Welcome to the Inaugural APBSA Football Festival at King Edward VII SchoolIt is a great honour to welcome you to King Edward VII School for the inaugural Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (APBSA) Football Festival.We are proud to be the host venue for this historic event and to be part of a new and exciting chapter in the sporting life of our boys’ schools. It is wonderful to have players, coaches, staff, and supporters from across the country gathered here to celebrate football, camaraderie, and school spirit.We extend our sincere gratitude to Standard Bank, our main sponsor, for their generous support and belief in this festival and in school sport as a whole.A special thank you must go to the organisers of the festival for their vision and commitment in bringing this event to life, as well as to the referees, ground staff, medical team, hostel staff, coaches, and, of course, the players. Your hard work and passion make this all possible.We wish every team the very best and we trust that friendships, memories, and moments of excellence will define this inaugural event.Welcome to KES. Welcome to the first APBSA Football Festival.Mr David Lovatt
Headmaster

Standard Bank is delighted to announce our partnership with King Edward VII School for this Inaugural Football Festival. Our enduring collaboration with the KES Sports Tournaments and Festivals reflects our unwavering commitment to the growth of this continent and its people. We have always recognized the immense value these partnerships bring to young individuals.At Standard Bank, we believe that everyone—every individual and every business—has the potential and desire to grow. Growth empowers, creates impact, and has the power to enhance all aspects of life: from financial to personal to community.Growth, however, is a journey. It begins with ambition, is strengthened by challenges, and driven by motivation. Most importantly, growth begets more growth. That’s why we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote youth development. We acknowledge that sports and education are crucial in cultivating well-rounded individuals and encouraging teamwork.We see ourselves as more than just a bank. Our goal is to unlock opportunities by building strong relationships that enable collective success.This spirit of teamwork and cooperation is what we aim to define our partnership with King Edward VII School an institution renowned for its distinguished history of excellence.We extend our best wishes to all the participating teams. By playing fairly, working diligently, and supporting one another, you will achieve success—not only for yourselves but also for your community.Thank you.Tshiamo Molanda
Head, Youth and Mass Market PPB SA.

It is a great pleasure to extend a warm and wholehearted welcome to all of you to this the inaugural Football Festival of the Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (APBSA), hosted by the King Edward VII School in Johannesburg.This Festival marks a significant and exciting new chapter in the life of our Association – our first formal foray into the beautiful game. While our schools have long celebrated and excelled in a range of sporting codes, the decision to establish a football festival of our own has been both timely and visionary. In this respect, special recognition must be given to Mr David Lovatt, Headmaster of King Edward VII School, for his initiative and foresight in launching this new venture. His belief in the value of football as a relevant additional vehicle for the development of camaraderie, discipline, school pride and healthy competition speaks to the very ethos of our schools and to the spirit of APBSA itself.We are delighted to welcome 14 participating schools from across the country, their committed coaches, and – most importantly – the 224 young players who will be showcasing their skills, determination and sportsmanship over the next few days. This gathering of schools and schoolboys is not just a celebration of football, but of shared values and traditions, of community, and of our collective aspiration to shape fine young men through the opportunities afforded by education and sport.An undertaking such as this does not come together without considerable planning, energy and attention to detail. We record our sincere gratitude to Mr Eugene Marx, Director of Sport at King Edward VII School, for his leadership in bringing the vision of this Festival to fruition. The hours of behind-the-scenes work, the coordination, and the unflagging commitment of Mr Marx and his Organising Committee deserve our fullest appreciation.To all those who have played a role – whether in catering, cleaning, logistics, security, hospitality or administration – we thank you most sincerely. The success of any festival rests as much on the warmth of its welcome and the smoothness of its running as it does on the talent on the pitch. We are deeply grateful to each person involved in seeing to the many practical preparations.To our match officials and referees, thank you for your willingness to uphold the rules of the game and to ensure that matches are played in a spirit of fairness, honour and mutual respect. Yours is a vital and often thankless role – we thank you for it, and we value your presence.King Edward VII School has, over many years, earned a national reputation for its excellence in the hosting of school sports festivals. Its long-standing tradition of combining hospitality, organisation and sporting prowess has brought pride to the school and joy to countless visiting boys and coaches. I have no doubt that this Football Festival will build upon that record, and will take its rightful place among the most memorable and meaningful school sports gatherings of recent years.To our players: may this Festival be a time of growth, of challenge, and of enjoyment. Play hard, play fair, and carry your school’s name with pride – not only in your performance, but in your behaviour on and off the field. Cherish the friendships forged here, and honour the game you love with your conduct and character.To our coaches and managers: thank you for the countless hours you invest in these young men – guiding them, training them and standing beside them. Your influence is lasting and your role indispensable.To the parents and supporters who have made the journey to Johannesburg: welcome! Your presence completes the circle of support that surrounds each of these boys, and we hope you will enjoy both the football and the warm King Edward welcome.May this Festival mark not only a successful beginning, but the start of a proud tradition of football excellence within APBSA. May it foster school spirit, mutual respect, and the joy of competition.On behalf of the Association, I wish every school and every player the very best. Let the games begin!
Warm regards.Tim Gordon
CEO
Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa