Author: cschiwanza

Kearsney College shared an intense and thrilling goalless draw with Michaelhouse in Botha’s Hill on Saturday.

Schoolboy hockey rarely offers teams a chance at redemption via home and away fixtures. The Kearsney-Michaelhouse tie was one of the few exceptions.

When the two sides met earlier this year, Kearsney created and converted their opportunities in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. Michaelhouse, who were playing in front of their home crowd, then seized control of the game and pulled two goals back, but the equaliser evaded them, and they went down 2-3.

When they met for the second time, this time on Mason’s Astro, Michaelhouse was a different outfit. When they first met, ‘House was a team in transition, adapting to their new coach. Since then, they have evolved into a highly competitive team.

“I am so proud of these guys. They have shown character throughout,” Nick Bérichon, the Michaelhouse coach, said after the match.

“We have been through some tough and dark times this season. We started off in a manner we did not enjoy. However, the resilience and character that they have shown has been absolutely immense and I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.”

Not only were they a better team, but they were also better prepared. They knew that Kearsney was going to be highly organised, and they prepared well. One of the best examples of that was how effectively Michaelhouse isolated Kearsney’s outlets.

Like their opponents, Kearsney was also team that has evolved during the course of the term. While almost all of the players who were a part of their victory in the first leg were playing, there were also a few new faces.

Ashley Kemp, who has had one eye on the present and another trained on the future all season long, gave opportunities to youngsters around whom next year’s team will be built.

“There has been a lot of ground gained. But you can’t gain ground and not take a few steps backwards. I definitely think we have handled those situations well. I think the hockey we are playing is enjoyable hockey, both for the players and spectators,” Kemp explained.

Both teams showed why they had performed strongly in the latter part of the season by giving as much to their opponents as their opponents gave to them.

While both teams created moments to break the deadlock, but they were met by a resolute defence that thwarted the attacks.

“We would have a good attack and they would counter. It was 50/50 a lot of the time. I don’t think any team got into the rhythm of the game,” Kemp said.

While there was no winner, nor goals, both sides were rewarded for industrious defensive efforts with clean sheets.

Michaelhouse travels to Botha’s Hill on Saturday morning for what promises to be a humdinger of a contest against Kearsney College. On the same day, Hilton College hosts St Charles.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools

Last week, Kearsney fired their way to a 3-0 win over Clifton. That victory came on the back of a 4-0 drubbing of Glenwood the previous week.

Ashley Kemp‘s charges have been prolific in front of goal and solid in defence since their 1-1 draw against Northwood at home on a misty Friday night a month ago.

A big reason for their success has been their captain and talisman, Matthew Mendes de Oliveira. He has led from the front, scoring goals at crucial times, when Kearsney has needed a strike to restore their belief, and he’s been an obstacle for the opposition when tracking back to help out in defence when they have been under pressure.

The SA School’s midfielder’s commitment to defence is a testament to Kemp’s philosophy that places a premium on sound defensive work.

“I take massive pride in defence first. So, from the start of pre-season, that’s my main objective. If you don’t concede, you give your team the ability to play freely,” the Kearsney coach said early in the season. “It’s the hardest part, but if you do it well, you give yourselves a lot of opportunity to express yourself out in the field.”

Kearsney heads into the tie with recent results against Michaelhouse on their side. They have won the last three times they’ve met, recording a 2-0 victory in Balgowan in 2022, which was followed by a 1-0 win at home. Earlier this season, Kearsney fought their way to a 3-2 win away at Michaelhouse. That sets them up with an opportunity to complete a season’s double over ‘House.

However, Nick Bérichon‘s charges are far from the personification of lambs to the slaughter. It is safe to say they are not the same side Kearsney overcame earlier this year. Michaelhouse has gradually gelled and found their stride as they have taken on their coach’s playing philosophy.

“I want the boys to play in a very structured approach, a very obvious plan, one that is self-evident. But I don’t want them to be constricted by the structure, I want them to use it as a foundation to express themselves and play aggressive hockey,” Bérichon said, outlining his approach at the start of the season.

