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After a promising start to their SASHOC Indoor Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) campaign on Monday, the KZN Coastal u18A boys returned on Tuesday in Kloof and picked up from where they left off.

On the opening day, the side, coached by Shaun Baker, recorded a tight 3-2 win over a KZN Invitational team before beating KZN Coastal B 5-1 at the Thomas More College Indoor Centre.

By the end of the day’s play, the boys in black and white occupied second place behind Northern Gauteng, who led on goal difference.

KZN Coastal A came out firing on day two, and in their first encounter took down Northerns 2-0, winning 2-0 after goals by skipper Bhavesh Naicker and Jaiden Krambeck.

In their second match of the day, the hosts took on a struggling Southern Free State outfit and upped the ante. They played with aggression, flair, and swagger, scoring some outstanding goals on their way to a hefty 9-4 victory.

Tyrique Cloete bagged a hat-trick, while Krambeck scored a brace. Other goal contributions came from Ryde Brisset, Mesuli Msomi, Tye Milne, and Naicker.

The Free Staters replied through James McLachlan, Aobakwe Phengu, Tayo Fitz, and Rayhan Fitz.

With four wins from four starts, KZN Coastal A has maximum points ahead of their remaining pool game against Southern Gauteng on Wednesday.

Speaking of Southerns, they enjoyed a decent showing on day two after a lacklustre performance on Monday.

A 1-1 draw against KZN Invitational kicked off their day before they bagged their biggest scalp of the tournament, downing Northerns 3-1 in the final game of the day.

In that Gauteng derby, Liam du Plessis netted twice for Southerns, while Jay-Dee Carolus scored the other goal.

Douw Nel, who was on fire for Northerns on Monday, pulled one back for coach Steven Paulo‘s men to take his personal goal tally to 10.

KZN Coastal B also impressed and strengthened their case for a place in the semi-finals. They beat Free State 3-1 early on before being held to a 3-3 draw by the impressively resilient KZN Invitational side. Those results left Coastals B in third place on the table.

Days three’s action begins with a clash between Southern Free State and KZN Invitational at 08:00. Both teams are out of the running, but there will be plenty of pride on the line.

Results 

u18

KZN Coastal B 3 (Kaiden Webster, Locke Makohliso, Daniel Joss) Southern Free State 1 (James McLachlan)

KZN Coastal A 2 (Bhavesh Naicker, Jaiden Krambeck) Northern Gauteng 0

Southern Gauteng 1 (Milan Stipcevich) KZN Invitational 1 (Eben Peters)

KZN Coastal A 9 (Tyrique Cloete 3, Jaiden Krambeck 2, Ryde Brisset, Mesuli Msomi, Tye Milne, Bhavesh Naicker) Southern Free State 4 (James McLachlan, Aobakwe Phengu, Tayo Fitz, Rayhan Fitz)

KZN Coastal B 3 (Zack Scott, Kaiden Webster, Daniel Joss) KZN Invitational 3 (Eben Peters, Blake Herselman, Ryan Herselman)

Southern Gauteng 3 (Liam du Plessis 2, Jay-Dee Carolus) Northern Gauteng 1 (Douw Nel)

u16

KZN Coastal A 8 (Matt Potgieter 2, Luc Boyall, Luke Lambert, Caleb Phipson, Dylan Forbes, Keegan Brauns, Ryan Willis) Southern Gauteng B 1 (Jacobus van der Merwe)

KZN Inland A 8 (Santiago Matroos 3, Sbuyiselwe Mchunu 3, Ntshabiseng Ntshingila, Hayden Ravenscroft) Northern Gauteng B 4 (Freddy Mahlangu, Mark du Bruyn, Zeann Marais, Leano Magadlela)

Northern Gauteng 3 (Luke Payne 2, Rorisang Ledwaba) Southern Free State 1 (Ethan Seager)

Southern Gauteng 5 (Tanner Napier 2, Evan Noble, Warren Sethole, Kamohelo Tsoka) KZN Coastal B 4 (Khulekani Zuma, Elijah Stoop, Hamza Amla, Thomas Schulze)

KZN Coastal A 6 (Caleb Phipson 2, Matt Potgieter 2, Dylan Forbes, Luc Boyall) Northern Gauteng B 3 (Kgolagano Bontshoza, Hanns Arndt, Zeann Marais)

Northern Gauteng A 5 (Rorisang Ledwaba 2, Michael Meiring, Caylum du Preez, Sinokuhle Sithole) KZN Coastal B 2 (Elijah Stoop 2)

KZN Inland A 9 (Santiago Matroos 4, Hayden Ravenscroft 2, Jess Sauls, Ntshabiseng Ntshingila, Sbuyiselwe Mchunu) Southern Free State 5 (Jean Griessel 2, Tsebo Kubu, Yusuf Smith, Kaden Henderson)

Southern Gauteng A 3 (Katiso Letuka, Matthew Jung, Kamohelo Tsoka) Southern Gauteng B 0

u14

KZN Coastal A 6 (Lord Makgato 2, Cameron Rudolph, CJ Esau, Siphumeze Gwiji, Taine Lawson) KZN Coastal B 2 (Okuhle Mhlonto, Zachary Green)

Southern Free State 2 (Selogilwe Selogilwe 2) Northern Gauteng B 1 (Maredi Letsoalo)

Northern Gauteng A 3 (Zander Ladiellis, Tendekai Chikosha, Dylan Buckley) KZN Inland A 2 (Zipho Fakude, Corban Emerson)

KZN Coastal A 4 (Lord Makgato, CJ Esau, Siyathemba Mnemba, Taine Lawson) Southern Free State 3 (Taelo Joseph, Selogilwe Selogilwe, Aschavin Louw)

Southern Gauteng A 3 (JL Venter, Leyton Bothma, LJ Louw) KZN Coastal B 1 (Rowan den Bakker)

Northern Gauteng A 1 (Dylan Buckley) Northern Gauteng B 0

u18 Day 3 fixtures @Thomas More College 

08:00 – Southern Free State vs KZN Invitational
09:00 – Northern Gauteng vs KZN Coastal B
10:00 – KZN Coastal A vs Southern Gauteng
16:00 – Semifinal 1
18:30 – Semifinal 2

KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A maintained their unbeaten run at the SASHOC u18 Girls’ Indoor Hockey IPT, on Wednesday, at Thomas More College, with a win and a draw on the second day of the competition.

Coastals A had two assignments: a morning date with Northerns and an afternoon appointment with Southern Gauteng. The Eloise Walters-coached side routed Northerns and were on course for a win over Southerns in an enthralling fixture before Southerns levelled only six seconds from the end of the contest.

At day’s end, KZN Coastal A topped the standings, with 10 points, while Southerns were in second place, with eight points.

Coastals’ captain, Nicola Forbes, led the way against Northerns with a brace in their 5-1 victory. Jenna-Leigh Freese, Jamie da Silva, and Xaba Nonkosi added the other three goals, while Brigit Arndt saved Northerns the blushes with a smartly executed consolation goal.

The clash between Coastal A and Southern Gauteng in the afternoon was the most anticipated contest of the day, and it didn’t disappoint. After falling behind early to an Amber Fairon strike, Forbes replied for Coastals 11 minutes later before Gabi Howarth netted twice in quick succession to put the home side 3-1 ahead before the half-hour mark.

They appeared on course for victory, but Fairon struck twice more for Southerns, including the last-gasp equaliser to force a 3-3 draw.

That result meant that both KZN Coastal A and Southerns retained their unbeaten records – the only teams in the competition with that achievement after two days of action.

Southerns won both of their matches on day one. Their draw with Coastals A was their second of the day after they were held to a 4-4 draw by KZN Coastal B in their earlier game.

Fairon, who was on fire, registered a hat-trick, and Nicole Chikweshe added the fourth Southerns’ goal. Anna Angelopoulos, the Coastals B captain, scored twice, while Jennifer Egolum and Alulutho Sikhosana added the other two.

Coastals B also recorded their second win of the tournament with a 4-1 triumph over KZN Inland B. Mackenzy Layden scored twice, while Angelopoulos and Alwande Dladla contributed the other two. Anna Schulze found the back of the net for Inland B.

KZN Inland A, who suffered two losses on day one, got on track with back-to-back wins over Inland B and Northerns.

Emma Williams, Annabelle Balmer, and Kate van Breda scored for Inland A in their 3-0 win over Inland B. Then, Jemma van der Byl and Mia Howie were on target in their 2-1 win over Northerns. Thatho Dimpe scored for the ladies from the highveld.

Three pool matches remain before the sides head for the semifinals. Southerns crosses swords with Inland B at 08:00, then Northerns faces a highly motivated Coastals B side. KZN Coastal A winds up the round robin stage with a match against their KZN rivals, Inland A.

RESULTS

U18

Southern Gauteng 4 (Amber Fairon 3, Nicole Chikweshe). KZN Coastal B 4 (Anna Angelopoulos 2, Jennifer Egolum, Alulutho Sikhosana).

KZN Coastal A 5 (Nicola Forbes 2, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Jamie da Silva, Nonkosi Xaba). Northerns 1 (Brigit Arndt).

KZN Inland A 3 (Emma Williams, Annabelle Balmer, Kate van Breda). KZN Inland B 0.

KZN Coastal A 3 (Gabi Howarth 2, Nicola Forbes). Southern Gauteng 3 (Amber Fairon 3).

KZN Coastal B 4 (Mackenzy Layden 2, Anna Angelopoulos, Alwande Dladla). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).

KZN Inland A 2 (Jemma van der Byl, Mia Howie). Northerns 1 (Thato Dimpe).

U16

KZN Coastal A 1 (Charley-Rose Boyall). KZN Inland B 0.

KZN Coastal B 2 (Emmerson van Zijl 2). Northerns B 2 (Dané van den Berg, Diana Diener).

KZN Inland A 1 (Taslyn van Wyk). Northerns A 1 (Lenique Vogel).

Northerns A 5 (Lenique Vogel 2, Daniella Grobbelaar 2, Eliane Haycock). Northerns B 0.

KZN Coastal A 3 (Emily Simpkins 3). KZN Coastal B 3 (Bella Roberts 2, Isabella Momoh).

Southern Gauteng A 3 (Lebogang Ngobese, Lucy Wells, Nina Els). KZN Inland B 1 (Olivia Balmer).

U14

KZN Coastal A 9 (Jessica Savage 4, Casia Huntley 2, Lilitha Mbokodi, Shriya Nadrajah, Peighton Short). KZN Inland B 0.

KZN Coastal B 2 (Chloe Reeves, Errin Pretorius). Northerns B 2 (Kayla Kotze 2).

KZN Inland A 0. Southern Gauteng 0.

KZN Coastal A 4 (Olivia Barrett 2, Lilitha Mbokodi, Jessica Savage). KZN Coastal B 0.

Northerns A 6 (Liesel de Witt 2, Sarah Gouws 2, Kari Dreyer, Anri Haycock). KZN Inland B 0.

Southern Gauteng 2 (Madison Utermohlen 2). Northerns B 1 (Maine Campher).

Central Gauteng‘s u19A boys’ captain, Nicholas Searle, will be gunning to end his school water polo career on a high when he leads his side at the South African Schools’ Water Polo (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) in Johannesburg.

The 50th edition of the highly anticipated tournament takes place from 6 to 10 December.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

The u19 boys’ matches will be played at St David’s Marist Inanda, while the girls’ games will be hosted at St Stithians College.

Searle and his teammates are aiming to make history and defend the title they won a year ago in East London, where they beat KwaZulu-Natal 8-6 in a tight final.

“The build-up to IPT has been quite intense,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We have been setting the level high with constant training every day. We are doing high-intensity stuff, lots of sprints and a lot of skills-based work.”

The St John’s College learner started playing water polo in grade five after transitioning from swimming. He was roped into the sport by the legendary Vladimir Trinic and, as they say, the rest is history.

Searle, then, played his way up the St John’s ranks and over the past two years has been one of the standout boys’ water polo players in South Africa.

His performances for school and province have seen him be part of title-winning teams at the IPT, the Currie Cup, the KES Water Polo Tournament, and, most recently, the SACS Water Polo Tournament, among others.

Reflecting on his time in the sport, he said: “It’s been a long journey with some memorable moments. I think winning the KES tournament was one of the most significant moments in my high school career.

“Of course, I had watched the likes of Matt Pryce win it, and those were some of the most dominant years for St John’s polo.

“I looked up to them, watched them win countless tournaments, and KES was the biggest.

“From this year, I would definitely say winning the SACS Water Polo Tournament to end off my grade 12 year was big and important. I finished with seven goals in the final while wearing the cap number seven. That was a good coincidence.”

Coach Jon-Marc De Carvalho will lead the Gauteng outfit, and he’s selected a stacked and talented squad.

Searle says he’s eager to have one final dance with his provincial teammates.

“It’s definitely a big one on home soil, and a lot of thought has gone into this tournament,” he said. “From the start of the year, it’s been on my mind, thinking about the team, and how we are going to progress.

“I’m very excited to be playing my last IPT at St David’s. That’s very special to me. I have spent many hours at that pool, practising and playing matches, so I look forward to it.”

Gauteng has been drawn in Pool A and will face Buffalo City, Central Gauteng B and Nelson Mandela Bay.

They will also lock horns with the Aussie Crocs on day three. Searle expects a tough challenge from all of their opponents.

“It has never been easy at the IPT, and this year won’t be any different,” he explained.

“The level of polo across the different provinces has improved. Western Province and KZN have dominant players, as we saw at the SACS and Clifton Water Polo Tournaments.

“I must say that Nelson Mandela Bay are also looking competitive, so they will be tough to beat.”

Searle also thanked his parents for their dedication to his career and the support they’ve provided over the years. He furthermore expressed his appreciation for Vlad Trinic and Jon-Marc De Carvalho.

Gauteng kicks off its campaign against Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday, 7 December, at 07:00.

TEAM 

Erik Arwidi (St David’s), Chris Chapman (St John’s), Fu-Nam Chen (St John’s), James Crick (St Stithians), Danilo Giuricich (St David’s), Cooper Haworth (St David’s), Aiden Khoury (Jeppe Boys), Connor McJannet (St David’s), Simon Mussett (St John’s), Tyler Mwekassa (King Edward VII), Nicholas Searle (St John’s), Dylan Wiggill (St David’s), Harry Wilkins (King Edward VII), Declan Wood (St Stithians).

Head Coach: Jon-Marc De Carvalho
Assistant Coach: Thabang Madi
Manager: Zahraa Bodiat

St. Andrew’s School has been blessed with one of those rare players, someone who fits the description of Jack of all trades.

With the bat, Andrew Sobiech can open and handle the new-ball threat; or he can bat in the middle order to pick up boundaries at the end of an innings.

In the field, he takes catches from multiples positions, and he also accounts for opposition batsmen with his right-arm off-spin.

He has been included in the Free State Khaya Majola team, giving him an opportunity to display his talent at an inter-provincial level. He earned his place by producing excellent figures with both the bat and ball.

In a match against Selborne College at the Cape Schools Festival in October, Sobiech was at his very best. He scored 94 runs off 115 deliveries and then captured 5/26 in 8.1 overs to play the leading role in a big win for St Andrew’s.

Saints‘ 1st XI Head Coach, AJ van Wyk, spoke highly of the all-rounder’s competitive spirit: “I first saw Andrew when he arrived at the school in Grade Nine. I saw him playing in the nets and noticed his ferocity. He doesn’t just love winning, he despises losing.

