Author: asawula

When Dale College picked up an impressive 3-2 win against Queen’s College earlier this season in Komani, they did it with solid execution, by seizing their opportunities, and by being defensively sound.

In their annual Pink Day celebration against their old foes, on Friday, they’ll need to replicate that performance on home soil to secure a season’s sweep of their rivals.

Dale’s co-captains, Sibongisile Nzima and Amangile Songelwa, aim to be at the forefront of the battle. They’ve been key contributors this season as Dale’s hockey programme continues to make strides after a challenging 2023.

Nzima, who is in grade 11, is a front-runner to lead the side again next year, while the clash against Queen’s will be Songelwa’s final outing for the Per Ardua ad Astra school.

The 2024 season has had its ups and downs for the Qonce side. They began it brilliantly at the Tony Godding Festival in East London in March.

Coach Junior Mqingwana’s team finished the tournament unbeaten and picked up wins against Montana High School (5-0), Bethlehem Voortrekker (4-3), and Linden (5-0) before sharing a 1-1 draw with Curro Waterstone.

In their next match, they were beaten by Grey High, but they bounced back to beat Queen’s the following week.

There was a mixed bag of results for Dale during the remainder of the second term. They lost 1-3 to Cambridge High and were outplayed 10-1 by Selborne College. They got back to winning ways against Graeme College, taking a 2-0 victory, before finishing the term with a tight 0-1 defeat Kingswood College.

Since the start of the third term, Dale has been competitive, but they’ve also been beaten four times. They came up short against Stirling High, losing 2-3, before going down 1-2 against St Andrew’s College, which was followed by further losses to Selborne College and Hudson Park last week.

“This season has certainly been better than last year,” co-captain Sibongisile Nzima told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of their clash with Queen’s.

“Last year wasn’t the greatest. We were losing week in and out.

“There’s a massive difference this year. We have a new coach, new players, and we’ve played a good brand of hockey, even though results haven’t gone our way, but there’s an improvement,” he said.

His fellow captain Amangile Songelwa shared the same sentiments.

“I think we won only two games last year, so that already tells you the story,” he said.

“The coaching was not the issue; I think it was just the understanding between the coach and players.

“We have a good mix in the team also this year, and we’re looking forward to closing it on a high.”

The duo both attended Dale College Boys’ Primary School and began playing hockey from a young age.

Nzima started earlier, first picking up a hockey stick in grade one, while Songelwa began his hockey journey in grade five. They played in the same u13A side in 2019 before making their way to the high school.

In 2022, both captains produced outstanding seasons, and they were duly rewarded with selection for Border’s u16A inter-provincial side. That same year, they debuted for the Dale College 1st XI.

“It’s been an incredible journey at Dale. I started hockey in grade one and, to be honest, I’ve enjoyed most parts of it,” Nzima said.

“I started playing with Ama in 2019. We’ve known each other up until now. I’ve learned a lot from him, as a senior. I’m sure he’s taken some learnings from me, too. All in all, I’ve enjoyed it.”

Songelwa took up the sport when his family moved to Qonce.

After making the Border u16A side in 2022, he was included in the u18A side for the SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein this year.

“Making Border this year was massive for me, and even though I didn’t play as much as I would’ve liked, I took some lessons from it,” he said.

Both captains said they hoped more learners at the school would take up the sport and contribute to its growth.

However, they’re also aware that they’ll need to win consistently to encourage other boys to give hockey a go.

A win this weekend against their old foes would be a step in the right direction. They have identified finishing and communication at the back as two of the keys to winning the match.

““Going into this game, we have to work on our key points,” Nzima said. “A massive issue in our team is finishing, and it’s hurt us a lot this season. The defence will also need to communicate well.”

Songelwa also raised concerns about the finishing and said Dale will need to be wary of the dangers which Queen’s will pose.

“I believe our strikers can do the job for us when we create the opportunities,” he added.

“In the midfield, we’ll also need to step up because Queen’s is dangerous, and they’ll also want to win at all costs. It will be a battle,” he concluded.

The game gets underway at 16:00 on the KWT AstroTurf.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

When Pearson High School made the long trip from Gqeberha to the Western Cape to take on Parel Vallei in their annual exchange interschools match last weekend, their captain Zanike Coetzer achieved a rare milestone.

The clash against Parel Vallei was her final derby match, but it was also a special one as she won her 150^th first team cap.

Coetzer, who has been at Pearson since grade eight, started playing for the first side in her grade nine year, 2021.

“It felt amazing reaching 150 caps,” she told SuperSport Schools Plus. “I’ve been playing first team since grade nine, and I haven’t missed a single match. I knew I could make it, but getting there was quite stressful.

“The journey is always the best part and getting to 150 is just special. I’m also proud of my teammate and best friend, Nina (Ferreira), who will also reach 150 caps, so it’s been a journey.”

Before their big interschools clash, Pearson had produced a bag of mixed results, but they were confident after claiming victory in a shootout over Collegiate Girls’ High School in the final of the Eastern Province Girls League.

There were no goals in regulation time in that title-decider, but Pearson held their nerve to secure the trophy in the shootout.

They were, however, beaten 0-2 by Parel Vallei. Despite that disappointment, Coetzer said she was proud of her team’s efforts, and receiving her 150^th cap in front of a large and lively crowd was special.

“It was electrifying and amazing: the crowd, the atmosphere, reaching 150 in front of such a crowd was amazing,” she enthused.

“We tried our best, it didn’t go our way. But I still give it to our girls, and I’m so proud of them for trying their best.”

Coetzer was handed the captain’s armband earlier this season when Pearson took part in the Spar Hockey Challenge, and they won it, beating Collegiate 1-0 in the final.

She has led the team to some big wins, including a 6-0 victory over Westering High and a 3-0 defeat of Woodridge College. Then, there was a 0-0 draw against Collegiate at Collegiate’s 150th Reunion, which was followed by a 3-3 draw with Eunice in Bloemfontein last month.

Despite some ups and downs, Coetzer said it’s a season she has enjoyed.

“I’d sum it up as quite an experience,” the Pearson captain said.

“We had a very young team, so getting to watch the younger players grow was honestly one of the ups for me.

“My highlight was our game versus Collegiate in the EP Girls League final. It was our final game at home and winning it in front of our supporters was special.”

Coetzer also paid tribute to her two coaches, Anton Peltenburg and Ignatius Malgraff, who, she said, had motivated her and taught her a lot during her time at the school.

Along with her teammates, Coetzer will have one last bite at the cherry this coming weekend when they take part in the u18 Challengers’ Cup, which will be hosted at La Rochelle Girls’ High School and Paarl Girls’ High in the Western Cape.

Pearson has been drawn in Pool B, alongside St Mary’s Waverley, Fairmont High School, Somerset College, Paarl Girls’ High, and their Eastern Cape rivals, DSG Makhanda.

The side will be led by coach Peltenburg and they’ll open their challenge against Paarl Girls’ High in the tournament’s second match at 08:00 on Thursday.

Coetzer believes her side can contend for the title. “I think the girls have it in them to win,” she said.

“To do that, we’re going to have to communicate well and have good team spirit. All in all, we’re excited to finish off at such an amazing tournament,” she concluded.

Catch all the action from the u18 Challenge’s Cup LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Forwards and strikers, particularly, often receive the most attention and recognition when teams perform well and start winning hockey matches. On the flipside, it’s goalkeepers that often go unnoticed.

They rarely receive recognition, but they are expected to deliver for their teams when it is most needed.

Criticism for strikers, most of the time, is toned down. However, being the last line of defence comes with its pressures. A mistake can result in a goal for the opposition. Errors are magnified. Goalkeepers find themselves having to put in mistake-free performances to contribute to their team’s successes.

One player who has consistently managed to meet those expectations is Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof’s vice-captain and goalkeeper, Bianca de Guisti. For the past three years, she has been a force for her school between the goalposts.

Since making her debut in 2021 against DF Malan in a match where she touched the ball once, the 18-year-old has gone from strength to strength and has regularly pulled off crucial saves for the Stellenbosch school.

She’s been in the 1st XI so long; it feels as if she is part of the furniture. This coming weekend Bloemhof will rely on their prolific shot-stopper to bring her A-game to the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament in Bloemfontein.

Ahead of the prestigious event, which features the elite of South Africa’s hockey-playing schools, De Guisti chatted with SuperSport Schools Plus hockey journalist Avuyile Sawula about her love for the game, representing Boland u18A, her achievements on the turf, and her future endeavours.

It all began at De Hoop

When her family made a bold decision to pack up and leave Johannesburg to move to Cape Town, little did they know how much of a positive impact that move would have on their child.

She arrived in the Western Cape in grade one and attended Laerskool De Hoop Primary, in Somerset West. The school boasted a strong sporting programme.

At De Hoop, De Guisti picked up a hockey stick for the first time. Then, in grade five, she began her career as a goalkeeper.

“In grade five, there wasn’t anyone who signed up for goalkeeping, and I thought I should try something new and different.” she told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“In my earlier years at the school, I started as a striker, but it became too boring for me. I needed more adrenaline, and I fell in love with goalkeeping around 2017.”

She finished primary school in 2019 and the following year she stepped into the corridors of Bloemhof where she hoped to elevate her game at one of the country’s top hockey-playing schools.

At only 14 years of age, De Guisti’s talent was recognised when she was thrown into the deep end and asked to play for the u16A side.

She represented the team in grades eight and nine. Then, in 2021, she made her first team debut. As the saying goes, the rest is history.

From Regionals to SA Selection

During her early high school years, De Guisti never set foot on the AstroTurf for the fun of it.

She was intentional about hockey and had set herself serious goals. One of those was to represent the Boland u18A side at the SASHOC National Week.

Before achieving that milestone, she had to pay her dues in regional tournaments. This year, though, her dream became a reality when she was named in the Boland squad to do battle in Bloemfontein.

It was a long-awaited selection for De Guisti, who had always punched above her weight but was overlooked several times. Her hard work had finally paid off.

She said she was in disbelief when she received the news. “I was very shocked. I thought it was a fake letter,” she laughed.

“I remember getting home after training at school and I took a shower. After that, I looked at my phone and I saw the list, and I couldn’t believe it.

“I just couldn’t put into words how I went from regionals to u18A. It was an amazing feeling to see that I had accomplished my goal, and all my hard work was paying off.”

During the tournament in Bloemfontein, Boland was unable to replicate their 2023 form, which took them to a runner-up finish, and they had to settle for fifth spot.

De Guisti was, however, rewarded for her impressive performances during the week, earning selection for the SA u18B team.

She credited SA women’s player, Mishka Ellis, and the Booyens sisters, Isabella and Cassidy, for helping her to improve her game by leaps and bounds over the past year. “They have played a massive role in helping me,” De Guisti revealed.

“I started training with Mishka last year, and the Booyens sisters trained me in one-on-ones to ensure that I’m ready for shootouts.

“Since I’ve started with them and Mishka, it’s been so much fun. They’ve helped me a lot.”

“They’ve pushed me to reach my full potential”

Apart from putting in the extra hours with goalkeeping coaches, further credit for De Guisti’s success must be given to her coaches at Bloemhof.

When she started playing for the u16A side, she was coached by Illse Davids.

Davids, who has been the Head of Hockey at the school since 2018, is also a former professional player. She represented South Africa at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and earned 176 caps during her international career.

Another coach who has played a massive role in De Guisti’s career at the school is the current first team coach, Jenny King.

King is a former SA women’s national coach, who attended two Olympic Games, two World Cups and two Commonwealth Games. Locally, she has also coached Maties.

De Gusti spoke enthusiastically about the contributions of Davids and King. “In u16s, I was coached by Illse Davids, and she changed the way I saw the game,” she explained. “She started me off very young and introduced me to the high intensity of high school hockey, and I enjoyed it a lot.

“I was young, making some mistakes, but she was positive and built me up as a player.

“The following year, I was coached by Jenny King. She pulled us up for the u17 Top Schools, and I played the tournament with her.

“Since then, she’s supported me, backed me all the time, made sure I played to my absolute best, and I honestly thank both of them for everything.”

Achievements and supportive structure

In the past year, De Guisti has continued to tick off the goals she set herself on her vision board.

In August of last year, she reached a century of caps for her school. This year, at the St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Tournament, she was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament after a series of outstanding performances.

As she has racked up the accolades, her family has been her most ardent supporter, cheering her on at games, attending tournaments, and being there to watch her fulfil her dreams.

“I’m so happy to have them behind me. They’ve been amazing,” De Guisti said. “There have been so many times they’ve been with me at training, at night, through the rain, going on tours, driving my kit around, and my sister and mom staying at home, watching [the games] on TV nervously. It’s been a journey.

“My dad is just something else, and I appreciate him. It’s so nice to have a strong support system behind me. I wouldn’t have made it without them,” she concluded.

De Guisti’s plan for 2025 is to attend one of the stronger hockey-playing universities and to continue playing while pursuing either international business studies or wine making. However, that will have to wait for a while. She remains focussed on ending her hockey career at Bloemhof on a high.

For the Fairtree Super 12, her side has been drawn in Pool A alongside their Western Cape rivals, Paarl Gimnasium, Oranje, Gauteng’s Garsfontein and Waterkloof, and St Mary’s DSG (Kloof).

The tournament runs from 8-10 August at C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein.

Bloemhof’s campaign begins in the tournament’s first game at 07:30 on Thursday against Paarl Gim.

Catch all the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Bloemhof 1st XI for the Super 12

Bianca De Guisti, Liela Van Zyl, Mari Steyn, Elré Oosthuizen, Lise De Villiers, Monet van der Merwe, Logan Marthinus, Sabine Reuter, Simone van der Merwe, Emmerie Walters, Nina Stanich, Isabella Visser, Daniela Viljoen, Therina de Bruin, Janke Voges.

Stirling High School concluded their hockey season with a commanding 3-1 win over Merrifield College in East London on Friday night.

Those three goals – scored by Keegan Matheus, Chad Clark-Evans and Hisharm Pillay – ensured Stirling ended their campaign on a high.

In an encouraging season, Stirling played an attractive brand of hockey which earned them a place in the conversation as one of the Eastern Cape’s top contenders.

In their home city, East London, they lost only to Selborne College and Hudson Park once. In recent weeks, though, they beat Cambridge High 2-1, Woodridge College 3-0, and avenged their earlier defeat to Hudson Park, winning their return fixture 3-1.

Earlier in the season, the side showed its character when it fought back from a 0-2 deficit to draw 2-2 with Queen’s College.

Throughout the season, striker Hisharm Pillay was a standout performer, regularly appearing on the score sheet.

He led the Stirling attack, contributing crucial goals to lead the side to victory and to rescue it from defeat.

After his final game for the school, he chatted with SuperSport Schools Plus hockey writer, Avuyile Sawula, discussing his schoolboy hockey career, representing Border at the SASHOC National Week, and the future

Have you always been at Stirling from primary up until high school, and if so, how’s your time been at the school?

I have been with Stirling my entire school career, starting from pre-primary, and I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed being at the school.

I was lucky in that a lot of my friends from primary school went through the same high school as me, which made it a lot more enjoyable going through the years.

The variety of sports provided at Stirling was another reason I stayed with the school, as they also offer golf, which I play competitively and socially.

When did you make your first team debut? And how many caps do you have?  

I began playing in the first team in 2022, grade 10. As far as I can remember, I think my debut was against Outeniqua, a match we lost narrowly. I didn’t score but I had one assist.

The game against Merrifield was my 69th cap.

 You’ve had a decent season, picking up some big wins, and contributing a lot of goals. What would you say are your highlights?

