Blog

The anticipation is almost over and the time for action is imminent for the participants in the u16 St Stithians College Basketball Tournament, which takes place from Friday, 14 February, to Sunday, 16 February.

Expectations are high for dynamic and intense competition, and memorable experiences on the court, with many of the country’s leading basketball-playing schools taking part in the prestigious event.

“The St Stithians u16 Basketball Tournament is one of the premium events on the high school basketball calendar.

“St Stithians hosts 16 girls’ teams from across the country, while there are 24 boys’ teams, including teams from Botswana and Eswatini,” the Sports Director at St Stithians Girls’ College, Ngoza Phiri-Mazarura, told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“The event is an opportunity to showcase a snippet of the developing basketball talent, and an opportunity to see the rising stars of the game.

“The girls’ section of the tournament is in its fourth year, with several teams including players that are in the national team. The hosts, Saints, will be looking to go further than their semifinal finish in last year’s competition. They will face stiff competition from Saheti, Rand Tutorial College, and Sacred Heart.”

“In the boys’ section, Saints will look to overcome their rivals St John’s College and St David’s Marist Inanda, who were exceptional at the u15 level [in 2024].

“The defending champions,  Westville Boys’ High School, will look to retain their title, while the runner-up, St Stithians, will be aiming to go one step further and win. A dark horse in the race for the title will be Maritzburg College.

“Once again, SuperSport Schools will cover the action in what promises to be a highly competitive event.”

The boys’ competition features schools from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Botswana, Eswatini, and the Eastern Cape.

The title-holders, Westville, are in Pool A, along with their neighbours, Kearsney College, St Benedict’s College, St David’s Marist Inanda, and Parktown Boys’ High School. They’re joined by Zimbabwe’s Falcon College.

Maru a Pula, from Botswana, is in Pool B where they will face the the host team, St Stithians College u16A, and their fellow Gauteng schools, King Edward VII School (KES) and St Peter’s College. KZN’s interests will be represented by Michaelhouse and St Charles College.

The first match in Pool B swings into action at 08:00 in the morning on Valentine’s Day on court 3, with Maru a Pula taking on Saints, who will be out to impress their home supporters.

On paper, Pool C is loaded. St John’s College, Pretoria Boys High, and St Alban’s College, from Gauteng, will go up against KZN’s Maritzburg College and Northwood School, while Eswatini’s Usutu Forest School will add a refreshing dynamic to the robust line-up.

Pool D features Hilton College, the sole representative from KZN. Last year, Hilton’s u15 side won the St John’s Basketball Tournament, so they should be in the mix for the title.

They’ll take on, among others, St Andrew’s College, the only team from the Eastern Cape. St George’s College, from Zimbabwe, is expected to add intensity to the competition while Gauteng’s Jeppe Boys, Michael Mount Waldorf, and St Stithians College u16B, will present a strong local challenge.

The girls’ competition will showcase an entirely South African lineup, including St Peter’s College, Trinity House Glenvista, Rand Tutorial College, and the Diocesan School for Girls (DSG), from Makhanda, in the Eastern Cape.

They’ll be challenged by the International School of South Africa (ISSA), Kingswood College, St Mary’s DSG (Pretoria), The King’s School Linbro Park, Michael Mount Waldorf, Redhill School, Marist Brothers Linmeyer, St Dunstan’s College, Sacred Heart, St Mary’s Waverley, Saheti, and the hosts, St Stithians College.

Boys’ Fixtures

Friday, 14 February

08:00 – Court 1: Parktown Boys vs St David’s Inanda
08:00 – Court 2: Kearsney College vs Falcon College
08:00 – Court 3: Maru a Pula vs St Stithians College u16A
08:00 – Court 4: St Benedict’s College vs Westville Boys’ High

09:00 – Court 1: Pretoria Boys vs Northwood
09:00 – Court 2: St John’s College vs St Alban’s College
09:00 – Court 3: Michaelhouse vs St Charles
09:00 – Court 4: King Edward VII School vs St Peter’s College

10:00 – Court 1: Maritzburg College vs Usutu Forest
10:00 – Court 2: St George’s College vs Westville Boys’ High
10:00 – Court 3: St Andrew’s College vs Jeppe Boys
10:00 – Court 4: St Stithians College u16B vs Hilton College

11:00 – Court 1: St David’s Inanda vs Kearsney College
11:00 – Court 2: Falcon College vs Westville Boys’ High
11:00 – Court 3: Pretoria Boys vs St John’s College
11:00 – Court 4: Parktown Boys vs St Benedict’s College

