Author: cschiwanza

The annual SASHOC National Weeks are the biggest platforms for South Africa’s most outstanding hockey players to showcase their skills, bringing the best of the best together to do battle for provincial supremacy.

The u18 tournament, which kicks off on 30 June, concludes with the crowning of the national champions on 5 July after seven days of high-quality hockey action.

The showpiece will be hosted by KwaZulu-Natal Inland, and matches will be played at Maritzburg College (boys) and St Anne’s (girls).

During the season, KZN Inland schools regularly compete with schools from the KZN Coastal region, and it is from these two areas that we have drawn our list of boys’ players to watch.

Siwe Sithembu (KZN Inland)

Sithembu is a dynamic midfielder with exceptional skills in the middle of the park and is a dangerman on the attack. The Maritzburg College star possesses a sharp drag flick and is a handful at penalty corners time.

Mark Sanders, his coach at Maritzburg College, describes him as a natural goal-scorer.

Sithembu has represented Maritzburg College’s first team for three years in a row. He captained the KZN Inland u16A team at last year’s IPTs.

He was also picked for the SA u16A squad and was selected for the SA u17 team that competed in the Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia late last year.

Bhavesh Naicker (KZN Coastal)

Naicker was a rock at the back for the Durban High School (DHS) hockey first team this year. His composure at centre-back when under pressure is second to none and this allows the team a good platform from which to attack from.

His coach at DHS, Keegan Hezlett says Naicker has an acute ability to read the game, which allows him to make vital interceptions and tackles.

The DHS defender made the SA u16 side in 2022 and 2023 and was selected for the SA u17 Team last year.

Naicker also represented the KZN Raiders Men’s Indoor Hockey team earlier this year at the Men’s Indoor IPT in Johannesburg.

Gordon Deutscher (KZN Inland)

Deutscher has been a standout striker for Michaelhouse this season, netting an impressive 18 goals. He has been, undoubtedly, one of the key performers in an outstanding campaign by the Balgowan boys.

His ‘House coach, Nick Bérichon, says Deutscher has an elite mentality. He demands the highest standards from himself and those around him.

Deutscher is a dynamic, attacking force, who excels in and around the circle, and boasts a full repertoire of goalscoring techniques. His pace and confidence on the ball make him a constant threat when running at defenders.

He is also a well-rounded player with an equally impressive defensive work rate, which frequently results in him winning the ball back and thrusting pressure back onto the opposition.

Zach Williamson (KZN Coastal)

Williamson represented Clifton College’s first team 94 times in a goal-filled high school career. The midfielder was at the forefront of many of Clifton’s victories and provided the side with an authoratitive presence in the midfield.

Williamson took on the privilege of captaining Clifton with both hands and led from the front, with his play being characterised by an incredible work rate on and off the ball, in attack and on defence.

“Zach’s basics and understanding of the game of hockey has been special to watch, and being our specialist off the top [of the circle] with over 10 goals this season shows you his all-round ability,” Calvin Price, the Clifton coach, shared.

Kyle White (KZN Coastal)

Northwood was one of the toughest teams to beat in the KZN league this season. Part of the reason for that was the structure they were tasked with by their coach, Justin Collins. A larger part of that was the team’s ability to execute what was required of them, and at the head of that execution was Kyle White.

The Northwood captain, also the captain of the Knights’ 1st XI cricket side, displayed exceptional leadership qualities on the field, with his calm, composed approach to the fore.

He marshalled the Northwood defence well and ensured that they were very tough to score on. The centre-back was also brilliant in one-vs-one situations.

Seth Simpson (KZN Coastal)

Westville had a tough season, fielding a young side that was still feeling its way in high-level hockey. However, one of the players who made Westville’s journey through the season better was Seth Simpson.

The forward netted an outstanding 14 goals in 20 outings, which was an amazing achievement, said Westville’s coach, Cameron Mackay, who will be in charge of KZN Coastal at the SASHOC National Week.

Simpson, like Northwood’s Kyle White, the captain of his school’s 1st cricket XI, is a player for the big moments, a player with the valuable ability to rise to the challenge when the stakes are raised.