My favourite highlight would be my goal against Selborne College, as I hadn’t scored against them since primary school.

Another highlight was going on tour to the Belgotex Tournament that was held at Cape Town in March, where we were 0-3 down against Middelburg. I scored a hattrick to save us a draw, and we finished in 24^th place out of 40 teams.

We recently also played Dale, where I struggled to put one away the whole match, until Dale got the game back to 2-2 and I scored a bullet of a goal at the end of the game to secure the win.

 You also represented Border at the SASHOC National Week. How was that experience?

I’ve represented Border from the age of 12, played u16A, and narrowly missed out on the u18 side last year, and worked hard to make this year’s team.

This year’s u18 selection was somewhat of a different experience for me, where I was selected to represent my province, but sadly feel I was not given enough playing time to showcase my skills as best I could.

I was not selected for the starting lineup once throughout the entire tournament and, although I was a bit disappointed with the time afforded myself to play, I still managed to score two goals for my team and assisted with one further goal.

I felt that all my hard work and training for this season was wasted at the u18 IPT and it’s very sad to note that Border has been relegated due to our poor performance. My feeling is, that for Border to gain promotion back into the A division, they will need a better coaching programme and stronger management, and preparations should start sooner in the year to prepare adequately for a tournament of that magnitude.

Who are the people that have helped you along your schoolboy hockey career? 

My biggest supporter would be my mother, who’s come alongside me to watch almost all my games and tours throughout my schoolboy career and help me through injuries and the mental side.

My father has been there to help me through the process of dealing with racial struggles in sport and he keeps me in check when it comes to reality, which allows me to perform the best I can.

He set the sporting bar for me as a young boy as he played hockey at a provincial and national level, including national level as a schoolboy (SASSA) and provincial level at men’s, at the age of 19.

His achievements drive me to be better. He hasn’t been able to be with me through the last season that much due to work commitments, but I know he’d be there if he could.

My brother, who’s my best friend, is also another person who has my back. Whenever I believe I can’t, he tells me I can and hearing it from a sibling can sometimes be more meaningful to you than anyone else.

Mr Brett Stirk was my primary school coach initially in u13 and returned this year as our first team coach, thus completing my hockey career at a school level on a high note. Playing for him has taught me a lot and I regard him as one of the best coaches I’ve played for.

Our manager, Mr Faheem Hendricks, has also supported me on my first team journey, and I have always done my best to do him proud.

 How would you sum up your hockey career at Stirling? 

Playing hockey for a co-ed school isn’t the same as playing for a college. However, through my years, I’ve played some good hockey and some not-so-good hockey, but my final year will, for sure, be the best I’ve had so far in my sporting life at a school level.

The support you get playing for Stirling High School is something one needs to experience.

 Plans for 2025? Do you plan on continuing with hockey? 

I would like to study Sports Science at Nelson Mandela University and while there persevere in my hockey until entering a national team.

 Favourite food?

⁃Nando’s pulled chicken sandwich

 Favourite movie?

⁃Fast and Furious

Any other hobbies and interests?

Golfing and fishing, mainly fishing, as much as possible.

The Paarl Gimnasium first girls’ hockey team will enter the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament brimming with confidence after capping off a remarkable season in the Western Cape.

Coach Ian Naudé’s side handed their arch-rivals, Paarl Girls’ High a 4-0 defeat in their annual interschools derby clash on Friday night to claim Paarl bragging rights for the next year.

With that triumph, Gim also asserted their dominance after a phenomenal, undefeated season in the Western Cape.

Gim has lost only twice all season, and both of those defeats came in early April at the loaded St Mary’s Waverley Festival, where they were beaten by St Stithians College (whom they also beat in the tournament) and Bloemfontein’s Eunice High School.

In recent months, they’ve been in prolific form, often overwhelming their opposition, and finding the back of the net with ease. At the other end of the park, they’ve been rock-solid, resulting in goalkeeper Miné Vorster picking up several clean sheets.

Before the interschools clash against Girls’ High, coach Naude’s side posted a 3-2 win over fellow Super 12-qualified Rhenish Girls’ High, a 2-0 victory against Springfield Convent School, and 3-1 defeat of Somerset College.

In front of a packed and buzzing crowd at Girls’ High, Gim enjoyed the early ascendency, dominating possession. They had a chance to take the lead when they received a penalty stroke, but Girls’ High ‘keeper, Jana Joubert, kept it out.

Captain Tanya Pieterse scored in the second chukka, however, to give Gim a 1-0 lead at the break.

The visitors turned up the heat in the third chukka and were duly rewarded when Karea de Ridder scored a field goal to make it 2-0.

Just before the chukka ended, Isabella Nel, who has been a frequent name on the score sheets in recent weeks, scored a cracker of a reverse stick shot to extend her side’s lead.

With the damage already done, De Ridder struck again to make it 4-0. Coach Naudé described it as an important win.

“We had to overcome our biggest obstacle this week, and that was having our emotions in control,” Naudé told SuperSport Schools Plus after the encounter.

“Our game plan was to play one quarter at a time and to just go out and put everything in the field.

“We knew Girls’ High also had a lot at stake and, after drawing with us last year, they were confident. We expected them to come out firing and they didn’t make it easy.

“The girls played well, and we are excited to come out on top in the match. It’s a massive win for us.”