12:00 – Court 1: King Edward VII School vs Maru a Pula
12:00 – Court 2: Michaelhouse vs St Peter’s College
12:00 – Court 3: Michael Mount vs Jeppe Boys
12:00 – Court 4: St Charles College vs St Stithians College u16A

13:00 – Court 1: St George’s vs Hilton College
13:00 – Court 2: Maritzburg College vs Northwood
13:00 – Court 3: St Benedict’s College vs St David’s Inanda
13:00 – Court 4: Usutu Forest vs St Alban’s College

14:00 – Court 1: Falcon College vs Parktwon Boys
14:00 – Court 2: Kearsney College vs Westville Boys’ High
1400 – Court 3: King Edward VII School vs St Charles College
14:00 – Court 4: St Stithians College u16B vs St Andrew’s College

15:00 – Court 1: Northwood vs Usutu Forest
15:00 – Court 2: Michael Mount vs St Stithians College u16B
15:00 – Court 3: St John’s College vs Maritzburg College
15:00 – Court 4: St Peter’s College vs Maru a Pula

16:00 – Court 1: St Andrew’s College vs Hilton College
16:00 – Court 2: Pretoria Boys vs St Alban’s College
16:00 – Court 3: St Stithians College u16A vs Michaelhouse
16:00 – Court 4: Jeppe Boys vs St George’s College

Saturday 15 February

08:00 – Court 1: Michaelhouse vs Maru a Pula
08:00 – Court 2: Kearsney College vs Parktown Boys
08:00 – Court 3: St Benedict’s College vs Falcon College
08:00 – Court 4: Westville Boys’ High vs St David’s Inanda

09:00 – Court 1: St Charles College vs St Peter’s College
09:00 – Court 2: St Alban’s College vs Northwood
09:00 – Court 3: St Stithians College vs King Edward VII School
09:00 – Court 4: Usutu Forest vs St John’s College

10:00 – Court 1: St Stithians College u16A vs Falcon College
10:00 – Court 2: Hilton College vs Jeppe Boys
10:00 – Court 3: St Andrew’s College vs Michael Mount
10:00 – Court 4: Maritzburg College vs Pretoria Boys

11:00 – Court 1: St David’s Inanda vs Falcon College
11:00 – Court 2: Kearsney College vs St Benedict’s College
11:00 – Court 3: Westville Boys’ High vs Parktown Boys
11:00 – Court 4: Michaelhouse vs King Edward VII School

12:00 – Court 1: Usutu Forest vs Pretoria Boys
12:00 – Court 2: Maru a Pula vs St Charles College
1200 – Court 3: Maritzburg College vs St Alban’s College
12:00 – Court 4: Northwood vs St John’s College

13:00 – Court 1: Hilton College vs Michael Mount
13:00 – Court 2: Jeppe Boys vs St Stithians College u16B
13:00 – Court 3: St Andrew’s College vs St George’s College
13:00 – Court 4: St Stithians College u16A vs St Peter’s College

Girls’ Fixtures

Friday 14 February

11:00 – Court 5: St Mary’s Waverley vs King’s Linbro
11:00 – Court 7: Kingswood vs ISSA
11:00 – Court 8: St Stithians College vs Redhill

12:00 – Court 5: St Peter’s College vs Trinity House
12:00 – Court 7: Rand Tutorial vs St Mary’s DSG
12:00 – Court 8: Saheti School vs Michael Mount

13:00 – Court 7: DSG Makhanda vs King’s Linbro
13:00 – Court 8: Sacred Heart vs St Mary’s Waverley

14:00 – Court 5: Redhill vs Kingswood College
14:00 – Court 7: St Mary’s DSG vs Marist Brothers
14:00 – Court 8: St Dustan’s College vs Rand Tutorial

15:00 – Court 5: ISSA vs St Stithians College
15:00 – Court 7: Michael Mount vs St Peter’s College
15:00 – Court 8: Trinity House vs Saheti School

16:00 – Court 5: Marist Brothers vs St Dunstan’s College

Saturday 15 February 

08:00 – Court 7: Sacred Heart vs DSG Makhanda

09:00 – Court 7: Michael Mount vs Trinity House
09:00 – Court 8: St Peter’s College vs Saheti School

10:00 – Court 7: Marist Brothers vs Rand Tutorial
10:00 – Court 8: St Mary’s DSG vs St Dunstan’s College

11:00 – Court 7: St Stithians College vs Kingswood College
11:00 – Court 8: Redhill vs ISSA

12:00 – Court 7: St Mary’s Waverley vs DSD Makhanda
12:00 – Court 8: King’s Linbro vs Sacred Heart

Helpmekaar charged into the Johnny Waite Trophy final thanks to a clinical 19-run win over St John’s College in a semi-final clash played at the University of Johannesburg’s ABSA Oval on Wednesday.

Coach Willie van den Berg’s charges will go up against King Edward VII (KES) for the title after KES defeated Jeppe High School for Boys in the other semi-final.

Helpies will hope they can replicate the performance they produced the last time they met KES, which resulted in a four-run win for Kyle Swanepoel and company. However, they won’t have it easy as KES appears to be in good form.

In Wednesday’s last four clash, the toss went the way of St John’s, the defending champions. Captain Alec Loveland, the hero of their win over St Stithians in last year’s final, asked Helpmekaar to bat first on a pitch that played slow after overnight rain in Johannesburg.

The boys from Braamfontein strode out, did their best, and mustered a total of 141/7. St John’s struggled to establish themselves in their run chase and came up short, limited to 122/5 from their 20 overs.

Helpmekaar’s innings was built on the back of contributions from their top four: Kyle Swanepoel, Zander Neethling, Anrich Liebenberg, and Anthony Stone, who were the only batsmen to make it into double figures.

Swanepoel and Neethling got Helpmekaar going with a 60-run opening partnership, which turned out to be the best of their innings. The Helpmekaar captain clipped four fours on his way to 29 off 22. Neethling was more cautious. He also struck four boundaries in his 47 off 45 deliveries, which led the way for his side.

Liebenberg had just exited single figures when he lost his wicket in the 10th over, out for 11 from nine balls. Stone accumulated a valuable 32 from 27 balls and was the second-highest run-scorer for Helpmekaar.

St John’s did not have as smooth a start as their opponents, losing their first wicket in the second over with only 10 runs on the board. They struggled to find traction and, in the fourth over, found themselves two wickets down. Herman Basson and Alec Loveland steadied the ship, however, with a 55-run third-wicket partnership.

Unfortunately for St John’s, there were no substantial partnerships on either side of the pair’s stand. While they added over 50, they struggled to score at a brisk rate. Basson chewed up 47 balls for his 41 runs and Loveland faced 30 deliveries for his 22.

Malan du Plessis was the standout player for St John’s. When Helpmekaar batted, he led the wicket-taking with two wickets for 33 runs in four overs. He also starred with the bat and was the only St John’s batsman who scored at a fast pace, crunching four boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 35 off 23.

Henno Steyn was the pick of the bowlers for Helpmekaar with three wickets for 22 runs from three overs. Anrich Liebenberg and Heinrich Minnaar were the other wicket-takers with one each.

Scorecard

Helpmekaar Kollege 141/7 (Zander Neethling 47, Anthony Stone 32, Malan du Plessis 2/33, Herman Basson 1/14). St John’s College 122/5 (Herman Basson 41, Malan du Plessis 35*, Henno Steyn 3/22, Anrich Liebenberg 1/6). Helpmekaar won by 19 runs.

Steele Grooteman struck an outstanding unbeaten half-century to help steer King Edward VII School (KES) to a dominant nine-wicket win over Jeppe High School for Boys in their Johnny Waite Trophy semifinal match at Jeppe on Wednesday.

Sipho Potsane, the Jeppe captain, won the toss and elected to bat first, but that decision didn’t work out. His side struggled to build any momentum, and they scored slowly, on their way to being bowled out for only 112.

KES didn’t struggle. They made light work of the moderate total and dashed to 113/1 in 14.4 overs in reply.

Grooteman bashed five sixes and a single four on his way to an unbeaten 54 off 44 balls. He showed great control and punished bad balls when they presented themselves to guide KES to a comfortable win.

The opener spent last year scoring runs for the KES second XI and is now making the most of his opportunities in the first team. Last weekend, he scored a wonderful 47 off 60 balls in a win over Pretoria Boys High.

Grooteman started cautiously. It wasn’t until the 13th delivery of the match that he scored his first runs. Until then, he watched his opening partner, Luke Clark (23), provide KES with a decent start. After two overs, the visitors had raced to 19/0, with 17 of those runs coming off Clark’s bat and two more from extras.

Together, Grooteman and Clark shared an opening partnership of 38 runs, with Clark setting the pace.

After Clark’s dismissal, Grooteman took charge. He scored most of the runs in a match-winning unbroken 75-run second-wicket partnership with Troy Gordon, who was happy to be the foil to Grooteman’s stroke-making. His contribution was an unbeaten run-a-ball 24 runs.

Jeppe did not help their cause by conceding 12 extras, which was especially damaging while defending a low total. Franco Nortjie is usually a reliable bowler for Jeppe. He takes wickets and doesn’t concede many runs. However, against KES his radar was broken. He sent down the most expensive over of the match, conceding 16 runs, including five extras, in the seventh over.

Earlier in the day, Jeppe had kicked off proceedings with a 17-run opening partnership between Zizi Mkhize and Ethan Elliot, which chewed up 27 balls. That set the tone for the rest of their innings.

Five of Jeppe’s 11 batsmen reached double figures. Unfortunately for the hosts, only Ryan Young and Keegan Caxeiro went at a run rate above 100, with Young scoring 19 off 16 and Caxeiro 18 from 12.

Zieg Roos did an outstanding job with the new ball for KES, with his first two overs going for only two runs, which kept Jeppe’s batsmen at bay. After six overs, the home side was on 26/1. Roos finished with the highest number of dot balls, 14, in the encounter, and his four overs brought him a tidy 1/11.

However, the most successful of the KES bowlers was the Player of the Match, Steele Grooteman, who nabbed two wickets for 22 from his four overs of left-arm spin.

Connor Kuijers also bagged a brace of wickets, going for 20 runs from his three overs.

Scorecard

Jeppe 112/10 (Ryan Young 19, Keegan Caxeiro 18, Connor Kuijers 2/20, Steele Grooteman 2/22). KES 113/1 (Steele Grooteman 54*, Troy Gordon 24*, Reza Ayob 1/26, Sipho Potsane 0/19). KES won by nine wickets.

Die onlangse gewoeker en nuwe aanstellings om Hoërskool Marais Viljoen se rugby na nuwe hoogtes te neem het heelwat opgewondendheid by die skool se ondersteuners aangewakker.

Volg al die Marais Viljoen-aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die aanstellings van die gesoute Hans Coetzee, vanaf 1 September as rugbyhoof, en Corneel van Dyk, voorheen direkteur van rugby by Hoërskool Die Anker in Brakpan, as sporthoof, lewer bewys daarvan dat Marais Viljoen beplan om konstruktief te herbou.

Die span van Alberton het die afgelope paar jaar harde klippe gekou tussen die groot honde in die SDC Noordval Cup en moes noodgedwonge afskuif van die Beker- na die Plaat-afdeling. Die 2025-seisoen bied egter ‘n gulde geleentheid om te herbou aan die skool se trotse rugbyprogram, en hy kan beslis nie vanjaar gering geskat word nie.

Hoewel nóg Coetzee, nóg Van Dyk direk by die eerste span betrokke sal wees, is die span vanjaar in die bekwame hande van Henco Saaiman, wat as hoofafriger inskakel, met Migael Pretorius wat hom as hulpafrigter bystaan. Marco Pretorius, Marais Viljoen se gesoute sportwetenskaplike, sal as geneesheer diens verrig.

‘n Addisionele rede vir optimisme is die feit dat Saaiman en sy afrigtingspan oor nie minder nie as 12 oorblywende spelers beskik wat reeds in 2024 deel van die senior groep uitgemaak het. Dit sluit in die blitsige en venynige senter, Claude de Couto.

Voorlangs kan daar uitgesien word na nog ‘n reuse seisoen deur die span se agsteman, Rio Tshimbalanga, wat reeds ‘n jaar vantevore rugbyvelde regoor die Noordvaal aan die brand gespeel het. Sy losvoorspelermaat,  Loyd Shoko-Schenk, en haker, Sifiso Shongwe maak ook weer hul terugkeer om die pak verder te versterk.

Die span van Alberton se seisoen skop op 1 Maart teen Hoërskool Transvalia in Alberton af. Daarna wag die strawwe NWU Prestige-reeks en twee uitdagende wedstryde, teen Worchester Gimnasium en Brackenfell, by die jaarlikse NMI Toyota Noord/Suid-toernooi in Stellenbosch.

“Ons glo ons staan ‘n goeie kans om hoog in die NWU se Prestige-reeks te eindig,” meen Saaiman. “Wat die SDC Noordvaal Cup betref, wil ons elke week op sy eie meriete benader en seker maak dat ons spanne bes moontlik voorbereid is vir dit wat wag.”

Soos die gesegde lui, “The underdog bites the hardest”, so skuif julle reg in 2025; Marais Viljoen is op pad met nuwe ywer en is oorgehaal om weer sy plek onder die grootstes in die Noordvaal in te neem.

