By Nolwazu Xulu

The Sol Plaatje Secondary School under-18 football team is the very first champions of the North-West University (NWU) Vice-Chancellor Soccer Challenge.

The tournament took place on 22 October 2022 at the NWU Mahikeng Campus Stadium.

Three schools from each of the towns where the NWU’s campuses are located participated in the tournament, namely Sol Plaatje Secondary School (Mahikeng), Khumosejo Secondary School (Vanderbijlpark), and Technical High School (HTS) (Potchefstroom). The School of Excellence in Gauteng was also invited to take part in the tournament.

In the first game Sol Plaatje beat Khumosejo by 4-0, and in the second game the School of Excellence beat HTS by 3-1.

HTS then took on Khumosejo and won by 3-0.

In the final match, Sol Plaatje beat the School of Excellence by 3 -0.

NWU Soccer Institute coach Karabo Masehela says the Vice-Chancellor’s Challenge provided them with the opportunity to scout potential players for the NWU's men's football teams.

“It also contributes to improving grassroots football and encouraging collaboration between the university and various sports stakeholders in towns where the university campuses are located,” he added.

The football team from Sol Plaatje Secondary School in Mahikeng is the winner of the first NWU Vice-Chancellor Soccer Challenge.