It took Michaelhouse a little time to hit their straps and find consistency. However, after things clicked for them, they have strung together a number of positive results.

They head into the tie buoyed by their recent form, especially a win last week in which they upset the highly regarded DHS at the Durban school’s fortress, The Coliseum. Bérichon’s charges showed grit and resilience as they turned around a tie in which they trailed 0-1, following an extended period of dominance from their hosts.

Not only did they equalise, but they seized control of the contest and established a two-goal lead before conceding a late goal.

With two form sides set to do battle, the showdown on the Mason Astro has the potential to deliver fireworks.

FIXTURES

Saturday
Kearsney vs Michaelhouse
Hilton vs St Charles

Last year’s bronze medallists in the u18A boys’ competition at the annual SASHOC National Week, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A, head into this year’s event, which again takes place in Bloemfontein, from 16 to 21 June, intent on improving on their 2023 effort.

They have been drawn in Group B and will play their matches at the University of Free State AstroTurf.

It’s a tough-looking pool, which also includes Eastern Province A, Southern Free State A, Northern Gauteng A, KZN Inland A, and Southern Gauteng A. Competition for a place in the semi-finals is going to be intense.

While they did not have a prolific goal-scorer, last year, KZN Coastal A dominated Group B under the captaincy of DHS star Leruo Ditlhakanyane, who not only made SA Schools but also the SA u21 team.

Their leading scorer was Clifton’s Kyle Thomas, with three goals. He and his school captain Connor McKenzie both made the SA Schools B team, and McKenzie and Northwood’s Tristan Boyall bagged two goals each.

The other seven goals scored by the Coastal A side were shared by seven players, including this year’s captain, Matthew Mendes de Oliveira, the Kearsney midfielder, who was selected for SA Schools last year. While they did not score a mountain of goals, they were one of the best teams on defence, conceding only two.

In the pool phase of the tournament, they scored 14 times and conceded just once as they bagged a perfect five wins from five games.

In the semifinals, however their hearts were crushed by Southern Gauteng A, to whom they lost 3-4 in a penalty shootout after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw. The Coastal A side then dusted themselves off and edged Boland 1-0 in the third and fourth-place playoff.

Looking at this year’s lineup, Coastal A coach Cameron Mackay said: “Selection was based around getting the right balance. Our team is dominated by DHS boys with them being the dominant team in KZN this year.”

Mackay, who has taken the baton from Michael Baker as coach of the side, is keen to continue the good work done by his predecessor. Three of the players who played under Baker, Mendes de Oliveira, Owen Slack, and Lethabo Bogacwi, are the core of this year’s outfit. Bogacwi, an SA Schools selection in 2023, and Slack will be the rocks in defence, where they will be assisted by James Read, Bhavesh Naicker, and Ruben Peters. Behind them, Harlee Jagga will be in goal and the last line of defence.

Their leadership duo of Mendes de Oliveira, the captain, and SA u17 midfielder Lumi Matwele, the vice-captain, will control proceedings in the middle of the park. Sithsaba Siyoyo and Andre Strydom will add their skills in that area of the field.

Up front, Josh Beck will lead the attack and will work hand-in-hand with Kearsney‘s prolific forward Trent Jessop. Also working on the search for goals will be Lethabo Matobela, Tyrique Cloete, Luyanda Mbokazi, and Josh Mungherera, and SA u16 squad member in 2023.

“We want to be a team that is confident on the ball and plays an exciting brand of hockey. Our first goal is to make the semifinals and hopefully top the group,” Mackay shared.

KZN Coastal A will kick off their campaign against the hosts, Southern Free State A, on Sunday, 16 June.

Their meeting with Southern Gauteng A on Tuesday, 18 June, could be a decisive fixture in the pool, and it will be an opportunity to avenge their semifinal loss of 2023.

None of the other teams in the pool should be disregarded, however. They all have the potential to claim a place in the final four.

