deserve a national stage too,” Lategan concluded. The final takes place today at HeronBridge College, where the first-ever Curro Halala Cup girls’ champions will be crowned.
Photos supplied
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