By Jacob Mawela.
Johannesburg, 22 October 2026 – Now in its 17th year, Discovery Schools Soccer programme continues to provide structured competitive opportunities for young footballers across South Africa, helping to develop talent, increase participation in the sport and create pathways for aspiring players to showcase their abilities at school level.
The Discovery JVW Diamond League Playoff, which concluded this past weekend at Waterstone College in Johannesburg, is one such initiative. The tournament reflects Discovery’s ongoing partnership with the Discovery JVW Schools League and its commitment to empowering young female footballers through meaningful opportunities to develop their skills, build confidence and pursue their sporting ambitions.
Established in 2012, the 42-team competition begins with a round-robin format before progressing to the knockout stages, with teams competing across three age categories: U15, U17 and U19 (Open). The tournament provides a valuable platform for young female footballers to test themselves against some of the country’s top schoolgirl talent while gaining competitive experience, exposure and the confidence to take their game further.
Since its inception, the Discovery JVW Diamond League has welcomed more than 179 school teams and 3,200 participants, helping to grow the girls’ game and create pathways for young players to develop their talent, embrace competition and pursue their football dreams.
Results from this weekend’s competition are as follows:
U15 Final – Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria beat Norkem Park 1-0.
U17 Final – Rand Girls drew 0 – 0 against Curro Hazeldean, with Curro Hazeldean winning 4-2 on penalties.
Opens Final – King David Linksfield drew 0 – 0 against Waterstone College. King David Linksfield won 4 – 2 on penalties.
Individual Awards:
Aspiring Player of the tournament: Rhulani Malautsi (Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria)
U15 Aspiring Goalkeeper: Erin Mosley (Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria)
U15 Player of the tournament: Gabriela Bacic (Reddam Bedfordview)
U17 Aspiring Goalkeeper: Nqobile Ndlovu (Rand Girls)
U17 Player of the tournament: Nomsamsanqa Tshabalala (Rand Girls)
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Chloe Garnitz (King David Linksfield)
Open Player of the tournament: Hanaan Williams (Parktown Girls)
“For over 17 years, Discovery Schools Soccer has used the power of football to encourage healthy, active lifestyles while creating meaningful opportunities for young South Africans. The Discovery JVW Diamond League is an important part of that commitment, providing girls with a platform to develop their talent, experience high-level competition and pursue their passion for the game. We congratulate all the teams who participated and thank the JVW Schools League for their continued role in growing girls’ football in South Africa,” said Ayesha Patel, Divisional Manager, Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing, at Discovery.
This tournament once again showcased the depth of talent emerging in girls’ football and highlighted the important role that school sport plays in nurturing the next generation of South African athletes.