KZN Coastal u18 Boys team: Bhavesh Naicker (DHS), Harlee Jagga (Northwood) James Read (Northwood), Josh Beck (Westville), Josh Mungherera (DHS), Lethabo Bogacwi (DHS), Lethabo Matobela (DHS), Lumi Matwele (DHS), Luyanda Mbokazi (Curro Hillcrest), Matthew Mendes de Oliveira (Kearsney), Owen Slack (Westville), Ruben Peters (DHS), Sithsaba Siyoyo (DHS), Thomas McKenzie (Kearsney), Trent Jessop (Northwood), Tyrique Cloete (DHS).

Coach: Cameron Mackay

FIXTURES

Sunday, 16 June

15:35 – KZN Coastal A vs Southern Free State A

Monday, 17 June

11:35 – KZN Coastal A vs KZN Inland A
15:35 – KZN Coastal A vs Eastern Province A

Tuesday, 18 June

14:10 – KZN Coastal A vs Southern Gauteng A

Wednesday 19 June

15:50 – KZN Coastal A vs Northern Gauteng A

Kearsney College put together a clinical performance as they romped to a 3-0 win over Clifton, while Michaelhouse upset DHS in a five-goal thriller, edging out their highly regarded opposition 3-2, at The Coliseum.

Kearsney headed into their match against Clifton upbeat following a 4-0 demolition job against Glenwood. In that game, their captain and talisman, Matthew Mendes de Oliviera, scored twice. They needed more of that from him when they walked onto the Riverside Sports Club Astro against Calvin Price‘s charges.

From the first pass back, it was Clifton who controlled the early exchanges. They made forays into the Kearsney half, searching for an opener.

A mere 10 minutes into the encounter, Kearsney, who had enjoyed only about 10 percent of the possession, latched onto a ball and drove up into the Clifton half. It was their first attack of the match, and it brought them a goal, scored by Bonga Mapanga, who executed a classy back-stick finish into the bottom corner from the top of the circle.

“Clifton were all over us for the entire first quarter, but we were able to keep them out of our scoring area. This allowed us to play quite expressively in the second period of play,” Kearsney coach Ashley Kemp said.

In the second chukka, Kearsney won a penalty corner, which provided De Olivera with an opportunity to add another goal to his growing tally. The Kearsney captain dribbled past Clifton’s first-wave runner and flicked the ball past Clifton goalkeeper Georg Wolhuter to double Kearsney’s lead.

The Greyhounds’ third goal came in the final quarter when Keagan de Jager sent a flick flying into the top corner of the goal box.

“We got better and better as the game progressed. We defended really well and didn’t give them many opportunities to score. And when they did get an opportunity, our ‘keeper was good enough to stop them,” Kemp said afterwards.

DHS has been one of the form teams this season and is loaded with provincial and national players. Ahead of their showdown with the Horseflies, Michaelhouse coach Nick Bérichon had prepared his charges well.

“We were really organised offensively and defensively. Our approach was extremely structured, which was important against a DHS team that likes to go forward on the counterattack. We wanted to make sure we had our cover and defence well organised,” Bérichon said.

The preparation paid off as Michaelhouse, after going a goal down, took the initiative and scored their opening goal when Thandanani Zuma converted a penalty corner. Soon, they had edged in front. Then, West Mitchell-Innes, who has developed a knack for finding the back of the net this season, scored ‘House’s third.

With a two-goal cushion, the result looked done and dusted. DHS was not done, however, and they kept searching for another goal, which would give them a shot at a draw, and maybe even a win.

They were rewarded with a second goal late into the fourth period. Unfortunately for them, it was too little too late to turn the match.

The victors, Kearsney and Michaelhouse, have set the stage for a potential humdinger when they clash next week.

RESULTS

Michaelhouse 3-2 DHS
Clifton 0-3 Kearsney

Northwood pulled off a 1-0 win over Westville in a lively encounter under the night sky on Friday. Then, on Saturday morning, Glenwood grabbed a 5-4 win over St Charles, while Maritzburg College shared the spoils with Hilton College.