Bepalings vir 2025:

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Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria (AHMP) het oor die jare ‘n reputasie opgebou as een van die top netbalskole in Suid-Afrika. Die 2025-seisoen beloof om nie anders te wees nie, met ‘n span wat gretig is om voort te bou op hul sukses en om hulself teen die land se beste skole te meet.

Vanjaar se eerste span sal vier bekende gesigte uit die 2024-span insluit: Kristi Koekemoer, Nina Hay, Emma Strydom en Arette Burger. Hierdie spelers bring waardevolle ervaring na die span en sal ‘n kernrol speel in die seisoen se uitdagings en oorwinnings.

Daar is ook jong spelers wat hul merk gemaak het op verskeie platforms en wat besig is om die aandag van die afrigters te trek. Hoewel spesifieke name nog nie bekend gemaak kan word nie, is dit duidelik dat daar sterk interne kompetisie is vir plekke in die eerste span. Die finale groep spelers sal na die proewe bekend gemaak word.

Affies se netbalafrigting is bekend vir hoë standaarde en ‘n gesofistikeerde benadering tot spelerontwikkeling. Vanjaar se afrigtingspan is ‘n dinamiese groep wat bestaan uit ervare mentors en opkomende afrigters wat die span se prestasies en vaardighede na ‘n volgende vlak wil neem. Hulle het ‘n sterk verbintenis tot innovasie in afrigtingsmetodes en die ontwikkeling van spelers op ‘n holistiese wyse – fisies, tegnies en sielkundig.

Affie-netbal word beskou as ‘n familie, waar afrigters en spelers ‘n hegte eenheid vorm. Hierdie ondersteuningsnetwerk dra by tot die span se sukses en help spelers om hul volle potensiaal te bereik.

Die wedstryde en toernooie in 2025 beloof om van die beste kompetisie in skolenetbal te bied. Affies sal weer deelneem aan verskeie hoë-profiel toernooie, insluitende:

• Affie Prestige-netbaltoernooi – ‘n belangrike seisoenbepaler vir die span.
• Wildeklawer – ‘n toernooi wat jaarliks ‘n groot uitdaging bied en as ‘n hoogtepunt beskou word.
• Paarl Gimnasium-derby – ‘n intense en mededingende ontmoeting.
• Oranje Meisies-derby – klassiek in skolenetbal.

Hierdie bepalings sal Affies se span voorberei vir die kompetisievlak wat hulle deur die seisoen in die gesig sal staar en hulle help om hul posisie as een van die land se top spanne te handhaaf.

Affies is trots daarop om talentvolle jong spelers te hê, waarvan sommige afstam van bekende Suid-Afrikaanse sportpersoonlikhede. Een van hierdie spelers is Jaime Matfield, dogter van voormalige Springbok-kaptein Victor Matfield. Jaime was ‘n integrale deel van die eerste span in 2024 en is ook opgeneem in die Baba Protea-netbalspan – ‘n bewys van haar talent en harde werk.

Die doelwitte vir Affies-netbal in 2025 is duidelik: om voort te bou op hul sukses en om hul spel na nog ‘n hoër vlak te neem. Die span het die afgelope twee jaar indrukwekkende prestasies behaal:

• Wildeklawer-kampioene vir twee opeenvolgende jare.
• Nasionale Kampioene met ‘n uitstekende rekord.
• Goue medalje-wenner by die Gauteng Kampioenskap.

Hierdie suksesse bring natuurlik hoë verwagtinge, en hoewel daar uitdagings soos beserings en sterk kompetisie is, is Affies se netbalgemeenskap gereed om hierdie uitdagings aan te durf met deursettingsvermoë en ‘n positiewe gesindheid.

Skole speel ‘n deurslaggewende rol in die bevordering en ontwikkeling van netbaltalent in Suid-Afrika. Netbal op skoolvlak groei vinnig, met meer as 2800 dogters per ouderdomsgroep wat aan provinsiale proewe in Gauteng alleenlik deelneem. Hierdie enorme deelname wys hoe belangrik skole soos Affies is in die groter prentjie van netbalontwikkeling.

Affies se netbalprogram is nie net gefokus op topspelers nie, maar poog om ‘n duidelike pad vir elke dogter te skep om haar volle potensiaal te bereik. Van A-spanne tot H-spanne, kry elke speler die geleentheid om te groei en verbeter deur goed gestruktureerde afrigting en ondersteuning.

AHMP se netbalspan gaan 2025 tegemoet met ‘n kombinasie van ervaring, talent en deursettingsvermoë. Met ‘n dinamiese afrigtingspan, ‘n goed gestruktureerde program en ‘n diepgesetelde passie vir die sport, is Affies gereed om ‘n seisoen vol hoogtepunte en uitdagings aan te pak. Een ding is seker: Affies-netbal is ‘n krag om mee rekening te hou, en die 2025-seisoen gaan geen uitsondering wees nie.