“He’s won St. Andrew’s a lot of matches with his passion. His desire to win is something which rubs off on his teammates. He’s set a high standard for future players who have to step up and fill his role.”

From where did Andrew Sobiech’s competitive nature stem? The all-rounder shared that story with SuperSport Schools Plus: “My earliest memory of cricket is from playing with my mates in the street. We played in the cul-de-sac near my house when we were still in primary school. They lived just two houses away, and we’d spend hours out there with a taped-up tennis ball, arguing over ‘outs’ and celebrating every big shot like it was the World Cup.

“Those moments are what made me fall in love with the game. It was pure fun, and it’s a feeling that’s stayed with me ever since.”

What cricket goals is he aiming to chase after his school days are done?

“Right now, my big goal is to make Cubs Week in January. From there, I’d love to push into much higher levels of cricket. You never know where your breakthrough might come from. It might be right around the corner, and I want to put myself in the best position to take it,” he said.

“In my personal life, I want to finish my studies, so that I have a solid foundation behind me. I also want to keep growing in my Christian faith and strengthen my relationships with the people I love. That balance is really important to me.”

Assessing his game, he said candidly: “The aspect of my game that needs the most work is consistency, especially when it comes to being mentally switched on from the first ball to the last. I know I’ve got the ability, but I want to sharpen that focus and make sure I can execute under pressure. Once I get that right, every part of my game will naturally lift.”

Interestingly, coach Van Wyk said Sobiech’s area of greatest improvement has been in the manner in which he approaches and thinks about the game. “I’d say his mentality has improved a lot. He used to play on emotion when he was younger. However, he has matured mentally. He now plays with focus and clarity. It’s helped him to become consistent in his performances.”

Andrew Sobiech is a workhorse, a player willing to and able to contribute to all aspects of the game. Given time and opportunity, the all-rounder will surely make his mark in one way or the other.

The Saints’ star is one to watch out for at the Khaya Majola Week. It takes place on familiar grounds to him, in Bloemfontein, from 16-21 December.

SuperSport Schools is proud to announce the return of its highly anticipated year-end special, Class of ‘25, brought to you by Takealot (Official Sponsor) and Under Armour (Apparel Partner).

Following the success of the previous two editions, Class of ‘25 has been given a fresh new look, now featuring a two-part series of 30-minute episodes, airing on 6 and 13 December 2025 on DStv Channel 216, available across all DStv packages, or stream it on-demand on the SuperSport Schools App, Catch Up, and Showmax.

This year’s edition once again celebrates the most inspiring stories, remarkable performances, and unforgettable sporting moments from the 2025 school and youth sports season. From the pitches and courts to the pools and tracks, Class of ‘25 captures the very best of South Africa’s young talent.

The prestigious Top 30 outstanding student athletes will be named, representing excellence across multiple sporting codes. A special “Joker”/ “Wild Card” inclusion will also return, recognising an individual who may not fit the typical sporting mould but has embodied school spirit or captured the nation’s imagination through a viral or heartwarming moment.

“The Class of ’25 represents the spirit of South Africa’s youth – determined, passionate, and full of promise. We’re proud to stand alongside SuperSport Schools in recognising the young people who inspire us to dream bigger and do better. This partnership reflects Takealot’s ongoing commitment to celebrating local talent and delivering happiness beyond just shopping – into every community we reach”, said Karla Levick, Chief Marketing Officer at Takealot.

“At Under Armour, we are committed to making athletes better, and our partnership with SuperSport Schools is an investment in the future of South African sport. Giving rising talent greater access, visibility, and support from the very beginning of their journey. Together with SuperSport Schools, we’re building stronger pathways for youth development and inspiring the next generation to push further, work harder, and chase their goals with confidence,” said Megan Rich, Under Armour Brand Manager

In a new twist for 2025, the Top 3 athletes will be revealed and celebrated for their exceptional achievements, receiving an exclusive gift in addition to their limited-edition Under Armour Class of ’25 jacket.

Hosted by and featuring some of South Africa’s most respected sports personalities, including Olympian Akani Simbine, South African footballing icon, Teko Modise, former Protea Chris Morris, and Shaka Ilembe actor & sports media personality Thandolwethu “Olly” Zondi and alongside SuperSport Schools regulars Alex White, Johan “Spoed” Smith, Kuhle “Kooks” Sonkosi, Itumeleng Banda, and Olwethu Zondo, the series blends analysis, emotion, and storytelling to showcase the next generation of champions.

“The Class of ‘25 celebrates the incredible depth of talent and resilience in school sports,” said Thando Bakumeni, General Manager of SuperSport Schools. “Every year, we witness young athletes redefine what’s possible, and this series is our way of honouring their journey, the early mornings, the discipline, and the passion that fuels their dreams. These are the future stars of South African sport.”

The Class of ‘25 is a tribute to those who have made their mark this season, the stars whose names we will remember long after they’ve left the school fields. It’s a reminder that World Cups are won 10 years before they are played, and the heroes of tomorrow are already shining today.

Don’t miss the celebration. Tune in on 6 and 13 December at 19:00 to find out who makes the Class of ’25, airing on SuperSport (Channel 216, available on all DStv packages), the SuperSport Schools App, Catch Up, and Showmax.

The Northern Gauteng u18 Indoor boys’ team made a big statement on the opening day of the SASHOC Indoor Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT), in Kloof, on Monday.

Northerns were on fire at the Thomas More College Indoor Centre and racked up a 6-0 win over Southern Free State before handing the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Invitational side an 8-3 defeat.

The IPT kicked off on Monday and runs through until Thursday, 4 December, with all the action live on SuperSport Schools.

In the boys’ section, Northerns ended the day atop the standings after their impressive performances.

The boys from Pretoria, led by coach Steven Paulo, were direct in their approach and made their intentions clear from the first whistle.

They dominated Free State in their opener, with Douw Nel catching the eye and netting four times. Further goals from Milan Booysen and Wium van Niekerk sealed the win.

In Northerns’ second outing of the day, against KZN Invitational, Nel was on the scoresheet five times, striking twice from penalty corners and also converting three penalty strokes.

Jordan Cooks added his name to the scoresheet before a brace from Booysen made it eight. The KZN boys bagged three consolation goals, courtesy of strikes by Luke de Oliveira and brothers Ryan and Blake Herselman.

Another team that impressed on Monday was KZN Coastal A, coached by Shaun Baker and captained by Durban High School‘s Bhavesh Naicker.

They kicked off their campaign with a shaky 3-2 win over KZN Invitational, thanks to strikes by Joel Steyn, Jaiden Krambeck, and Ryde Brisset.

They met their provincial counterparts KZN Coastal B in their second match of the day and overpowered them 5-1.

Steyn found the back of the net for a second consecutive match, while Mesuli Msomi (2), Christopher Abrahams, and Tyrique Cloete also got in on the action.

At day’s end, KZN Coastal trailed Northerns at the top of the standings on goal difference.

In a big upset, Southern Gauteng was stunned by KZN Coastal B, going down 2-3. Later, Southerns bounced back with a comfortable 5-0 win over Southern Free State.

Captain Matteo Stipcevich and Conrad Koen both bagged braces, while Milan Stipcevich also added his name to the scoresheet.

Day two’s action kicks off with a clash between Southern Free State and KZN Coastal B at 11:00.

RESULTS

U18

KZN Coastal A 3: Joel Steyn, Jaiden Krambeck, Ryde Brisset. KZN Invitational 2: Blake Herselman, Ryan Herselman.

Northern Gauteng 6: Douw Nel (4), Milan Booysen, Wium van Niekerk. Southern Free State 0.

KZN Coastal B 3: Braigen Yunnie, Daniel Joss, Kaiden Webster. Southern Gauteng 2: Matteo Stipcevich, Milan Stipcevich.

Northern Gauteng 8: Douw Nel (5), Milan Booysen (2), Jordan Cooks. KZN Invitational 3: Luke De Oliveira, Ryan Herselman, Blake Herselman.

Southern Gauteng 5: Matteo Stipcevich (2), Conrad Koen (2), Milan Stipcevich. Southern Free State 0.

KZN Coastal A 5: Mesuli Msomi (2), Joel Steyn, Christopher Abrahams, Tyrique Cloete. KZN Coastal B 1: Braigen Yunnie.

U16

KZN Coastal A 11 (Dylan Forbes 4, Luke Lambert 2, Caleb Phipson 2, Keegan Brauns, Troy Wurdeman, Ryan Willis) Southern Free State 2 (Kaden Henderson, Ethan Seager)

Northerns A 5 (Kean Cornelissen 2, Sinokuhle Sithole, Luke Payne, Timothy Scheepers) Southern Gauteng B 1 (Joshua van Wyk)

KZN Inland A 7 (Santiago Matroos 5, Hayden Ravenscroft 2) KZN Coastal B 4 (Elijah Stoop 2, Luqmaan Mohamed, Khulekani Zuma)

Southern Gauteng A 4 (Matthew Jung 2, Tanner Napier, Katiso Letuka) Northerns B 1 (Zéann Marais)

Southern Gauteng A 7 (Matthew Jung 3, Kamohelo Tsoka 2, Justin Fairley, Warren Sithole) KZN Inland A 6 (Santiago Matroos 4, Joshua Smith 2)

Southern Free State 4 (Kaden Henderson 2, Yusuf Smith, Ethan Seager) Southern Gauteng B 2 (Jordan Sapsford, Jacobus van der Merwe)

KZN Coastal B 5 (Hamza Amla 4, Keegan Reeves) Northerns B 1 (Atisang Passe)

KZN Coastal A 2 (Dylan Forbes, Luc Boyall) Northerns A 2 (Rorisang Ledwaba, Luke Payne)

U14

KZN Coastal B 4 (Sphwosenkosi Gumede 2, Connor Els, Slater Haynes) Southern Free State 2 (Nicholas Sofiadellis, Evano Hurst)

Southern Gauteng A 2 (Caden Kruger, Criston de Saldanha) Northerns B 2 (Heinrich Vogel, Tshepo Mohulatsi)

KZN Coastal A 5 (Taine Lawson 2, Lord Makgato 2, Cameron Rudolph) KZN Inland A 1 (Bunono Zitumane)

KZN Coastal A 3 (Taine Lawson 2, Siphumeze Mnemba) Northerns B 1 (Reneilwe Mathabathe)