Naudé and his players will next shift their attention to the prestigious Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, which will bring together 12 of the best teams in the country.

The event takes place at C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein and runs from 8-10 August.

Last year, Gim finished as the runners-up, going down 1-3 to Eunice in the final. They’ll be aiming to take that one extra step this time around as they attempt to claim the title for a first time.

“What we take away from this game is that we can rise above the occasion, and that’s so important for us heading into Super 12,” Naudé said.

“We want to play each game as it comes and take it one game at a time. Every match at Super 12 is a big one.

“We’re playing against the top teams in the country. We will have to pull out all the stops and bring our A-game.

“We are confident that we will perform well, but we respect our opposition, and we just need to ensure that we keep the scorelines in our favour,” he concluded.

Gim has been drawn in Pool A alongside the hosts, Oranje, their Western Cape counterparts, HMS Bloemhof, Gauteng’s Garsfontein and Waterkloof, and St Mary’s DSG (Kloof.)

They will open their challenge against HMS Bloemhof in the tournament’s first game at 07:30 on Thursday.

Catch all the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

The 2024 hockey season is done and dusted for most schools, and all too quickly for some which shone, including Paarl Gimnasium.

On Saturday, Gim ended their campaign with a commanding 2-0 win over their rivals, Paarl Boys’ High in their annual interschools clash in Paarl.

First half goals, scored by skipper LD Nel and Juan Swanepoel, secured a meaningful victory for coach Jacques Grobler‘s side, which brought the curtain down on a season filled with outstanding highlights.

“I’m very happy that the boys could end the season like this,” Grobler told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match in Paarl.

“It’s been a very successful season for us. We’ve achieved most of the goals that we set.

Turning to the big Paarl derby, he added: “In an interschools match, you’re never going to get a free-flowing game because there’s a lot at stake. I think we did well to score a very good goal from LD. We had some nice PC variations and one of them worked for us.”

Gim’s campaign in 2024 was characterised by grit, consistently strong performances week in and out, a never-say-die attitude, and a belief that they could take on any team in the country.

It started in the best way possible when they claimed gold at the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament in March, sending out a strong message to their opponents in the stacked Western Cape region.

The following month they recorded an impressive 5-1 win over Outeniqua, and then won 3-0 at Affies. In a tight contest, they played to a 1-1 draw against Grey College, before narrowly going down 3-4 against a powerhouse South African College High School (SACS) team.

In May, coach Grobler took his charges on a hunt for more silverware when they travelled to Gqeberha for the Hibbert Shield.

There, after starting brightly in the pool stages, they missed out on the semi-finals after a 2-5 loss to the eventual champions, Paul Roos, in the quarterfinals. In the end, in the most talent-laden tournament of the season, they finished joint seventh with Westville Boys’ High.

Following their Hibbert Shield exploits, Gim was held to a 2-2 draw by Rondebosch Boys’ High. They were then beaten 1-0 by Paul Roos . To close off term two, Gim defeated Parel Vallei 4-2 and Fairmont High 3-0 to head into the mid-year break with a spring in their step.

In July, coach Grobler’s side returned to action at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament.

There, they played with intensity, executed exceptionally, and that brought them the gold medal after defeating SACS 2-1 in the final.

A week later, they were brought back to earth on another trip to Cape Town, which ended in a 2-4 loss to Wynberg Boys’ High.

Before their interschools clash, Gim picked up a 3-1 win over Somerset College. Then, on Saturday, they capped off an impressive season with a win over their old foes

“We had four major goals for the year, and we achieved three of them,” Grobler said.

“We planned to win the two tournaments, win the interschools, and play in the semi-finals of the Hibbert Shield, and that’s where we really fell short.”

Goals, though, are aspirational and the bar is deliberately set high, so to achieve three out of four was rewarding, Grobler added: “We’re happy with what we’ve achieved. There’s only so much you can do, and I think the boys have achieved their personal goals as well, and I’m quite happy to see that.”

Fortunately for Grobler and his remaining players, the 1st XI won’t need a complete overhaul next year, as the squad loses only six grade 12 boys.

Skipper Nel and vice-captain Willem Matthee are part of that group, so Grobler emphasised a need for players to carry on with the good work they have done.

“Yes, without a doubt, we will need leaders to step up next year,” he said.

“I think, in terms of the brand of hockey and the way we play, there won’t be too much change.

“We’ll have to tweak a few things here and there, improve certain aspects of our game, but we won’t reinvent the wheel,” he ended.

“It’s up there as one of our best matches this season,” said Wynberg Boys’ High head coach, Ben Wiley, after his side defused and outplayed Bishops Diocesan College to claim a convincing 3-1 win on the Astro of Dreams on Friday night in Cape Town.

The hosts opened the scoring early, with only a minute played in the first quarter, through a Liam Kleintjies strike, before the skipper, Jordan Paulsen, scored twice in the second half to seal the win.

Heading into the biggest clash of the weekend in the Cape, coach Wiley’s side was brimming with confidence after defeating Paarl Gimnasium late last month.

Last week, their match against Fairmont High was postponed, but that gave them enough time to sharpen their swords, regroup, and prepare for what arguably could’ve been described as a season-defining fixture for the Supera Moras boys.

In their previous meeting earlier in the season, Wynberg suffered a hefty 0-3 defeat at the hands of Bishops on the Woodlands AstroTurf.