Justin Collins’ charges took advantage of an energetic start to their clash with Westville to take the lead through an Isaac Phiri goal in the first chukka, after a superb assist from Andrew Deeb. That goal, however, brought Westville to life.

Cameron Mackay’s boys were keen to put on a show for their old boys, which would require that they bounce back from adversity. The Griffin launched wave upon wave of attacks on the Northwood goal but found no joy.

The Knights had not assigned themselves the role of sitting ducks. They didn’t sit and wait for the home side to come at them. They launched their own forays into the Westville half, where they were met by an equally robust defence.

“Both teams played a really good game. It was good to play in front of the Westville old boys. Well done to Cam Mackay and his boys for a great game,” Collins said afterwards.

“They were good tactically and we did well to keep them out when they attacked. I am happy with our defensive effort, really pleased that we kept a clean sheet.”

On Saturday morning, at the 3 Schools Astro, Glenwood squeezed out a victory over St Charles in a high-scoring encounter that saw nine goals being recorded. It was a morale-boosting win for the Durban side after a challenging season in which their progress has been visible without producing wins.

They stuck five goals past Saints, whose strikers responded with four of their own. The home team was boosted by the inclusion of a number of juniors who were drafted into the first team, including 16-year-old Kayden Henderson, who scored a brace.

“We fought hard. Our programme is heading in the right direction,” Glenwood coach Braydon Naidoo said. “We needed that win. Our juniors stepped up well.”

In Pietermaritzburg, on Pape’s Astro, Maritzburg College settled for a draw with Hilton College.

Both sides were slow and shaky in the early going. College, who have developed a habit of starting strongly and controlling the tempo of the game, were slow out of the blocks against their opponents from the top of Town Hill. Kyle Emerson’s charges committed too many unforced errors. As a result, they failed to string together phases of play.

Neither team was at their best. “The mistakes we made meant that we couldn’t build momentum,” Emerson explained.

The College team that everyone had been expecting emerged in the second half. They took control of the contest and played with better connections, creating chances. However, it was Hilton who scored the first goal, midway into the fourth chukka and against the run of play, through a flowing counterattack.

College replied almost immediately, setting up an opportunity through a good build-up and then piling pressure on Hilton’s defenders inside the visitors’ circle, where they turned over possession and turned that into a goal.

Emerson’s boys kept pressing and they came close to taking the lead when they hit the crossbar from a penalty corner. Three minutes later, they won another PC and got off a shot on target, but the ‘keeper dealt with it and the game ended 1-1.

RESULTS

Friday
Northwood 1 – 0 Westville.

Saturday
Maritzburg College 1 – 1 Hilton
Glenwood 5 – 4 St Charles

Elizabeth Anderson has a love for Robotics and Science and hopes to use the gift of education to one day better the world through these fields. However, there is nothing robotic about her creative use of the hockey stick, though there is scientific precision in her finishing.

No one expected the goal. Not the Namibia Hawks nor the Durban PSi team. Neither did the fans on either side. The Hawks were not just the favourites to win the match; they were expected to dominate the tournament. Most importantly, no one expected the 14-year-old girl on the baseline to squeeze the ball past the defenders and goalkeeper from that angle.

However, that is what Elizabeth Anderson did, with a reverse stick flick that snuck in the inside post into the top corner, just five minutes into the contest. Anderson’s goal sent the Hawks in all directions. Durban PSi took full advantage of their opponent’s discombobulation and raced into a 4-0 lead with barely 20 minutes on the clock. The match finished 5-0. Anderson had four goals to her name, two from penalty corner conversions and one from a penalty stroke.

“I will always remember and cherish that match. It showed me the importance of the mental side in hockey; that if you set aside fear and just believe that you and your team can, you will win games,” Anderson shared.

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Anderson was barely out of her nappies when she latched on to the sport. She had the right genes. Her maternal grandmother represented Ireland, while her mother turned out for Zimbabwe in her youth. On her father’s side, her uncle Murray Anderson was part of the South African men’s side at the 1996 Olympics.