Die seunsafdeling by vanjaar se Gimmie-Prestige-atletiekbyeenkoms het gesorg vir oomblikke van opwinding, verbasing en sportmangees. Van die 100 m-naellope tot die langafstand- en velditems, het die atlete gewys dat hul fiksheid, spoed en tegniek van die hoogste gehalte is.

Die 100 m-naellope het van die mededingendste items van die dag opgelewer. Rea Manyaapelo (o. 14) het die goue medalje verower met ‘n vinnige 11.78 sekondes, terwyl Reinhard Pieterse (o. 19) met ‘n merkwaardige 11.05 sekondes die wenstreep eerste oorgesteek het.

In die 200 m het CJ du Plessis (o. 16) bewys dat hy nie net oor 100 m vinnig is nie, maar ook oor die langer naelloopafstand. Hy het die goue medalje verower met ‘n tyd van 23.04 sekondes, terwyl AJ Welgemoed (o. 17) met 22.58 sekondes sy teenstanders ‘n paar treë voor was.

Die 800 m-items het die atlete se stamina en strategie behoorlik getoets, met Conrad Scheepers (o. 16) wat ‘n ongelooflike 2:00.16 behaal het om sy ouderdomsgroep te wen. In die 1500 m–items het Bertus van der Linde (o. 19) ‘n pragtige tyd van 4:00.67 opgestel, wat hom as ‘n toekomstige ster in middelafstande bevestig.

Die velditems het nie teleurgestel nie, met die hoogspring- en verspringitems wat ewe veel talent as die baanitems opgelewer het. Ethan White (o. 14) het ‘n indrukwekkende 1.70 m in hoogspring behaal, terwyl Ben Burger (o. 17) met ‘n sprong van 1.75 m ook goud verower het.

In die verspring was David Ndala ‘n duidelike gunsteling en het hy ‘n verstommende 6.50 m gespring om goud te verower in die o. 19-afdeling. Sebastian Small (o. 16) het ook die gehoor beïndruk met sy sprong van 6.02 m wat hom as kampioen in sy ouderdomsgroep bevestig het.

Die hekkiesitems was nét so opwindend, met Ethan White (o. 14) wat die 100 m-hekkies in 14.93 sekondes gewen het. In die 110 m-hekkies het Conner Hollenbach (o. 17) ‘n tyd van 15.46 sekondes behaal om eerste oor die wenstreep te kom.

Hierdie atlete het nie net op die dag uitgeblink nie, maar ook hulself vir groter atletiekbyeenkomste voorberei. Die Gimmie-Prestige 2025 was ‘n platform waarop jong talent kan blom en voortbou, en met sulke spogvertonings bestaan daar geen twyfel dat sommige van hierdie atlete hulself in die toekoms as nasionale en internasionale kampioene sal vestig nie.

The Parktown Boys’ High 1st hockey team closed the 2024 season with a big 6-1 win over Northcliff at home and, more impressively, they won 4-1 at Hoërskool Garsfontein, who made the Hibbert Shield semi-finals earlier in the season.

Parktown also reached the final of the Aitken Cup for the first time since 2010.

It was a good year that boosted optimism for Parktown hockey. Up against strong opposition, they played 34 matches, won 19, drew six, and lost nine.

Now coach Kyle Reddy‘s charges are back on the turf, training and preparing for what they hope will be an even better season this year.

“We started to prepare from the start of February, just a bit of pre-season, juggling between summer sports and academics, to get time on the turf,” Reddy told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“It’s been hampered by the weather, the storms in the afternoon, but we have managed to get some time in.”

Although many of last year’s standout performers were in grade 12 in 2024, Reddy is optimistic about the team he is building to take up the mantle for Parktown Boys’ High.

“I am quite excited about the season,” he admitted. “It’s a very different team from last year’s, with many boys having matriculated and gone to university. It will be a younger side, with some exciting talent in terms of some grade 10s that I will be thinking about.”

Reddy said he has not yet selected his first team: “We will probably get the final team together closer to March, but there is some great talent coming through from the u17  ranks. There is also an exceptional group of boys that has remained from the 2024 team.

“Thokan Rayhaan and Ndyebo Pongwana, who last year made the South African u16  squad, are still at school, in grade 11 now, and Zeyad Davids, who was in the u17 SA team, will be there, too. He is in matric now. But I think we have 12 kids who were part of the squad who have matriculated,” he added.