In that clash, Bishops were on song, threatening every time they entered the circle, at a time when they were unbeaten in the province. However, a lot has changed since then.

Firstly, Bishops has tasted defeat, losing 0-2 against Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch last month. Their head coach, Ryan Julius, who was present when they played Wynberg for the first time, is currently representing South Africa at the Olympic Games. More importantly, Wynberg has finally found its groove and they demonstrated that in the Friday night encounter.

The hosts were full of energy from the get-go, playing with enthusiasm, putting their bodies on the line, and drawing inspiration from every roar of their supporters.

After Kleintjies opened the scoring from a penalty corner, they were forced onto defence for a while, as Bishops responded well to the setback, with Joshua Mettler coordinating his side’s fightback.

However, the hosts were, for the most part, solid at the back. Then, when Paulsen made it 2-0 from a penalty stroke, which was awarded after goalkeeper Mu’aath Ganief’s save of a penalty corner struck one of his defenders on the goalline and went out, those in navy and white started believing.

The visitors had an opportunity to pull one back before the final chukka when they were awarded a penalty stroke after a Wynberg player had deliberately broken play down when an overhead pass was made to a Bishops’ player.

Up stepped their reliable skipper, Rob Veldtman, but he did something uncharacteristic and blasted his shot into an upright.

Bishops finally broke through in the fourth chukka, scoring through James Grieve, but soon after Paulsen struck again with a superb solo effort to inspire his side to victory.

“It was an exceptional performance,” Wiley told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match on the Astro of Dreams.

“They put us under pressure in the first chukka, and we had to dig deep to keep the clean sheet.

“Our structure kicked in nicely at the back. We held them up and when we got our opportunities we took them well. As soon as the first goal went in, momentum carried us through, and the boys kept believing in themselves.”

The win continued Wynberg’s impressive run during the second half of the season.

After closing term two with a narrow 0-1 defeat against SACS, they’ve come back firing, and in their first match of the third term they defeated the UK’s Repton A 3-0, before beating Paarl Gim 4-2.

Wiley said he’s pleased with how rejuvenated his side is, and with how his provincial players have transitioned the winning energy from the SASHOC National Week into the Wynberg team.

“We put a lot of emphasis on the start of the third term because last year we had a drop during this time,” he said.

“Guys came back from the IPTs and our performances dropped, and we couldn’t figure out why.

“This year, we made sure that the ones that didn’t go to IPTs were keeping fit and were ready mentally.

“We told the guys that went to the IPTs to focus there, and as soon as it ended it was about how they could transition what they learned to the team. I think they’ve done it so well, and I’m so proud of them.”

Wynberg will next turn their attention to a struggling Rondebosch Boys’ High side, whom they face next weekend.

Wiley said they’re not taking any encounter lightly and will prepare as best as they can for the clash.

“The amazing thing about the Cape Town schools and the derbies is that form means very little, and teams turn out for derby games.

“We’ll never think a derby match will be easy. We’ll never take it for granted, and we will have to put our training hats back on for the coming week before ‘Bosch because all these games will be hectic for us,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, in Newlands, South African College High School (SACS) continued their impressive season by trashing Rondebosch Boys’ High 8-2 at the Brewery.

In the teams’ previous meeting, SACS won 3-0. This time around, they turned it up a notch in front of a buzzing home crowd.

Coach Sam Holmes’ side were the undeniable favourites heading into the game. In their previous two matches, they scored a whopping 19 goals, beating Paarl Boys’ High 7-1, and Reddam House Constantia 12-1.

Litha Kraai, who has hit peak goal scoring form of late after an average performance against Paul Roos last month, scored four times in the clash.

He was joined on the score sheet by his SA Schools’ teammate, Reece Theunis who scored a hattrick of goals, while Cole Allam also struck for SACS.

For Bosch, it was a night of dismay. After recording a 7-0 win over DF Malan, they couldn’t replicate that momentum.

The visitors, in all age groups, managed less than 10 shots on target, signalling a strong need to return to the drawing board ahead of a tough Wynberg clash next weekend.

When Kian Cambier leads his team into battle against Selborne College on Friday night at the Rectory Astroturf, it will be the captain’s final match for Grey High School, and it will bring to an end an illustrious schoolboy hockey career.

Cambier, who joined Grey in grade four, has been one of the most impressive players at the school, which boasts a rich hockey pedigree, in recent years.

He made his first team debut in 2022, in grade nine, and since then has played a pivotal role for the side on and off the turf.

His outstanding performances this season, both from a playing and leadership perspective, have helped Grey lay claim to being among the top handful of teams in the country in 2024.

Under the leadership of head coach and Director of Hockey, Andrew Beynon, Cambier has led Grey to some memorable achievements.

They began their campaign emphatically, including going unbeaten at the Nomads Festival, which was, ironically, matched by Selborne, their opponents on Friday night. To date, despite playing a tough and busy schedule, they have lost only four matches the whole year.

Those defeats came against the top two teams in the country, Paul Roos Gimnasium and South African College High School (SACS) twice (one of those was in a penalty shootout in the Hibbert Shield semi-finals), before they were edged 0-1 by Grey College in their annual interschools clash last month in Bloemfontein.

Apart from those defeats, Beynon’s boys, with Cambier to the fore, have been a force to be reckoned with.

