Gene Louw claim the big prize as the next level is decided

**Gene Louw claim the big prize as the next level is decided **

Two days, 32 teams and a festival of outstanding primary school hockey culminated on Saturday as Gene Louw were crowned the 2026 Cape Co-Ed U13 Cup overall champions, claiming the biggest prize at the tournament powered by Belgotex Sport.

The Co-Ed Trophy rewards performance across both the Boys and Girls competitions and after two days of hockey, it was Gene Louw whose combined results saw them rise above the rest. It was a fitting end to an excellent tournament for the school. Their Girls team were crowned Cup champions, while the Boys finished third, giving Gene Louw the overall honours and the coveted Cape Co-Ed Trophy.

Day 1 had been about putting yourself in position. Day 2 was about delivering when it mattered. And Gene Louw did exactly that.

Gene Louw Girls hold their nerve The Gene Louw Girls had looked like contenders from their opening game and carried that form all the way through the competition.

A tight Cup semi-final against Sweet Valley was decided by a solitary goal, Gene Louw winning 1-0 to advance to the final. Kenridge joined them after their own 1-0 semi-final victory over Curro Durbanville.

The final was perhaps appropriately tight. Neither side could find the breakthrough in normal time and at 0-0, the Girls title headed to a shootout.

There, Gene Louw held their nerve, winning 1-0 in the shootout to become the 2026 Girls Cup champions.

Curro Durbanville responded to their semi-final disappointment by beating Sweet Valley 1-0 to secure third place.

De Hoop defeated Eikestad 2-0 to win the Plate, Durbanville claimed the Shield with a 3-0 victory over Herschel, while Level Up Academy finished strongly to defeat Somerset House 3-1 in the Bowl final.

Bishops take the Boys title There was drama from the outset of the Boys knockout stage. Bishops and Gene Louw met in a Cup semi-final that finished goalless, meaning a shootout was required to separate them. Bishops prevailed 2-1, ending Gene Louw's title challenge but sending themselves into the final.

On the other side, De Hoop continued what had been an excellent tournament by defeating Somerset House 2-0.

That set up a Bishops-De Hoop final and after some of the high-scoring performances earlier in the tournament, this one was decided by the finest of margins. Bishops won 1-0, securing the Boys Cup and completing an impressive campaign.

Gene Louw responded exactly as they needed to, beating Somerset House 2-1 in the third-place playoff — a result that would also prove important in their pursuit of the overall Co-Ed honours.

Elsewhere, Rondebosch produced an emphatic 8-0 win over Hermanus to take the Plate, defending Boys champions Beaumont finished with the Shield following a 3-1 win over Eikestad, while Outeniqua beat Hendrik Louw 4-0 to win the Bowl.

One school. Two teams. The biggest prize. Individual titles matter enormously, but there is something particularly special about the trophy sitting at the heart of this tournament. The Cape Co-Ed Trophy asks a school to perform across both sides of the competition. It isn't about one outstanding team. It is about the collective.

Gene Louw's Girls went all the way and became champions. Their Boys battled their way to third. Together, those performances were enough to earn the school the 2026 Cape Co-Ed Trophy.

And that is ultimately what this tournament is about, creating a stage where boys and girls represent the same badge, contribute towards the same goal and celebrate the success together.

Across four venues and two days, the 2026 tournament delivered big victories, one-goal games, shootouts, disappointment, celebration and a standard of primary school hockey that continues to grow.

Every match was streamed live on the SuperSport Schools App, while Enhanced Sports provided fixtures, results and standings throughout the event.

The Cape Co-Ed U13 Cup is proudly powered by Belgotex Sport, alongside Brabo, Enhanced Sports, ES Media and Tayla Sportswear.

The next level was reached.