Nothing demonstrated that more than the hattrick he scored in Westville’s 3-2 victory over King Edward VII School. That contest, played in Johannesburg, was a high-stakes game. What truly showed his ability to lift his game at the most important times, though, was the fact that he scored those three goals in his 50th appearance for the first team.

“My biggest why in coaching is, I want to play a significant role in someone’s life for the future. The ideal is not for me to go to Olympic Games, but it’s for me one day, when I’m at a mini-hockey day, and one of my ex-players sees me from a distance, where their kids are playing, and they just want to come to introduce their kids to me and tell them that this person played a massive role in their life. That is my ideal. That is my life made.” – Morné Odendaal

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The trainwreck and the perfect match. Those are the two matches they train for. All of them will watch from the sidelines while their charges try to implement training ground strategies to diffuse a hopeless situation, while only a few ever get to witness a perfect match.

Morné  Odendaal was one of the lucky ones. In 2022, he watched his charges take to the field in the last match of the hockey season, the final of the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, and pull off the perfect performance.

It wasn’t flawless. they are human, but they seized control of the contest and played like seasoned professionals. They passed crisply, got into good positions, supported each other with and without the ball, and the result told the story; Oranje beat Eunice 3-1 to claim the title. It was his 36th win in 38 attempts in first team girls’ tournaments as the head coach of Oranje.

It was the end of an era, the closing of a decade that had begun in 2013, and returned a dynastic 380 wins in 400 matches.

Oranje was so dominant that at one time they went for 1007 days without a defeat, recording an otherworldly 127-match winning streak. At the end of his tenure, Oranje had recorded more draws, 11, than their nine losses.

“The Super 12 final was a poignant moment that filled me with emotions and pride for my players,” Odendaal said.

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Morné Odendaal has always felt at home on the sidelines. That is where his hockey journey began. He used to accompany his mother, Elsie Coetzer, on her coaching missions when he was around three or four years old. His time there was divided between watching in awe as his mother helped future stars with their game and trying to perform the movements he saw with a stick and ball.

He joined the kids on the field to train with the grade ones when he was around five years old and that was followed by an introduction to mini hockey on Saturdays. Odendaal has fond memories of gleefully taking on his mates on frosty Astros in the Bloemfontein winter.

“I remember Mom coaching us from grade one to four and we were exceptionally good. We were able to move the ball around, pass the ball, and score a lot of goals and that was a lot of fun,” Odendaal recalled.

A stand-out moment from his early years was an u10 tour to KwaZulu-Natal. The fun began on the bus. The coaches and chaperones allowed them the grace to be kids, and they bonded over fun games and laughing at each other’s silliness until the drinks they were consuming came out through their noses.

“The journey was a lot of fun. We went to the beach, where we played with shaving cream. The camaraderie from that tournament was awesome and it added to the fun for me,” he recalled.

However, the most fun came on the Astro. Their team was well-drilled and swept all their matches. The icing on the cake for Odendaal was meeting former South African hockey star and now coach, Greg Nicol, the tournament’s top goal scorer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, after one of their contests at Kingsmead.

His early years created a perfect springboard for a successful hockey career, and, by his own admission, Odendaal could have been an outstanding hockey player. He had absorbed his mother’s natural gifts as a player. Skills came easily to him, and he had a good tactical eye that allowed him to get into good positions. But he did not do justice to his potential.

“I possessed natural talent but initially lacked the dedication required. My inclination to seek shortcuts taught me valuable lessons that now inform my coaching philosophy. Today, I prioritise creating environments where players can thrive and achieve their full potential,” he explained.

However, his approach did not hinder him too much. Odendaal performed well enough to break into the Grey College first team as a young player, representing the side for three years, and also turning out for the Free State at SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournaments at u13, u16, and u18 level.

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He had no desire to be a cookie-cutter type of coach. From the time Odendaal chose to pursue the craft, he was determined to not be another version of the coaches that came before him. He learned from them but wanted to chart his own path

“I decided from a young age, I wanted to go my own route and form my own identity in my coaching,” he said.

He gleaned a lot from the various coaches who crossed his path in his youth, in particular Braam van Wyk and Des Donald, who played a big part in his life at school and university. He also learned a lot through observation.

“A lot of international teams came to train at Kovsies, the University of the Free State, and I went to watch all their sessions. I sat there the whole day watching the Germans, the Dutch, England, and Argentina, train every single day for three weeks. I learned so much,” Odendaal explained.