KZN Inland A 3 (Anesu Mukono 2, Bunono Zitumane) Southern Free State 2 (Taelo Joseph, Selogilwe Selogilwe)

Northerns A 5 (Dylan Buckley 2, Oreratile Mabena, Sven van Eyssen, Kamogelo Maluleka) Southern Gauteng A 3 (Leyton Bothma 3)

u18 Day 2 fixtures @Thomas More College

11:00 – Southern Free State vs KZN Coastal B
12:00 – KZN Coastal A vs Northern Gauteng
13:00 – Southern Gauteng vs KZN Invitational
17:00 – Southern Free State vs KZN Coastal A
18:00 – KZN Coastal B vs KZN Invitational
19:00 – Southern Gauteng vs Northern Gauteng

KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A and Southern Gauteng made strong starts to their SASHOC u18 Girls Indoor Hockey IPT campaigns at Thomas More College, in Kloof, on Monday. Both teams finished the day unbeaten and were separated only by goal difference at the top of the leaderboard.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Coastals, who are on top of the log, walloped KZN Inland B 10-1 in their opening fixture.

Codie Bestbier recorded the first hat-trick of the competition in the match, while Zezethu Kunene and Gabi Howarth added a brace each. Ella Bowyer, Jenna-Leigh Freese, and Caprice Bengston rounded off the scoring with a goal each, while Anna Schulze scored Inland B’s consolation goal.

Kunene carried her goal-scoring form into Coastals’ second match later in the day, netting twice in a 4-1 win over their compatriots, KZN Coastal B. Freese and Howarth added the other two goals, while Angelina Hall found the back of the net for Coastals B.

Southern Gauteng roared to a 4-0 win over their highveld neighbours, Northerns, in their opening match of the tournament. Raffael Abrahams netted twice, while Kristen Cikes and Ciara van der Walt also struck.

Van der Walt grew her tally in the competition to three goals when she scored a brace in Southerns’ 6-1 win over KZN Inland A in their afternoon encounter. Nicole Chikweshe also got onto the scorecard with two of her own, while Kristen Cikes and Chloe Potgieter added a goal each. Mia Howie replied for Inland A.

Coastals B and Northerns finished the day with a win each.

Coastals B showed that they were not to be underestimated because of their B-team tag with a convincing 5-1 triumph over Inland A. Alwande Dladla opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Mia Lopes and Mackenzy Layden scored a brace each. Kate van Breda found the back of the net for Inland A.

Northerns bounced back from their loss to Southerns with a 5-1 win over Inland B. Jana Seebach led the way for them with a hat-trick, and Brigit Arndt and Amogelang Motlatle added a goal each.

For the second time in the day, Anna Schulze found the back of the net for Inland B. Unfortunately for her, it was in another losing cause.

Southerns have a tricky assignment against KZN Coastal B in the first match of the second day, while KZN Coastal A faces a resurgent Northerns immediately afterwards. The match of the day will be the contest between the powerhouses, KZN Coastal A and Southerns, at 14:00.

Convenor of Selectors, Calvin Price, reflecting on the first interprovincial schools’ hockey tournament, told SuperSport Schools: “It’s good for school hockey. We’ve got other avenues that are growing the indoor game exceptionally well. To get it back into school level is really exciting.

“There has been some incredible hockey today, on day one. It’s also nice for me to see what’s coming through for the future from the school base. It has been a fantastic opening day, and I think this is the start of some good indoor hockey going forward in the schools and in the provinces. I’m looking forward to that.”

Discussing the impact of South Africa’s successes at the Indoor Hockey World Cup and the introduction of a schools’ IPT, he added: “I think we’re going to get more indoor players out there, which I think we need.

“The Pro Series Indoor (PSI) is a huge success by itself, and I’m privileged to be involved as a national coach. They help me with a lot of things, but there is now another avenue where we can get other players who don’t play PSI to play some top level provincial indoor hockey.”

RESULTS

U18

KZN Coastal A 10 (Codie Bestbier 3, Zezethu Kunene 2, Gabi Howarth 2, Ella Bowyer, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Caprice Bengston). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).

Southern Gauteng 4 (Raffael Abrahams 2, Kristen Cikes, Ciara van der Walt). Northerns 0.

KZN Coastal B 5 (Mia Lopes 2, Mackenzy Layden 2, Alwande Dladla). KZN Inland A 1 (Kate van Breda).

Northerns 5 (Jana Seebach 3, Brigit Arndt, Amogelang Motlatle). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).

Southern Gauteng 6 (Ciara van der Walt 2, Nicole Chikweshe 2, Kristen Cikes, Chloe Potgieter). KZN Inland A 1 (Mia Howie).

KZN Coastal A 4 (Zezethu Kunene 2, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Gabi Howarth). KZN Coastal B 1 (Angelina Hall).