“My earliest memories of hockey are my mom teaching me how to hit a hockey ball – one of my biggest strengths now as a player – on the golf course of our golf estate when I was very young,” she recalled.

In a seamless transfer from one coach to the other, Anderson landed at Umhlanga College where she fell into Alan Paton’s capable hands. The renowned coach made hockey come to life for her, Anderson said, and helped her discover a deep passion for the sport.

Hockey was not the only sport to be found on the Anderson family tree. Her grandfather represented South Africa in golf, and she has several aunts and uncles who have represented Great Britain in sports ranging from rugby to equestrian. A number are weekend warriors in water polo and tennis.

In true Anderson form, she participated in whatever sport was on offer and performed quite well in tennis, netball, and equestrian. However, her pink Grays stick was never far from her reach. “Hockey just seemed to always be the one sport I would pick above everything else,” she explained.

With her pink Grays, Anderson re-enacted the moves she watched Alex Danson execute. Watching the England and Great Britain forward perform at the highest level, scoring goals at the Olympics, was fuel for the youngster. As she grew older, she discovered María Granatto’s creative approach to the game and was enamoured. “I love watching videos of her playing as she often experiments and does goal scoring in unique ways that I love to try and implement,” she said.

Her mother sits on top of that pile of inspirational beings in her life. “She has taught me so much in terms of balance and general ethics. I really aspire to be as strong-willed and selfless as she is one day,” Anderson said.

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“She can score goals that’s for sure, but what I love about Elizabeth as a player is she is just pure grit and power. She really just is a formidable presence in the circle,” reckoned Carla Ann Mackay, Anderson’s coach at St Mary’s DSG (Kloof).

Mackay, who has watched the 17-year-old blossom into one of the best forwards in schoolgirl hockey, refuses to take credit for her young charge’s abilities or incredible 2024 season. She insists that when she took over from Kelly Reed in 2023, Anderson was already a well-rounded player. Anderson already had a natural ability to score goals and her individual skill was already pretty well-defined, when she came into the picture, Mackay said.

Mackay and Anderson’s player-coach relationship was helped by the pair’s enjoyment of witty remarks and banter. “I resonate with her witty and sometimes dry sense of humour. It always gets a laugh out of me because it’s very similar to my sense of humour,” Mackay reflected.

The coach has watched Anderson not only beat defences and goalkeepers often, but she has also repeatedly watched the teenager do it in style.

“She has scored some amazing goals, set up some amazing attacks and defended like a Trojan at times. But the standout moment for me is the one-time reverse shot goal she scored against DGC this year in our league fixture. The awareness of space around her and timing, everything was perfect,” Mackay shared.

For her part, Anderson’s favourite goal under Mackay came from a penalty stroke. St Mary’s and Menlopark were tied on 0-0 with six minutes left in the game. “Being able to have the entire team trust and back me to take this important stroke just made it so much more memorable when I could deliver and help the team do well,” Anderson explained.

It speaks volumes that the teenager did not pick a goal where she exhibited individual brilliance. It is a testament to her qualities as a team player. Anderson might have been a near-finished article when Mackay arrived, but this was one of the areas that the teenager has improved in during her tenure, Mackay noted.

“Elizabeth has grown mostly in maturity and discipline in the time I have been coaching her. Her decision-making inside the circle has become more clinical. I have seen her grow in defensive discipline as well. She works harder in defence than most attackers and it’s just added to her strengths as an all-round hockey player,” she explained.

The 17-year-old, who loves the inside pull, and her coach have added silverware to the St Mary’s cabinet after lifting the St Anne’s Cup in May, and they have still more memories to create together. In addition to those, Anderson hopes to create more timeless moments at the 2024 SASHOC National Week.

“I just want to enjoy my last schools’ hockey IPT and really make the most of my last year of schoolgirls hockey,” she said.

Kearsney College travels down to Durban for a face-off with Clifton, while St Charles hosts Glenwood, and Maritzburg College crosses swords with Hilton on Saturday. However, the weekend action kicks off with a tie between Westville and Northwood on Friday.