They’ve been fierce on attack, scoring bucketloads of goals, while they’ve been rock solid on defence, with SA Schools u17 goalkeeper Kaino Broadhurst securing numerous clean sheets.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of his last match for Grey, Cambier reflected on an impressive season.

“I would say it has been a successful year,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “The team has played a great brand of hockey and has come away with some awesome results.

“Entering this final match, I don’t think we need to do anything differently from what we’ve been doing this whole year.

“Selborne is a good side, but so are we. We will just play our game and back our boys.”

During the course of the season, Cambier has achieved a number of personal goals, making 2024 a year to remember.

Apart from representing and captaining Grey, he also captained Eastern Province u18A at the SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein.

There, despite EP falling short of the semi-finals, the skipper was in top form, and his performances were rewarded when he was named in the SA Schools u18A team, the only player from the Eastern Cape to achieve that honour.

Soon after the tournament, he was called up to the SA u21 camp in Pretoria. Clearly, head coach Guy Elliot saw something he likes in the midfielder.

“Captaining EP was a dream of mine,” Cambier said. “Unfortunately, we did not get the results we wanted but still played some good hockey.

“I was stoked to make the SA Schools side, and to play alongside the best in the country was a childhood dream of mine that came true.

“I must say, being called up and playing at the SA u21 selection camp was eye-opening to me because of the level of players in that age group. It made me see the game differently but also helped me improve on my own game.”

Cambier, who has earned just shy of a century of caps for Grey, also gave credit to his school, coaches, and his parents for sticking with him throughout his career.

“It has been a great journey; I am a very proud Grey boy.

“I’ve also been fortunate to play under captains like Casey Keevy and Matt Kingston, and coaches like Mazan dos Santos and Andrew Beynon. I have learned so much and improved as a hockey player.

“I’m also excited to end it with a hard-fought battle against our East London rivals, having played against many of them for the past 10 years.

“I would just like to thank my family, especially my dad, for helping me pursue my passion, and also to Grey High for giving me a platform to showcase my talent,” he concluded.

The skipper won’t be the only player bidding farewell to the Grey faithful on Friday night.

Seven of his teammates – Caden Skinette, Xander Elkington, Marco Giaconi, Ben Ristow, Blake Muller, Robbie Stow, and Caleb Humphreys – will also play their final matches before matriculating later this year.

The clash against Selborne College kicks off at 19:15. Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Other matches

In other Eastern Cape matches, Hudson Park and Dale College will aim to get back to winning ways.

Last weekend, Hudson hosted Framesby and won 3-0 but on the following day they were hammered 5-2 by Woodridge College. As for Dale, they’ll look to recover from a heavy 0-7 defeat against Selborne.

Meanwhile, Cambridge High School hosts Queen’s College, and Stirling will target a winning finish to the season when they take on Merrifield College.

FIXTURES

16:00 – Hudson Park vs Dale
17:00 – Cambridge High vs Queen’s College
18:15 – Stirling High vs Merrifield College
19:15 – Grey High vs Selborne College

The annual interschools match between Paarl Girls’ High, and Paarl Gimnasium is one of the biggest schoolgirls’ hockey games on the annual calendar, and this weekend the giants reignite their rivalry.

Girls’ High host their arch-rivals on their main Astro on Friday night, aiming for a major boost before they shift their attention to next week’s Challengers Cup, which also takes place in Paarl.

The home side has put together a commendable season, albeit that some results haven’t gone their way.

After starting brightly during the pre-season, coach Anri Keevy‘s side carried impressive form into April’s annual St Mary’s Waverley Festival.

There, against some of the country’s best teams, the Western Cape side finished in 19^th place out of the 32 teams.

Later, at the All Girls Festival in Potchefstroom, Keevy’s charges shone and showed off the winning hockey they’re capable of playing.

Facing Wynberg Girls’ High, Parktown High School for Girls, and Clarendon in Pool C, Girls’ High topped the table and made it all the way through to the semi-finals where they suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to the eventual champions, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria.

In the playoff for third place, they faced the perennial powerhouse, Oranje, but were beaten 3-0. Still, Paarl Girls’ High finished as the second-best Western Cape side at the tournament, trailing only Rhenish, who finished as the runners-up.

“We’ve had some incredible results this season,” coach Keevy told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the Paarl derby.

“We did extremely well at All Girls, finishing in fourth, and had some close misses. However, it’s all part of the learning process.

“The team plays a high standard of hockey, and we are always competitive.”

In the Western Cape, coach Keevy’s side has impressed against some of the top teams, holding their own and producing solid and consistent performances week in and out.

They’ve recorded some eye-catching wins, too, including beating Parel Vallei 2-1, Springfield Convent School 4-1, HMS La Rochelle 10-0 and, in their most recent outing, Durbanville 3-0.

Keevy said being part of a very competitive environment in the Western Cape has helped her side’s growth during the season.

“We are fortunate to play against some of the best schools in South Africa, and here in the Western Cape,” she said.

“Of course, it helps to be ‘in it’ when we play these teams. We seem to always be the underdog in these situations, but we prefer it that way.

“We can almost play with a sense of nothing to lose and everything to gain. Learning opportunities are plenty and when it goes well it is a massive confidence boost.

“The growth has been tremendous from the beginning of the season, not only in the way we train, but in all aspects of how we play.

“It seems that the stronger the competition, the better we play. The girls love the fight and to play to the very end.”