He took notes on everything he watched, repurposed their ideas, and put his own spin on them to make them his own. It was a crash course in effective coaching, and he passed with flying colours. To achieve that, he did all the things he did not do as a player. He applied himself and did a lot of extra work.

The fire to walk the extra mile in the service of hockey was lit in 2010 when he observed that first-team girls’ hockey had numerous areas that needed improvement. Instead of simply talking about it and waiting for someone to take action, he decided to find a space to fill and create the change he wanted to see.

“I aimed to elevate the game and enhance team performances.

“Whether it’s at Oranje or St Anne’s, kids are kids. They’ve got the same enthusiasm. They’ve got the same will to win and want to be the best that they possibly can be.

“I am there to help them be the best person or the best version of themselves. I can only do that by helping them to add skills to their lives that they’re able to use one day when they’re older, in their work, and also in their relationships,” Odendaal explained.

A lot of the work to develop young athletes to be the best they can be revolves around discipline and structure. However, Odendaal doesn’t limit his instruction to that side of sport. He is deeply passionate about the mental side of high-performance in sports. He is a big proponent of getting sportspeople in the right mindset for them to excel.

He doesn’t limit his work in this sphere to the girls he coaches at St Anne’s or KZN Inland. He also works with athletes in other codes.

“Before I started with him, I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t think I deserved some of the wins. Then, when he started coaching me, I started to believe and trust myself. This helped me in my performance in ASA and also Nationals. It helped me to really do my best,” Isobel Orji attested after winning SA Athletics u15 100 and 200-metre gold medals this year.

Odendaal’s charges can only be the best they can be if they embrace the concept of continuous improvement, and he drills that into them. But he doesn’t just talk about the concept, he lives it. He is forever evolving as a coach, adding new tools to his toolbox.

He has set his sights high. “My ultimate goal is to leave a lasting legacy as one of the greatest coaches to ever do it. When I’m done, it’s so important to me that I sit back and know that I played a role in making hockey in this country better,” Odendaal revealed.

Those feelings are what drove him when he started, and they still drive him now. They are the reasons why he embraces challenges.

When he is not evolving on the sidelines, he is continually growing, becoming a better husband to his wife and a better father to his two children than he was the day before.

“I am the coach I am because of my wife. She supports me immensely in my goals and dreams. Our two children are my pride and joy,” Odendaal shared.

Hilton College produced a brilliant performance in front of their home crowd to record a thrilling 3-2 win over Michaelhouse on Saturday morning after a tremendous tussle that ebbed and flowed.

“I am pleased with the effort and execution of the game plan. We knew they (Michaelhouse) were going to come out hot and I think we executed the plan quite nicely,” Damian Kimfley, the Hilton coach, told Supersport Schools Plus after the match.

Kimfley and his charges prepared well for the encounter. Those preparations included working on penalty corner variations to counter Michaelhouse’s fast runners.

With ‘House getting out fast and applying pressure, Hilton stopped and played a short ball a couple of times to the left to Ben Wilson, which eliminated the runners. Blessed with a powerful shot, Wilson went with the hit and it paid dividends.

The variation worked like a dream six minutes into the first chukka when Hilton drew first blood to go up 1-0.

Michaelhouse has put together a strong season, however, showing plenty of character along the way, and they soon fought their way back to level terms.

Their equaliser came with only a minute remaining in the first chukka, also from a penalty corner, with Thandanani Zuma striking off a rebound.

There was little difference between the sides, and it took good decision-making and pivoting when a plan stopped working for one team to get on top of things. That is what Hilton did.

In the final stages of the first half, though, they stuck with something that had worked previously, with Ben Wilson again executing a penalty corner variation to give the home side a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Michaelhouse remained composed and worked their way to an equaliser in the third quarter. A flowing move down the right flank ended with the ball being centred and Gordon Deutscher sweeping it into the back of the goalbox, past goalkeeper Kayson Holthauzen.

Hilton snatched the lead again when they won a penalty stroke and their captain Xavier Enslin took on the responsibility, confidently taking his chance.