Northwood heads into the contest on a high after putting on a great show for their alumni on Old Boys’ Day last Saturday. They recorded a 2-1 win over Maritzburg College in an entertaining match. Justin Collins’ charges’ come-from-behind victory against a talented and well-structured College outfit will give them confidence that they can overcome their hosts.

Westville, however, also impressed last weekend, handing Hilton College a 2-1 defeat, and that was without their coach and KZN Coastal u18A coach Cam Mackay on the sidelines. He was in Namibia with the South African men’s indoor hockey team, and his return will be a nice boost for the Griffin.

One of the matches scheduled for Saturday is a mouthwatering encounter between Kearsney and Clifton.

The teams have enjoyed a long-standing rivalry that was, at first, dominated by Kearsney. However, it intensified when Clifton began pulling off upsets before making a habit of defeating Kearsney. There’s now an added twist to the contest after Keegan Pearce’s switch. The former Clifton first-team coach and Director of Hockey moved to Kearsney as their Director of Hockey at the start of the year.

“I think there’s going to be added motivation from the Clifton boys to beat us this year,” Ashley Kemp, the Kearsney coach, shared.

Kemp’s charges beat Glenwood 4-0 in their last match. In that tie, their captain, Matthew Mendes de Oliveira, played a starring role with a brace, scoring the first and fourth goals of the encounter. The Kearsney captain, who made the SA Schools side last year, is having the season of his life and will be a constant threat to the Clifton defence, which Kemp is hoping his side can prise open.

“They have been defensively sound, not conceding a lot of goals. But we will be looking to exploit their defence,” Kemp said.

Calvin Price‘s charges will not be easily pushed aside. Although young, they have shown that they are a force to be reckoned, scoring a win over Northwood and, earlier this week, DHS. Jason Adams struck a late winner, which will have served as a big confidence-booster for the home side.

“We are looking forward to our final fixture of the season versus Kearsney and believe we are in a good space for the game ahead on Saturday. So, we’re hoping to carry that momentum forward into this weekend’s fixture,” Price said.

Kearsney and Clifton have each won a match in their last two meetings. Kearsney edged Clifton 1-0 when they crossed swords early last season in Botha’s Hill. The year before that, Clifton, then under Pearce’s direction, ran out 3-1 winners at the Riverside Sports Club.

On a quieter weekend than most, with teams winding down their fixtures and learners writing exams, the KZN slate presents an intriguing mix of matches.

FIXTURES

Friday
Westville vs Northwood.

Saturday
St Charles vs Glenwood, Maritzburg College vs Hilton, Clifton vs Kearsney.

Four young men in Westville’s blue and maroon hockey uniform celebrating victory. That is one of the pictures that greets you as you enter the school’s Sports Office. The walls of the room are lined with photos from different codes, all from moments of triumph.

That hockey picture is five years old. Cameron Mackay’s side, which had started the season spurred on by hope and not belief, had done the near-impossible by defeating an all-conquering Jeppe team 3-2. It was a miraculous season that had 17 wins from 20 outings, no losses, and three draws. The team had no standout striker but scored 57 goals at an average of 2.85 per match and conceded a paltry 13 at 0.65.

“I have a frame of that team photo in my office, then my KZN team that got out the U18B section, and then my schoolboys who were indoor league champs,” said Mackay, who has a knack of getting his teams to perform beyond expectations.

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If it had not been for hockey, Mackay would have probably pursued football for much longer than he did. As a youngster, he was a multi-sport athlete, taking part in cricket, rugby, hockey, and football, but he was particularly drawn to the last two. His love and enjoyment for hockey deepened when he met Alan Paton and Mark Ross at Berea Rovers as a teenager.

“I think, from the early years, Alan Paton really taught me a hell of a lot. I’ve taken a lot from him in my coaching, in terms of the technical aspects of the game and keeping the game simple, as well as creating high standards,” he said.

His game was modelled around what he picked up from a trio of role models growing up. Wade Paton was the first player he emulated as a youngster. Mackay described the younger Paton as the person he felt gave him a stepping-stone to becoming a better player. The other two were Mike Cullen and Tim Drummond. It was Drummond who helped him in the club hockey world when he first started playing at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) at the age of 15, Mackay said.

