Healthy habits from the start: how Discovery changes young lives through soccer

Discovery has been investing in schools soccer at grassroots level since 2009, when the Discovery Schools Soccer programme in association with the Johannesburg Primary School Football Association (JPFSA) first kicked off.

Since its inception 15 years ago, the programme has been nurturing healthy habits and a love of exercise from an early age. Today, the programme features six tournaments at primary and high schools across Johannesburg and continues to embody Discovery's core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives.

Here's what young players, their parents, and supporters can look forward to in 2025:

Discovery Boys Festival (May)

The Discovery Boys Festival showcases the best male talent in primary school football. The top 180 players are selected from over 60 schools across Johannesburg to form 12 regional teams who compete in the festival over three days.

Following the festival, the JPSFA selects 45 boys to represent Johannesburg South, Johannesburg North and Johannesburg East at the Bill Stewart Festival at Camp Discovery at the end of June.

Details:

• Date: 14 to 16 May
• Teams: 12
• Ages: 13 to 14
• Format: festival

Discovery Girls Festival (June)

The Discovery Girls Festival showcases the best female talent in primary school football. The top 140 players are selected from over 60 schools across Johannesburg to form 9 regional teams who compete in the festival over one day.

Following the festival, the JPSFA selects 30 Girls to represent Johannesburg South, Johannesburg North at the Fran Hilton Smith Festival at Camp Discovery at the end of August.

Details:

• Date: 14 June 2025
• Teams: 9
• Ages: 13 to 14
• Format: festival

Discovery Primary Schools Knockout Cup (June)

With over 56 schools competing for the coveted trophy, the Discovery Primary Schools Knockout is a firm favourite among boys and girls across Johannesburg.

Details:

• Dates:
  • May: (preliminary rounds)
  • 16 to 20 June (semi-final rounds)
  • 25 June 2025 (final rounds)
• Ages:
  • Boys under 9 to under 14
  • Girls under 9, under 10, under 11 and under 14
• Format: round robin

Discovery Boys High Schools Knockout Cup (September)

The Discovery Johannesburg High Schools Soccer programme is a powerful platform that encourages community upliftment and healthier living from an early age. The Discovery Boys High Schools Knockout Cup is growing every year with over 3,000 players from 48 schools competing for the cup.

• Dates:
  • 8 to 12 September: (preliminary rounds)
  • 18 September 2025 (final rounds)
• Ages: boys under 14, under 15, under 16 and under 19
• Format: round robin

Discovery JVW High Schools Knockout Cup (September)

Discovery invests in girls football from the start, giving young girls access to opportunities to show their talent and kickstart their careers.

Thousands of players compete in the Discovery JVW High Schools Knockout Cup with the Janine van Wyk Football Club every year and use the tournament as a powerful platform to launch their futures.

Details:

• Dates:
  • 27 - 28 September (final rounds)
• Ages: girls under 14, under 16, and under 19
• Format: round robin

Discovery Alex Schools League (September to November)

The Discovery Alex Schools League started in 2013 and takes place every year at the 3 Square Sports Stadium in Alexandra.

The under-13 football league for boys and girls runs every Wednesday for 7 weeks, followed by a final round where all teams compete for positional play-offs. Plus, the Discovery Alex Schools League involves school educators to help coach the players and organise the events.

Details:

• Date: 5 November 2025 (final rounds)
• Teams: 12 (boys and girls)
• Ages: boys and girls under 13
• Format: round robin

"The Discovery Johannesburg Primary Schools Programme goes beyond sponsoring a tournament," says Deon Curtis, senior manager at Discovery Sponsorships. "It's about fostering community, promoting healthy living and creating meaningful connections through exercise."

"We believe in the power of sports, especially soccer, to bring people together and inspire positive change," he adds. "By supporting this initiative, we're giving young players in South Africa a chance to shine, both on and off the field. Sports can inspire us all to work harder, dream bigger, and strive for greatness, whether through the examples set by professional athletes or the accomplishments of young people participating in sponsored sports programmes like this one."

Let's put our best foot forward as we kick off the 2025 Discovery Johannesburg Primary Schools Soccer Programme!

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