U16

KZN Inland A 6 (McKenzie Bourg 2, Rebecca Hellberg 2, Jade Gobey, Rebecca Thompson) Northerns B 0

Northerns A 4 (Daniella Grobbelaar 2, Elaine Haycock, Nicole Smuts) KZN Inland B 1 (Tyler Kyle)

KZN Coastal B 3 (Emmerson van Zijl, Isabella Jansen, Rachel McDonald) Southern Gauteng 2 (Jamie Howard, Giovanna Abrahams)

U14

KZN Coastal A 6 (Teagan Williamson, Bohlale Mokubung, Emily Simpkins, Tain Enslin, Charley-Rose Boyall) Northerns B (Dané van den Berg)

KZN Inland A 5 (Amy van Breda, Zintle James, Chelsey Cameron, Leah Hailu, Abigail Moodley) Northerns B 0

Southern Gauteng 5 (Gina Boyle 2, Taylem Casanoves 2, Ashley Kuhn) KZN Inland B 0

Northerns A 2 (Sarah Gouws, Liesel de Witt) KZN Coastal B 2 (Erinn Pretorius 2)

KZN Coastal A 12 (Jessica Savage 4, Olivia Barrett 2, Limberly Johnson 2, Shriya Nadrajah 2, Casia Huntley, Peighton Short) Northerns B 0

KZN Coastal B 4 (Erinn Pretorius 2, Shiwari Naicker, Charlotte Patterson) KZN Inland A 3 Samkelisiwe Msomi, Amy van Breda, Mila Truter)

Southern Gauteng 3 (Ofuna Ramathuba 2, Madison Utermohlen) Northerns A 1 (Sarah Gouws)

Kitts McConnachie produced a superb all-round performance to help Graeme College secure a comfortable 40-run win over Queen’s College to claim top honours in the Focus Schools leg of the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two competition at the Old Selbornian Club, in East London, on Sunday afternoon.

Andrew Muir, the Graeme College captain, won the toss and elected to bat first on a sluggish surface that had been in use since Friday – the fifth match at Old Selbornians in three days – when the Focus Schools’ matches began.

Graeme College fought their way to 119/8 in 20 overs. In reply, Queen’s College struggled to put together partnerships and mustered only 79/9 in their 20 overs.

Their triumph over Queen’s underlined Graeme’s dominance at the tournament. The men from Makhanda went unbeaten and issued a statement of intent with a nine-wicket win over Hudson Park in their opening match.

Their semifinal tie against Prestige College was washed out, which led to a bowl-out, where Corbin Tidbury showcased his accuracy with the ball to see them into the final against Queen’s, whom they had beaten by four wickets in a round-robin match.

In the title game, a 20-run opening stand between Enrique Strydom and Olo Jaca provided Graeme with a foundation from which to build their innings. Tidbury, who arrived at the crease after Strydom’s dismissal, tried to push the game forward, but he was dismissed, caught at extra cover, after adding 10 runs from nine balls.

Jaca held things together for Graeme with a more than patient 19 from 40 deliveries, and Luphelo Mdyesha, who replaced Tidbury, contributed 16 from 20. However, Graeme’s leading light was middle order batsman Kitts McConnachie, who looked like the only player to have gotten the measure of the pitch. He raced to 30 from 19 balls.

Just before Graeme crossed the 100-run mark, he was dismissed. It appeared that Graeme was about to squander the momentum that he had given them. However, 11 from only three balls from James Muir prevented that.

McConnachie, then, put his all-round abilities on display by claiming the wickets of Kungawo Zukiso and Ali Asim as Graeme denied Queen’s room to express themselves with the bat.

In addition to those two scalps, McConnachie also completed two catches to account for Joe Aucamp and Ross Fitzhenry.

Fitzhenry’s wicket was important because the middle-order batsman seemed to be getting in his stride when he was dismissed, having scored 18 from 26 balls, which was the top score for Queen’s.

Duncan Hayes was the only other Queen’s batsman to reach double figures, chipping in with 15 from 22 balls.

Summarised Scorecard

Graeme College 119/8 (Kitt McConnachie 30, Olo Jaca 19, Luphelo Mdyesha 16; Vijay George 3/31, Mthokozisi Mbambo 2/19, Kungawo Zukiso 2/18). Queen’s College 79/9 (Ross Fitzhenry 18, Duncan Hayes 15; Luphelo Mdyesha 2/16, Corbin Tidbury 2/7, Kitt McConnachie 2/9). Graeme College won by 40 runs.

Wynberg Boys’ High has a natural mentor in the head coach of their 1st XI cricket side.

Since Pietie Loubser joined the school as a teacher in 2017, he has undergone an epic evolution in his eight-year long coaching career, moving through the ranks and showing that modest beginnings can be the foundation for far greater achievements.

⁠”When I joined as a teacher in 2017, I started coaching the u14C side,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “I loved the game and was one of the only coaches that would come and watch the 1st XI play on a Saturday, seeing that I was free.

“In the winter of that year, Andrew Wylie joined Wynberg. He quickly saw my passion and understanding of the game and pushed me into the u15A coaching role. I stayed in that role until Covid-19 hit.

“The then 1st XI coach received an opportunity to move abroad, and the school felt the need to have a teacher be involved alongside Ryan Maron, which is when I got my chance to work with the 1st XI. Ryan, then, got an opportunity with the Afghanistan men’s team as a fielding coach, and I took over the reins of the 1st XI.”

Loubser has a knack for developing talented players and four of them were included in Western Province’s 2025 Khaya Majola Week outfit. Joshua Prince, the son of retired Protea, Ashwell Prince, Paul James, and Qaeed Shaik were named in the 13-man squad, while captain and all-rounder Michail Tarentaal was designated a non-travelling reserve.