Michaelhouse threw everything they had into the last few minutes. It looked as if they had scored with time almost up, but after consultation between the umpires an equaliser was ruled out and Hilton held on to score a nail-biting 3-2 win.

When they met in Balgowan, on the Punchbowl Astro, at the beginning of May, the teams drew 1-1. And while Hilton won on Saturday, it was close enough that the contest could have gone the other way. There truly was next to nothing between the teams, maybe just excellent preparation and a well-executed penalty corner variation.

Results

u19 – 1st: Hilton 3-2 Michaelhouse, 2nd: Hilton 1-0 Michaelhouse, 3rd: Hilton 2-1 Michaelhouse, 4th: Hilton 0-0 Michaelhouse, 5th: Hilton 4-2 Michaelhouse

u16 – Hilton A 2-1 Michaelhouse A; Hilton B 1-0 Michaelhouse B; Hilton C 2-3 Michaelhouse C; Hilton D 0-1 Michaelhouse D; Hilton E 1-3 Michaelhouse E

u14 – Hilton A 2-1 Michaelhouse A; Hilton B 2-1 Michaelhouse B; Hilton C 3-1 Michaelhouse C.

Nika Coertzen, a seasoned hockey coach well known for her success coaching the 1st XI at Eunice High School, has taken a bold step forward with the launch of the Nika Coertzen Hockey Festival.

A two-and-a-half-day event, which will take place from 17-20 July, it is aimed at developing the next generation of hockey players.

A very busy schedule will see a total of 117 games played on the Astros at Eunice, Grey College, and Saint Andrew’s School. Eighteen schools, featuring nine u12 and 18 u13 sides, will be in action.

“At the u18 level, players enjoy a full calendar of competitive fixtures, playing between 50 and 60 matches per year. In contrast, primary school players typically only participate in about 20 games annually.

“While the shorter season and hockey being mainly limited to term three is a factor, it is clear that younger players are eager for more opportunities to play, learn, and grow,” Coertzen, the Festival Director, told Supersport Schools Plus.

The Nika Coertzen Hockey Festival is the next step forward from the Pre-Season Hockey Festival that Coertzen and her team launched last year, she explained.

That event was a fun, development-focused initiative designed to give young players more game time ahead of the official season and it brought together participants from all provinces, providing an inclusive and competitive environment.

“Last year’s festival was a trial run, and the feedback from players, coaches, and parents was overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “It was clear that there was a real appetite for more opportunities like this, and we’re proud to say that this year’s festival is even bigger and better.”

The event has three primary objectives: to help with skills’ development, team building, and community and connection.

Increased game time will help the players to test and improve their skills in match scenarios, thereby aiding their skills’ development, and coaches will be afforded ample opportunity to assess their squads and identify areas that need attention before the season starts.

“Perhaps, most importantly, players get to enjoy the spirit of the game, building friendships and creating memories that last a lifetime,” Coertzen added.

She said it is vital that the enthusiasm and energy of primary school players is matched by opportunities to grow and enjoy the sport. A well-organised, inclusive pre-season hockey festival could provide the spark that ignites passion, builds talent, and strengthens the hockey community from a young age, she reckoned.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see how much joy and growth comes from giving young players  chances to compete, connect, and celebrate the game of hockey.

“I am grateful to Eunice for giving me the opportunity to host the event. I am super excited to see what this year’s festival will bring.”

Adding a bit of mystery to the mix, Coertzen alluded to a surprise opening event that will add to the bubbling excitement around the extravaganza and deliver a strong sense of occasion to the players and fans.

There are two versions of Anné Prinsloo. The first is the soft-spoken, good-natured, and humble young woman with a ready smile. Then there is the one you get after the whistle signals the start of a hockey contest; that one is an immovable force of nature.

She’s a wall in defence and a brilliant leader who directs her teammates with clarity and authority.

Prinsloo doesn’t just lead through issuing instructions. She does so by setting an example for others to follow. She won’t ask her teammates to do something that she and her beloved Grays KN10 stick aren’t prepared to do.

It’s the first stick she owned, and she’s had it since 2021. Once, she set it aside because she wanted to try something new. However, no other stick felt quite right in her hands, and she eventually went back to the KN10 in 2023. She serves her team with the same faithfulness her stick has served her.