“We remain optimistic. It’s good to rebuild and start with the new group of lads. We will see closer to the time what the team looks like and what the season has in store.

On 15 February, the Heart of the Lion boys will play a pre-season match against Northern Cape High School. Reddy described it as an opportunity to observe which players are putting their hands up for the team.

“We’re getting a big squad together to roll out against them, and seeing how the boys cope in the system will help me make decisions,” Reddy said.

The 49th edition of the Vides Water Polo Tournament will take centre stage from Thursday at Selborne College in East London.

The event runs from 13-15 February, with the matches scheduled to take place at the Selborne College Pool and Clarendon High School for Girls’ Harrison Aquatic Centre.

An abundance of talent will be on display as 16 teams hunt the silverware.

SuperSport Schools Plus takes a look at five players who could deliver game-changing performances for their teams.

James Swart (Paul Roos Gimnasium, PRG)

Paul Roos Gimnasium fell short in the final of last year’s edition of the Vides Water Polo tournament, losing to Clifton College on penalties.

They’ll return to the event eager to go all the way, and a player who will be vital to their mission is James Swart.

Swart has been one of the standout players for PRG this season, firing on all cylinders and scoring some outrageous goals. He inspired the Stellenbosch school to an upset win over SACS and a victory over Reddam House Constantia in the SACS Nite Series.

He also defends well and possesses the skills to turn a game on its head. His goal-scoring prowess will be key in PRG’s quest.

Liam Hansen (Selborne College)

Selborne College has a star-studded team in 2025, and it’s hard to separate and pick one player from the talented bunch.

Liam Hansen, however, has proven time and again that he is capable of producing mind-blowing performances every time he jumps into the pool.

He was in top shape for the East London school at the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield and helped them finish in an impressive fourth place.

Selected for South African Schools in 2024, Hansen is a game changer who can score from long-range. He is a fierce competitor and extremely good at linking up with his teammates.

It will be the Selborne Head Boy’s final Vides outing, so expect him to pull out all the stops as the hosts chase their first Vides title since 2017.

Adam Brown (Reddam House Constantia)

Reddam House Constantia has hit its stride and they’re punching above their weight in 2025.

Under head coach Nick Tinkler, the Cape school has impressed in the SACS Nite Series and played well at the ITEC Grey College Water Polo Tournament earlier this month, where they topped their pool.

One of their key players throughout has been Adam Brown, brother to Blake, who also plays for Reddam.

Adam is the glue that holds Reddam together. Despite scoring many goals, he also creates opportunities for his teammates.

His water polo IQ and ability to assess game situations will have an important role to play in Reddam’s challenge.

Kyle Human (Clifton College)

It could be considered a crime to pick just one player from the current Clifton College team, and that’s because all are quality players.

Kyle Human stands out, though, because of how he rises to challenges and pulls through for his team in times of need.

He is a serious goalscoring threat and punishes teams that give him space or too much time on the ball.

At the SAC Shield last month, he was the pick of the scorers for Clifton alongside the likes of Jake Frederic, Daniel Nothard, and Nathan Burger.

Clifton is the defending champion, and Human couldn’t have peaked at a better time for his team.

Coel Trollip (St Andrew’s College)

St Andrew’s College skipper, Coel Trollip, also makes the list of players to keep an eye out for at the Vides Tournament.

He is the true definition of a leader, in and out of the pool, and he is eager to guide St Andrew’s to more glory days.

He’s performed well so far this season and helped his team get over the line against Woodridge College, Pearson High, and Kingswood College last month.

He showed up well at the SAC Shield against strong opposition, despite his team finishing only ninth.

Trollip offers a complete package of skills for St Andrew’s, and his leadership skills, coupled with goalscoring and strong defending, will be crucial if they are to make an impact.

Die Gimmie-Prestige-atletiekbyeenkoms van 2025 het die beste jong atlete uitgestal, met skole soos Zwartkop, Monument en Kempton Park wat gedeel het in die opwinding, en die dogters het beslis gewys dat hulle nie net sterk en vinnig is nie, maar ook vol deursettingsvermoë en tegniese vaardigheid. Van die naellope tot middelafstand- en velditems, het hierdie talentvolle atlete hul merk gelaat in ‘n byeenkoms wat gelaai was met kompetisie en opwinding.

In die 100 m-naellope het Lizané Pienaar (o. 15) ‘n vinnige 12.78 sekondes opgestel om goud te verower, terwyl Lize van Zyl (o. 16) met ‘n indrukwekkende 12.37 sekondes die wenstreep eerste oorgesteek het.