Loubser shared that he took lessons from another sport before transitioning into and applying them to cricket: “I didn’t really achieve that much as a cricketer myself, as I was limited with opportunities in the schools that I went to. Cricket just wasn’t a big sport,” he admitted.

“In my personal life, golf has always been the sport where I have achieved the most. I feel I have always been able to teach the boys a lot about mindset from what I have learned in golf. As a coach, being entrusted to take the 1st XI coaching role at Wynberg has been an honour.”

Loubser also reflected on his mentors and role models growing up. Fittingly, one of his inspirations was a Wynberg old boy, one of the legends of the game. “Growing up I definitely tried modelling my batting on Jacques Kallis and my bowling on Shane Warne. They would be my ‘playing role models’.

“From a coaching point of view, I was lucky enough to be coached by my dad. His calmness is something I’ve learnt to emulate.

“Andrew Wylie also played a big part in developing my knowledge of the game. The calmness he had on the side of the field was something I made a part of my coaching philosophy.

“I am very fortunate to work with Esmund van Wyk at the moment, as our beliefs and way of treating the players is exactly the same. I still learn from him on a daily basis.”

Pietie Loubser’s journey with Wynberg continues, and so, too, does his growth as a coach. He’s focused on developing the young talent in the school’s ranks while also dedicating himself to his ongoing evolution as a coach.

Small steps, taken calmly, always growing, always learning, always teaching.

Two teams from the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), Mamelodi Sundowns and Refilwe, will represent South Africa in the forthcoming second edition of the u17 Confederation of African Football (Caf) Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT), which takes place from 8-15 December in Zimbabwe.

The draw for the event was held on Friday at Cosafa House, in Johannesburg, which serves as the headquarters for the Southern African Football Confederation (Cosafa).

The tournament aims to provide clubs and academies with essential international exposure for young athletes. It was introduced in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in January of this year, where Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa Queens (JKT), from the host country, emerged victorious in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) region, which is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

The tournament now turns its attention to the Cosafa region and the eight-team line-up features several well-known clubs and powerhouses in African football.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will be represented by their u17 team, which recently secured the GWDL title. Some members of that squad were also integrated into the Brazilians’ team, which successfully defended the Gauteng Women’s Soccer League title last weekend.

Banyana Ba Style is in Group A, along with the home team, Mpopoma Sports Academy, Otjiwarongo Sports Academy, from Namibia, and Luwinga Academy, from Malawi.

In Group B, Refilwe, which was established in January 2024 in Pretoria, will be up against more experienced teams with championship backgrounds.

In their first season, last year, Refilwe, unsurprisingly, experienced their fair share of challenges. In 2025, they used the lessons learned from those experiences to put together a strong campaign in the GWDL.

Their line-up included some new faces, and they also made some strategic adjustments, which led to an outstanding third place finish in only their second GWDL season. They finished behind only Sundowns and the SAFA Academy and held off JVW for third.

One of the notable highlights of Refilwe’s 2025 GWDL campaign was their 3-2 victory over the SAFA Academy.

SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Lindiwe Malaza, aka Coach Skhulu about the challenge that awaits her charges. She said Refilwe is excited to have received the opportunity to participate in the Caf tournament.

“We achieved significant success, emerging as a formidable team that brings excitement to the pitch,” she reflected on the GWDL season.

“This opportunity serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members, and we view it as a reward for their efforts.

“Our success is a reflection of the institution’s commitment to promoting township football, and we are proud to represent it with passion and determination.

“We have established a strong team identity, and we are eager to make a lasting impression in the tournament in Zimbabwe.

Our goal is not only to participate, but to make a statement and introduce ourselves to the African football community,” Malaza concluded.

Refilwe’s determination will be put to the test by Aguila Girls, from Namibia, the Okarakara Golden Ladies, also from Namibia, and Lishoeshoe, from Lesotho.

The winners of the groups will contest the final at the Ngoni Mwosa Stadium, in Harare, on Thursday, 18 December. The fixture list is yet to be revealed but will be made known in the coming days.

Caf established the GIFT u17 tournament to provide club teams with a chance to compete against their counterparts from within their regions, thus supplementing the events already held for national teams.

The continental body has prioritised the advancement of women’s football as a crucial element of its development strategy, and the GIFT u17 tournament presents the young athletes with an opportunity to display their talent and acquire valuable experience.

“The Caf GIFT u17 tournament was created to fill an important gap in women’s football,” Caf’s Head of Women’s Football, Meskerem Tadesse Goshime, told the Cosafa media team. “It aims to offer girls under the age of 17, who often play in senior leagues, an opportunity to compete at a higher level.

“This tournament not only enables young players to gain international experience, but it also stimulates investment in women’s football at the level of national clubs and associations.

“The ultimate goal is to see more African countries participate in similar competitions as part of regional development.

“This tournament is a starting point for the expansion of girls’ competitions throughout Africa, and the idea is to create a platform for girls under the age of 17 to play in competitions appropriate to their level and age,” she concluded.

Group A

Mpopoma Sports Academy (Zimbabwe)
Otjiwarongo Sports Academy (Namibia)
Mmaelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Luwinga Academy (Malawi)

Group B

Aguila Girls (Zambia)
Okakarara Golden Ladies (Namibia)
Refilwe FC (South Africa)
Lishoeshoe (Lesotho)