“She has a kind heart and is an admirable and humble leader. I think her being the captain is a great thing for us because she is such an excellent role model,” Gys van Schalkwyk, the Oranje coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

Prinsloo ascended to the captaincy this season, taking over from the inimitable Anriette Otto, with whom she formed an outstanding partnership last year. Stepping into the leadership role seamlessly, Prinsloo has carried the team forward with aplomb.

Her game is reminiscent of a young Antonet Louw. Fittingly, the South African international is her role model in the sport, Prinsloo shared.

“She is a hardworking player. She is an all-rounder, who showcased her talent everywhere her coaches wanted to play her. She is also an Oranje old girl and that makes her a player close to my heart,” Prinsloo explained.

The grade 12 learner has hockey in her genes. Her mother, Suné Prinsloo, was a talented player in her youth. However, instead of pursuing hockey as a player after school, she opted for a different path, transitioning into coaching and also becoming a respected umpire.

Growing up in that environment planted the seeds for Anné’s affinity for hockey. However, love for the game took root in 2021, when Prinsloo enrolled at Oranje in her grade 8 year. She was enamoured with it and that led to a lightning-fast rise through the ranks, so much so that she received her maiden first-team cap two years later.

“The hockey here and where I am from is a little bit different. All the tournaments, all the lessons, and all the people I play with have had a big impact on how I feel about hockey.

“The people I played with, and my current teammates, made me feel a love for this sport in an unexplainable way,” Prinsloo said.

Hockey has opened a new world to her, and she has shared priceless moments with her teammates.

“I fell in love with hockey because of the adrenaline going through your body when the whistle blows, the long bus rides with your team, meeting new people at each tournament, and playing a favourite sport with your best friends,” she said.

Coach Gys van Schalkwyk has a long list of matches he can name where Prinsloo played out of her socks and led her team to success. However, only one stands out to the young defender: Oranje’s derby encounter against Affies earlier in the season, which Oranje won 2-0.

“It’s always fun playing the derbies at our school. The match was high-intensity, and we connected really well with each other on the field. The vibes from the school were also really high and it just felt different playing that night in front of the school,” she recalled.

Her mother, Suné, put her umpiring and coaching pursuits on hold in 2025 to provide her daughter with much-needed support in her final year in school hockey. That support has been invaluable for her daughter, who has excelled.

She has been head-and-shoulders above other defenders in her group. It’s, thus, little wonder that she was selected to lead Oranje on the field and will also be attending her second SASHOC u18 National Week as a member of the Southern Free State u18A team. She will have an integral role to play in the provincial side’s campaign.

“Anné is a dynamic player. She is such a strong runner and an even harder defender. She’s got a few super-powers, which include fantastic huge overheads, and she has a bullet of a drag flick,” Van Schalkwyk said, listing some of her strengths.

He believes that his young captain has a future in the sport, should she choose to pursue it after school. That is high praise from a man who has helped shape and nurture many stars who have passed through Oranje’s outstanding programme.

For her part, the 18-year-old is yet to make a call on what she plans to do in future. She is still working that out. However, whatever it may be, she will make a success of it, given the way she attacks challenges and conducts herself on the turf.

Michaelhouse heads into their final match of the season, a contest against Hilton College on Saturday morning at Hilton, eager to finish the season on a high note. The encounter will kick-off at 11:30.

This is the second time that the two sides are meeting this year. They were inseparable in their initial fixture earlier in the year, the fixture ended 1-1.

Hilton was one of the three teams that coach Nick Bérichon’s charges failed to conquer in a successful season. Michaelhouse registered 13 wins in 19 outings. They drew three and as many matches. Michaelhouse scored 47 goals, while their exemplary defence conceded only 29.

They put on a sterling performance in their penultimate fixture of the season. Gordon Deutscher flexed his goal-scoring skills in preparation for the upcoming SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament with a brace. His KZN Inland u18A teammate, Gregor van Mayer, showed that he is more than just a defender with a goal of his own.

Henry Love, Sithsaba Simukonda, and William Gilson also added a goal each as Michaelhouse romped to a 6-0 victory over Westville Boys’ High.

“I was really happy with our defensive effort. That set the foundation for us to launch attack after attack,” Bérichon told Supersport Schools Plus.

