Defending champions face Parklands College in a blockbuster rematch as South Africa’s school e-sports stars battle for glory
Seen Here: The pressure is real, the competition is fierce, and the next generation of South African e-sports stars has arrived at Comic Con Africa 2026! Photo Credit: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG — 25 September 2026 — The keyboards are clicking, the headsets are on and the pressure is mounting as St John’s College prepare to defend their Telkom VS Gaming High School Esports League (HSEL) Counter-Strike title, powered by Samsung, at Comic Con Africa 2026.
With the continent’s biggest celebration of pop culture, gaming, comics and entertainment currently underway at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, competitive gaming has once again taken centre stage, bringing some of South Africa’s most talented young esports players into the spotlight.
And there is a familiar rivalry waiting at the finish line.
St John’s College booked their place in the 2026 HSEL Counter-Strike grand final after overcoming Hoërskool Waterkloof, setting up another showdown with Parklands College — the same Cape Town-based school they defeated in last year’s final.
For St John’s, the stakes are clear: win again and retain the crown.
Seen Here: St John’s College are back in the Telkom VS Gaming High School E-sports League Counter-Strike final, chasing back-to-back titles after conquering the 2025 championship. Photo Credit: Supplied
A rematch with history
The upcoming final carries an added layer of intrigue after St John’s and Parklands met in the 2025 HSEL Counter-Strike decider.
That encounter ultimately ended with St John’s lifting the championship trophy, and the Johannesburg school now has another opportunity to make history by successfully defending its title.
For Parklands, meanwhile, the rematch represents a chance to turn last year’s disappointment into this year’s triumph.
The rivalry has become one of the defining storylines of the school esports competition, highlighting the rapidly growing standard of competitive gaming among South African learners.
Seen Here:Standing in their way? Parklands College — setting up a blockbuster rematch between two of South Africa’s leading school e-sports programmes. Photo Credit: Supplied
Fifth consecutive final for Parklands
Parklands College’s consistency has been equally impressive.
The team is appearing in the HSEL Counter-Strike final for the fifth consecutive year, underlining the depth of its esports programme and the commitment of its players and coaching structures.
Michael Paul Roth, Director and Head of Esports at Parklands College and Chairman of the South African Schools Esports Association, said the team remains confident while maintaining a measured approach.
“The team is always quietly optimistic. They have always been a dedicated group of learners, and it’s good to see that combination of talent and hard work yielding positive results.”
Roth said communication remains one of the team’s most important strengths, with players expected to listen closely to strategic calls from their game leaders.
The emphasis is not simply on individual skill, but on teamwork, composure and the ability to adapt when the momentum of a match changes.
Seen Here: 🚀 And in Rocket League, defending champions Curro Durbanville are also chasing another championship. Photo Credit: Supplied
Champions refuse to be intimidated
On the St John’s side, 2025 winning captain William Xiang believes his team has what it takes to go all the way again.
After their victory over Hoërskool Waterkloof, the Grade 11 learner said reaching another final demonstrated the team’s ability to compete at the highest level of school esports.
“Going through to this year’s finals shows that we have the skill to be in the finals. Playing with each other has helped a lot. Getting together to practise whenever we get the chance helps us sharpen our individual skills as well.”
But competitive esports at school level comes with a challenge that extends beyond the virtual battlefield: balancing training with academics.
Xiang acknowledged that school commitments can make regular practice difficult, meaning the team cannot always train as frequently as it would like.
Yet that limited preparation time has made every opportunity to play together even more important.
Seen Here: From classrooms to the biggest pop-culture stage in the country, these young gamers are proving that e-sports is more than a game — it’s skill, strategy, teamwork, passion and competition. Photo Credit: Supplied
Gaming meets pop culture
The HSEL action is unfolding against the vibrant backdrop of Comic Con Africa 2026, where gaming forms part of a much broader celebration of popular culture.
The seventh edition of the event is bringing together gamers, comic-book fans, cosplayers, creators and entertainment enthusiasts for a weekend packed with experiences and attractions.
The esports arena adds another dimension to the convention, giving competitive gamers a platform to perform in front of a live audience while showcasing the growing role of esports within South Africa’s youth culture.
For aspiring professional gamers, competitions such as HSEL also provide an important pathway to develop teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and competitive discipline.
Rocket League champions eye another title
The Counter-Strike showdown is not the only esports championship battle unfolding at Comic Con Africa.
Curro Durbanville has also secured its place in the Telkom VS Gaming HSEL Rocket League final, where the team will attempt to retain its championship title.
With defending champions in both competitions fighting to stay on top, the HSEL finals promise plenty of drama as South Africa’s school esports community converges on the Comic Con stage.
The next generation takes the spotlight
As Comic Con Africa continues through Sunday, 27 September, the HSEL finals offer more than a battle for trophies.
They are a showcase of a generation growing up in a world where gaming is increasingly recognised as a competitive discipline, a creative industry and a potential career pathway.
For St John’s College, the mission is straightforward: defend the Counter-Strike crown.
For Parklands College, it is an opportunity to reclaim the title.
And for the wider esports community, the showdown is another glimpse of the extraordinary talent emerging from South African schools.
At Comic Con Africa 2026, the next generation of esports stars is not simply playing the game.
They are playing for history.