Die 200 m-items was ewe opwindend, met Anika Botes (o. 16) wat ‘n blitsige 26.22 sekondes aangeteken het om haar ouderdomsgroep te oorheers. Zeldi Venter (o. 19) het ook ‘n skitterende lopie afgelê om die afstand in 26.74 sekondes te voltooi.

Die 800 m-items het die gehoor se asem behoorlik weggeslaan met van die beste langasem-prestasies van die dag. Xanté Harris (o. 14) het goud verower met ‘n tyd van 2:17.53, terwyl Andrea Steynberg (o. 19) haar status as ‘n top-middelafstandatleet gestand gedoen het deur die 1500 m in ‘n puik 4:37.95 te voltooi.

Hayley Plues (o. 14) het ‘n fenomenale tyd van 14.13 sekondes in die 90 m-hekkies opgestel, terwyl Lize van Zyl (o. 16) in die 100 m-hekkies ‘n wenlopie van 14.26 sekondes behaal het – ‘n bewys van haar tegniese vermoë en spoed.

Die velditems was nét so indrukwekkend. Lienke van Reeuwyk (o. 14) het die hoogspring met ‘n sprong van 1.55 m oorheers, terwyl Mikayla Swanepoel (o. 19) in die verspring ‘n massiewe 5.06 m gespring het om goud in te palm. Hierdie dogters het gewys dat hulle nie net op die baan nie, maar ook in die lug groot hoogtes kan bereik.

Met soveel talent en harde werk wat uitgestal is, lei dit geen twyfel dat hierdie atlete ‘n blink toekoms in atletiek het nie. Die Gimmie-Prestige 2025 was ‘n bewys van hul passie en toewyding – ‘n byeenkoms om te onthou!

Hoërskool Garsfontein, wat die huidige seisoen met ‘n stormloop van seges afgeskop het, het uiteindelik sy rieme styfgeloop teen sy tradisionele vyande, Hoërskool Waterkloof.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Ysbere, wat die seisoen met meestal T20-kragmetings afgeskop het, se oorwinnings het een na die ander ingerol. Dit het aan hulle die titel besorg by die onlangse streek-uitspele van die Schools SA20-kompetisie vir spanne van Noord-Gauteng, Limpopo en Easterns, in Benoni, waar die Garsies gemaklik met selfs ‘n sterk Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Skool (Affies) in die eindstryd afgereken het.

Garsfontein is Dinsdagmiddag egter deur die Klofie-golf getref om hul eerste nederlaag van 2025, boonop op tuisbodem, te ly. Die grondslag vir Waterkloof se sege is deur sy giftige boulaanval, en spesifiek Darius Maritz en Ricardo Crous, gelê. Die twee Klofie-boulers was nie alleen uiters ekonomies nie, maar het gekapitaliseer op die druk om elkeen drie paaltjies op te raap.

Maritz het na drie beurte, met syfers van 3/11 gespog, terwyl Crous 18 leë balle in sy kwota van vier beurte geboul het. Sy drie paaltjies het slegs 13 lopies gekos, wat uiteindelik beteken het dat die tuisspan vir slegs 94 uitgeboender kon word.

Die besoekers het nietemin ietwat gestamel in hul tog om die klein teiken te jaag. Echard Struwig (1/6) en Ruan Coetzee (1/16) het albei binne die eerste vyf beurte toegeslaan. Dit het vir Riley Miller, die besoekers se kaptein, en Franco Schmidt klaarblyklik min geskeel, met eersgenoemde wat oudergewoonte volgens sy sterkpunte gespeel het om ‘n onoorwonne 25 lopies aan te teken.

Schmidt het sy deel gedoen met ‘n aggresiewe beurt wat 23 lopies van slegs 14 aflewerings, wat drie sesse ingesluit het. Dié vennootskap van 44 lopies was belangrik, aangesien dit die besoekers op die voorvoet geplaas het toe die gure weer, wat die einde van die wedstryd sou beteken, inbeweeg het.

Die twee spanne moes uiteindelik noodgedwonge bladskud met die Klofies wat met agt paaltjies, volgens die Duckworth-Lewis-Stern-metode, koning gekraai het.

Beknopte telkaart: 

Garsfontein 94 (Wikus du Preez 20*; Darius Maritz 3/11, Ricardo Crous 3/13); Waterkloof 68/2 (Riley Miller 25*, Franco Schmidt 23*; Echard Struwig 1/6). Waterkloof wen met agt paaltjies volgens die Duckworth-Lewis-Stern-metode.