Michaelhouse’s wouldn’t have been so emphatic had it not been for Matthew Hunter’s heroics between the posts. The goalminder expertly repelled Westville’s threatening penalty corners and pulled off several saves on his way to a seventh clean sheet of the season.

Bérichon’s side looked well-drilled when they took set pieces, which allowed them a 50% short corner conversion rate. Three of their six goals came off penalty corners. The coach was pleased with his charges’ clinical approach to set pieces and is hopeful that his charges maintain that incisive edge against Hilton.

No team gets an easy fixture against Hilton. Coach Damian Kimfley‘s charges have been giving sides a good run for their money this season. They come into the contest eager to make amends following their 3-2 loss at the hands of Maritzburg College. Before that loss, they proved their credentials with an inspired 5-3 triumph over an in form Northwood outfit. Kimfley will be hopeful that his charges will rediscover their spark in front of goal, and make the trip to Michaelhouse worthwhile.

Hilton has six players in the KZN Inland u18A IPT squad and Kimfley will be looking to the quintet of Robert Burman, Jayden Roux, Xavier Enslin, Tadi Hove, Reagan Mudau, and Matthew Thomas to help tilt the contest in Hilton’s favour.

Both Michaelhouse and Hilton are on the hunt for bragging rights and that can only mean one thing for the spectator; the match will be a humdinger.

Kearsney College showed class and resilience in front of their alumni, coming from behind, with two late goals, to clinch a 3-2 win over St Stithians College on the Mason Astro to fuel their Founder Day celebrations on Saturday morning.

“It was a special performance on Old Boys’ Day and the last outing on the home Astro for the matrics,” Joel Steyn, the Kearsney captain, said after the match.

The hosts had to do things the hard way. They fell behind twice but bounced back twice to level before they found the winner.

The triumph demonstrated Kearsney’s principles as a unit. “You can go down, but you must get up and stay in the fight,” Steyn explained.

After a cagey first chukka, St Stithians took the lead through Aiden Blatch, who executed a spectacular tomahawk strike eight minutes into the second chukka. Kearsney responded by applying pressure on the visitors as they went in search of an equaliser. But Saints stood firm at back, calm and composed. At half-time, the visitors led 1-0.

In the third chukka, the game opened up a little more. Still, neither team was able to find a finish. Eventually, though, Kearsney equalised through Keegan de Jager, who converted a penalty corner with a sizzling low shot, six minutes into the fourth chukka.

Almost immediately, Saints struck back, winning themselves a penalty stroke and Blatch stepped up to bury the opportunity and give his side the lead once more.

Kearsney, to their credit, kept fighting, even as time ticked away. Then, two minutes from the end, Aaron Blackburn got onto the end of a diagonal ball into the circle and deflected the ball into the back of the St Stithians’ goalbox.

St Stithians were still reorganising when Kearsney snatched the winner. This time, Ata Mazikbuko delivered the final touch, much to the delight of the packed stands of local supporters.

Saints tried to work their way into the Kearsney circle with less than two minutes remaining. Each time, though, they were stopped, and Keegan de Jager used his massive overheads to relieve the pressure and keep the Johannesburg side at arms’ length.

“This is a result of consistent hard work. No one dropped their heads. We continued with the hard work,” Steyn said, reflecting on a tough season in which Kearsney had suffered some painful losses.

Steyn might have also been describing his team’s attitude in Saturday’s clash. Even when the tide was against them, they stuck to the task and, eventually, they were rewarded.

There are always nerves when one represents one’s school, Steyn said, but there were a few more than usual playing in front of Kearsney’s old boys on Founders Day, including somewho were his teammates in the first team in 2024.

Result

Kearsney 3-2 St Stithians College

Luc Boyall scored an outstanding hat-trick to help Northwood clinch a 4-1 victory over Clifton College in their Friday Nite Lights clash at Northwood. Taylon Goowin helped solidify the victory with a fourth goal.

The win was much-needed for the Knights, who headed into the contest having lost 3-5 to Hilton College at Northwood last weekend.

They wanted to reassure their supporters that their turf was not a place where visiting teams could have their way with them. They needed a statement-making victory, and they delivered.

“I am really proud of the boys. Clifton is always a tough fixture for us. They beat us last year, so beating them this time around was good,” coach Justin Collins told Supersport Schools Plus.