They’ll need to take that attitude into the contest when they tackle their biggest rival on Friday night. In Gim, they come up against a team that is brimming with confidence after a run of dominant results, which has seen them bolster an already stellar record.

They are beatable, however, and coach Keevy said her players will have to take care of every little detail to put themselves in the best possible position to cause an upset.

“The team cannot wait to play. We have trained well, and we are ready,” she said.

“The small things will be important. Discipline, keeping possession, and making the most of any opportunities in the D will be vital.

“It will be incredibly tough, but most definitely not impossible. We will come off the field with no regrets, making the most of the opportunity and taking it all in.

“History counts against us. We haven’t won the hockey in many years, although we drew last year, but that would make a win so much sweeter. The girls deserve a win,” she concluded.

Girls’ High will also bid farewell to seven of their senior players who will be taking part in their final interschools match.

They include the skipper Heyke Lombard, Rouxnè Pentz, Jana Joubert, Elize Janse van Vuuren, Nina Cilliers, Letsie de Beer, and Mikayla Tauber.

Push-back for the encounter is at 18:30.

You can catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Captain Jordan Paulsen has signalled his intention to complete his Wynberg Boys’ High career on a high note as his side prepares to play its three southern suburb rivals in the coming weeks.

On Friday, Wynberg faces Bishops Diocesan College at the Astro of Dreams. Next week, they tackle Rondebosch Boys High. Then, in the third week of August, they’ll square up against South African College High School (SACS) at the Brewery in their season finale.

The Supera Moras boys, under the guidance of coaches Ben Wiley and Devin Stanton, and led by Paulsen, have produced some strong results this season.

They began their campaign brightly, picking up some commendable wins during the pre-season before thrashing Curro Durbanville and Paarl Boys’ High. They also shared a 2-2 draw with high-flying Grey High School.

They started the Western Province league with an impressive run of victories but were then beaten by the top two teams in the country, Paul Roos and SACS, in the latter stages of term two.

Last month, though, they shocked Paarl Gimnasium 4-2 on their home turf with Paulsen, Seth Trantraal, Zach Gibbon, and Dayyaan Brown getting on the score sheet.

They’ll enter this week’s clash against Bishops with their sights set on avenging a 0-3 defeat when they met for a first time in April.

Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the clash, Paulsen said he and his team-mates will have to stick to their structures and operate as a unit if they are to get one over their rivals.

“Bishops have incredible players, some of which were my teammates for both Western Province and SA u18,” Paulsen told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“Last time out, they were just better than us in all areas of the game and we could not adapt fast enough.

“To beat Bishops, we need to play as a team. I believe we are good enough to execute the gameplan the coach has laid out for us. We must trust and implement their plan on the field, and then I believe we can be the best version of our team.”

In June, Paulsen was part of the Western Province u18A team that retained the SASHOC National Week title in Bloemfontein.

He played a pivotal role for his provincial side, scoring at crucial times, with his outstanding performances earning him a place in the SA Schools U18A side.

“Personally, this has been one of the best seasons for me,” he said.

“I had set goals for myself at the start of this year, and I am ticking the boxes one by one. Being selected as the captain of Wynberg Boys’ High was an absolute honour and being a leader is something I always strive to be.

“On top of that, I got selected for WP u18A, which has been a long-term goal of mine. Being selected for the SA u18A team was just unbelievable.

“I worked incredibly hard to be there, even overcoming a serious injury in the build-up to the IPTs.

“So, without a doubt, my highlights this year are winning IPTs with Western Province, making SA U18A, and being selected as captain of Wynberg Boys’ High School.”

Paulsen, who started his hockey career as a nine-year-old, playing on grass at Wynberg Junior, said it’s been an honour to represent the school for practically his whole hockey-playing career.

After making his first team debut towards the end of the 2022 season against Worcester Gimnasium, he became a regular fixture in the team.

He’s been described as a hard worker, and as a humble lad, who is willing to go the extra mile for his team.

Ahead of his final games in Wynberg’s colours, he credited his family and coaches, who have guided him through many ups and downs on and off the turf.

“Off the turf, all credit goes to my mother and father,” Paulsen said.

“They have done more than I could even think of, from paying endless amounts of money to go to tournaments, to supporting me unconditionally through my hardships.

“All my achievements are their achievements as well because without them I would not be where I am today.

“On the field, Mr Devin Stanton has played a big role in me getting to where I am. I have learned so much from him, more than I could have ever imagined. He put his faith in me and believed in me and that has gone a long way. Even when I didn’t believe in myself, he reminded me why I play and love the game of hockey.

“Mr Ben Wiley has done just as much. Being coached by him has been transformative. I feel that both have improved my hockey so much and made me a better player. They have made me enjoy hockey more than I ever have before.”

Paulsen intends to continue playing hockey after he matriculates from Wynberg at the end of the year. All of his focus, though, is on the three massive matches that lie ahead.

“I’m looking forward to playing these derby games for the very last time.

“I have been playing these schools for more than 10 years, so to play them for the last time is very emotional, but exciting.

“I would like to end this season off by winning as many games as possible. Ending it off with wins would be the best way to complete my schoolboy career,” he concluded.

The push-back in the match between Wynberg Boys’ High and Bishops is at 18:30

Catch it LIVE on SuperSport Schools.