He flourished under the watchful eye of the elder Paton and Ross. That year, he was picked for Northwood’s u15 team. It wasn’t long before the talented forward caught the attention of the provincial selectors and he was immediately selected for the KZN u16 team, representing it for two years in succession. The step up into the KwaZulu-Natal side led to a call-up to the SA u17 squad.

“I played for the KZN u21 team, as well as the Mynahs, where I was selected for the SA men’s squad, which I unfortunately had to withdraw from because of a knee injury. I played in the Raiders team where I won two IPTs, I think in 2017 and 2018. I was also lucky enough to play in the Maropeng Cavemen for the Premier Hockey League (PHL) for all the editions and we won two gold medals,” Mackay added.

His most memorable match as a player was during the Raiders versus Southerns encounter at the 2018 IPTs held in Pietermaritzburg. Mackay scored the goal that won the Raiders the interprovincial trophy.

The only thing that could compete with his drive to play hockey was his passion for coaching and getting the best out of people. In 2009/2010, while he was still enjoying his playing career, Mackay branched out into coaching.

“I think Wade Paton was the coach I took the most from, because he coached me from 14 to 17 and played the biggest role in showing me the impact a coach makes in one’s life. He showed a great way of getting the best out of anyone without having to be forceful,” Mackay explained.

The tie against Jeppe in 2019 is a favourite for many Westville Boys’ High School staff, students, alumni, and fans. It ranks in Mackay’s top five matches in his coaching career.

However, the most memorable was with the South Africa men’s indoor team at the 2023 World Cup, where he served as an assistant coach. South Africa pulled off a dramatic 6-5 win over Argentina in the quarterfinals and with that victory secured the best finish for a South African team at the Indoor World Cup ever.

Mackay is not yet done. The Westville coach is intent on creating more memories with the school, the KZN Coastal u18 team, whom he will lead at the 2024 SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein in June, and the South Africa men’s teams.

The KwaZulu Natal Inland girls’ u18 team heads to the 2024 edition of the annual SASHOC Inter Provincial Tournament, which takes place in Bloemfontein from 16-21 June, intent on improving on their 2023 campaign, which saw them losing in the semi-finals against Boland, following an outstanding showing in the preliminary rounds.

They finished third in the end, but Inland led the way in the final third, proving themselves to be the most clinical outfit in the tournament, while also scoring more goals than any other team.

Their attack was headed by Emily Watson, who found the back of the net five times. She was tied with Taheera Augousti, Emily Macquet, and Gabriella Tait as the leading scorers of the tournament.

Of the 15 goals scored by the KZN Inland team, 13 came in the pool stage, where they won three, lost one, and drew one, on their way to topping Pool B.

This year’s team will not have Wilson’s services. She matriculated last year. However, they still have her erstwhile strike partner, Ella Shuttleworth. The St Anne’s learner found the back of the net four times in 2023.

The 17-year-old is not the only experienced member of this year’s squad. Amy Fletcher and Rebecca Macquet, who each scored once last year, are back in the side, too.

“The selection process for the Inland team was both lengthy and challenging with the amount of talent,” Morne Odendaal, the KZN Inland u18 head coach, said.

“Most players have been a part of the setup for the last couple of years. There are a few players who are unfortunate not to be in the A team but will play a significant role in the B team,” he added.

Odendaal takes over the coaching reins from Mathew Binnington. The St Anne’s head coach is aiming to build on the foundation laid by Binnington and has high ambitions for his side. He has also recruited some of the best brains in schoolgirls’ hockey to help him realise his vision.

His assistant coach is Gyster van Schalkwyk, the Oranje Meisies’ first team coach, and the team’s technical analyst is Brad Brook, Menlopark‘s Director of Hockey.

“Gyster will be focusing on our attacking play and counterattacks, while Brad will be responsible for our defensive structure and counter cover,” Odendaal explained.