Clifton, on the other hand, arrived at Northwood hoping to improve on last week’s result, a 4-4 draw with St Charles College in which Clifton captain Zach Williamson bagged a hat-trick.

Last week’s results and the score from their last fixture counted against Northwood, and they were also challenged by their inability to consistently train throughout the week because of exams. But Collins made the best of the little time they had together and drilled his charges in a different approach, designed to counter Clifton’s threats.

The adapted game plan reaped dividends. Northwood struck first and they did so early, with Boyall opening the scoring in the fifth minute. After receiving a pass around the halfway line, he drove into the Clifton circle, where he uncorked a powerful shot past Clifton and KZN Coastal u18A goalkeeper, Georg Wolhuter.

The sides launched offensive moves into each other’s half, but none reaped rewards for the remainder of the first half, leaving the home team with a narrow 1-0 advantage midway through the contest.

“It was actually a close game for long periods,” Collins said.

Nine minutes into the second half, Northwood finally put some daylight between them and Clifton when, after three retakes at a penalty corner, they hit paydirt. That goal tilted the match in their favour, and they enjoyed long phases of possession.

Clifton, though, clawed their way back into the match and controlled the ball for significant periods in Northwood’s half. The Knights, though, stretched their lead to three goals.

To their credit, Clifton’s fire continued to burn brightly, and they pulled one back, but it was too little too late from coach Calvin Price‘s charges.

In the final minute, Northwood rubbed some salt in the visitors’ wounds by delivering a killer blow to end with a convincing win.

Result

Northwood 4-1 Clifton

The KwaZulu-Natal Coastal u18A boys’ team has big ambitions for the 2025 edition of the SASHOC National Week, but they won’t get ahead of themselves. Their approach will be to focus on each game as it comes.

Last year, Coastals finished in third place. Although they didn’t lose any of their pool matches, they were held to four draws and one win. That was, however, good enough for second place in Pool B.

Their title challenge was ended by the eventual winners Western Province A, who won a tight semi-final 1-0. Then, in the third-place playoff, KZN Coastal beat Southern Gauteng A, a team with whom they had drawn 4-4 in group action, by a goal to nil.

“We will always look to win IPT, but I think it’s important to take it one step at a time,” Cameron Mackay, the Coastals’ head coach, told Supersport Schools Plus.

The inter-provincial tournament is drawing near rapidly. It takes place on Pape’s Astro, at Maritzburg College, from 29 June to 5 July. The u18 girls’ tournament will run concurrently with the boys’ event, with matches being played St Anne’s DSG, in Hilton.

The u16 IPTs will follow from 7-13 July, at Hilton College, for the boys, and St Anne’s, for the girls. .

Mackay will be assisted by Matthew Smith, with Pius Nkosi returning as the team manager. The team also has four players – Bhavesh Naicker, Sithsaba Siyoyo, Josh Mungherera, and Tyrique Cloete – who were part of last year’s contingent returning. All four are from Durban High School (DHS).

There is talent in the ranks, but Mackay wants his players to do their abilities justice, something which he feels didn’t quite happen last year.

“Most of the guys were part of the u16 group and the boys don’t do well, so they will be looking to improve on that sixth-place finish,” Mackay explained.

Georg Wolhuter will be the last line of defence for Coastals. In front of him, Ethan James, Misbah Nair, Nicolas Ackerman, Keagan de Jager, Kyle White, and Bhavesh Naicker will form the back line.

“They are a really good group of defenders with some exceptional distribution skills. We are really fortunate to have a massive overhead threat in the team,” Mackay reflected on the defensive group.

Sitshaba Siyoyo, Zac Williamson, Ben Loxton, and Chris Abrahams will deploy their skills in the midfield.

“We have some exciting midfielders that can take the game to the opposition and break the line – Sitshaba would be more holding, while Chris and Ben can take the game to the opposition,” the coach said.

Seth Simpson, Josh Mungherera, Luke Allen, Tyrique Cloete, and Bonga Maphanga will be charged with scoring the goals that were hard to come by in 2024, when KZN Coastal scored only 12 times in seven matches.

“Our forwards are doing a good job in creating connections as it’s a new group of players that hasn’t played together much in years gone by. I think they complement each other well,” Mackay told Supersport Schools Plus after a couple of training sessions with the side.

The coach is confident that his team will gel and be ready to challenge for the title when the tournament shifts into gear.

“We want to play a fast-paced game that means we can get the ball to our forwards as quickly as possible,” Mackay shared. “I think we will look to be more direct and less predictable than years gone by.”

KZN Coastal Team

Georg Wolhuter (Clifton), Ethan James (Westville), Misbah Nair (Westville), Nicolas Ackerman (UKZN), Keagan de Jager (Kearsney), Kyle White (Northwood), Bhavesh Naicker (DHS), Sitshaba Siyoyo (DHS), Zac Williamson (Clifton), Ben Loxton (Northwood), Chris Abrahams (DHS), Seth Simpson (Westville), Josh Mungherera (DHS), Luke Allen (Northwood), Tyrique Cloete (DHS), Bonga Maphanga (DHS).

The KwaZulu-Natal Inland u18A girls’ team, which finished in sixth place at last year’s SASHOC National Week, is aiming to climb a few rungs up the ladder and, possibly, even challenge for the title at this year’s inter-provincial tournament (IPT).

The IPT is being hosted at St Anne’s DSG, in Hilton, from 29 June to 5 July, and the local team will be out to give their home supporters plenty of reasons to cheer.

The u18 boys’ tournament will run concurrently with the girls’ event, with matches being played on Pape’s Astro, at Maritzburg College, in Pietermaritzburg.

St Anne’s will also be the venue for the u16 girls’ event, from 7-13 July, while Hilton College will host the u16 boys’ competition on the same dates.

“I’m incredibly proud to coach this team. Girls’ hockey in the inland areas is thriving, with schools investing more in their programmes,” Morne Odendaal, the KZN Inland u18A head coach, told Supersport Schools Plus.

The investment by schools in the sport has seen more teams not only participate in hockey but become competitive against the best teams in the country. The fact that five schools are represented in the provincial team is a healthy sign of that growth.

Inland’s team will feature players from St John’s DSG, Epworth School, St Anne’s, The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC), and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School.

“We strike a great balance among the five prominent hockey schools in our region. My goal is for our players to exude confidence and play for each other,” Odendaal said.

Odendaal, who coaches St Anne’s, will be assisted by St John’s DSG’s coach Philip Smerdon, with Pam Sikhosana serving as the team manager.

Inland doesn’t just have experience in the coaching staff, they also have six players who were part of the 2024 IPT side. Twins, Jasmin and Jade Kelly, Kgabiso Morafo, Erynne Marais, Lamia Amod, and Nyaniso Khoza, featured in 2024.

Goalkeepers Morafo and Mika Khumalo will look after the last line of defence. In front of them, the defence includes the Kelly sisters, Sponga Ngubane, Hannah Schwegmann, Chennel Dennis, and Siena Solms.

Handling the playmaking in the midfield will be the dynamic talents of Holly Hofmeyr, Erynne Marais, Emma Williams, and Lamia Amod, while Annabelle Balmer, Kathryn Schulze, Nyaniso Khoza, and Siphokazi Mpontshane will be tasked with scoring goals for Inland.

“Our approach blends possession hockey with a dynamic, fast-paced attack whenever the opportunity arises. We’re shaping a well-drilled team that will pose a formidable challenge to any opponent,” Odendaal said.

While there will be an air of expectation on the home side, Odendaal has been reminding his charges to not focus on that.

“I encourage our players to express themselves and adhere to our playing principles and guidelines,” Odendaal explained.

KZN Inland u18 Girls’ team

Annabelle Balmer (St John’s DSG), Chanel Dennis (Epworth), Emma Williams (St John’s DSG), Erynne Marais (TWC), Hannah Schwegmann (St Anne’s), Holly Hofmeyr (St Anne’s), Jade Kelly (St Anne’s), Jasmine Kelly (St Anne’s), Kathryn Schulze (Epworth), Kgabiso Morafo (St Anne’s), Lamia Amod (St John’s DSG), Mika Khumalo (GHS), Nyaniso Khoza (GHS), Sbonga Ngubane (GHS), Sienna Solms (St John’s DSG), Siphokazi Mpontshane (Epworth).