KZN Inland’s logistics will be handled by Lelo Ntombela, the Cowan House Head of Sport, who is in the set-up as the team manager.

When asked about their brand of play, Odendaal said his charges would be adopting a value and principle-based coaching approach. “We aim for our players to be comfortable on the ball and confident in their actions,” he explained.

“We are focusing on seamless combinations within the team. You can expect a lot of grit at the back, seamless movement in the middle, and X-factor upfront,” he said.

U18 KZN Inland Squad: Amy Fletcher (Epworth), Ella Shuttleworth (St Anne’s), Emily Wilson (The Wykeham College – TWC), Erynne Marais (TWC), Genevieve McDonald (St John’s), Jade Kelly (St Anne’s), Jasmine Kelly (St Anne’s), Juliette Maskell (St Anne’s), Kgabiso Morafo (St Anne’s), Lamia Amod (St John’s), Leboga Molale (GHS), Lebone Sibiya (St Anne’s), Nyanyiso Khoza (GHS), Rebecca Macquet (St John’s), Shanaé Ogilvie (GHS), Siyamthanda Majikijela (GHS).

Northwood put on a spectacular show for their old boys, scoring a 2–1 win over Maritzburg College in a humdinger of an encounter, while Michaelhouse shared the spoils with Pretoria Boys High School, with the teams playing to a 1-1 draw on the Punchbowl Astro on Saturday.

As they have done consistently so far this season, Kyle Emerson’s charges sought to impose themselves early in their encounter, and they took the fight to Northwood. They were confident on the ball and dominated possession. Earlier in the season, Maritzburg College was merely good at retaining possession but did not make circle entries or create enough chances. Against Northwood, they did so and found an early goal.

Northwood could have gone 0-2 down a few times in the contest. A second goal would have buried the hosts but, thankfully for coach Justin Collins, the Knights’ defence held firm.

“They outplayed us in the first half and put a lot of pressure on us in many phases. Credit to Kyle Emerson for the good tactics,” Collins said after the match.

When they emerged for the second half, Northwood was a different outfit. They were better tactically and were able to pressure their visitors for longer periods, while also creating chances. One of those chances resulted in a goal by Trent Jessop, with the equaliser giving the home side renewed hope that they could turn the match around all the way and not settle for a draw.

Andrew Deeb then struck to edge Northwood ahead.

“Credit to my support staff for putting the right plans in place. When our first goal went in, we knew we were going to turn the tide.

“I am proud of the guys for staying involved as long as they did and for showing belief in the way they did.

“We conceded short corners but defended well. The guys controlled their emotions in difficult periods. It was a nice win for the old boys,” Collins said.

In the KZN midlands, Michaelhouse dominated the early exchanges of their match against PBHS. Nick Bérichon’s charges took to the astro with a clear plan, one based on clean connections, and those clean connecttions created a first-half goal from Murray Hall-Jones, who converted a penalty corner variation.

“We just wanted to move the ball very quickly. We feel like we can open any opposition when we do so,” Bérichon explained.

Despite trailing 0-1, PBHS took control of the second half, thanks to some outstanding work in the midfield, which saw the visitors wrestle control of the game. “We didn’t manage their midfielders as well as we would have wanted. I think that’s where they took control. We found ourselves stuck in deep defence, defending for long periods. That’s something we need to work on,” Bérichon said.

The visitors created their fair share of chances in the second half but converted only one of those into a goal, with Marco Upton converting a penalty stroke to level matters.

From then onwards, the visitors controlled the flow of the game. While coach Jacques Klopper was disappointed that his charges were unable to convert most of the chances they created, the PBHS coach was happy with his team’s ability to bounce back.

“It was also a good experience for the boys. They get to travel and see other parts of the country, make new friends, and different provinces play a different brand of hockey, so they learn the game from a different angle,” Klopper reflected on the derby experience.

RESULTS

Friday

St Charles 2-3 St Stithians
Northwood 2–1 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 1-1 PBHS
Westville 1-2 Hilton
Glenwood 0-4 Kearsney