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The Rhenish Girls’ High School‘s first hockey side had a season to savour in 2024 after finishing the year in the best way possible by laying claim to the number-one status in schoolgirls’ hockey in South Africa.

Their season’s biggest highlight and achievement was claiming top honours at the annual Fairtree Super 12 tournament, hosted by Oranje Meisieskool, in Bloemfontein, in August.

Heading into that tournament, coach Chris Gerber‘s side was high in confidence after a strong season in the Western Cape, and they were hunting their first Super 12 title. Previously, their best finishes had been fourth in 2019 and 2023.

In Bloemfontein, they played some of their best hockey, dominating during the pool stages and managing the knockout games well before winning the final 3-1 in a penalty shootout after ending regulation time against St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) at 1-1.

“We’ve had some amazing moments during the year,” Gerber told SuperSport Schools Plus while reflecting on his team’s season.

“For the first time, we managed to beat Oranje this year and that was a big stepping stone we took, to know we can be the best team in the country. We had so many highlights but winning the Super 12 was the biggest.”

Rhenish was undeniably one of the top teams of 2024. They played 50 matches, lost only twice, and scored 37 wins, with 11 matches finishing in draws.

Their attack was on fire, scoring a whopping 160 goals, while their defence was not just rock-solid, it was miserly. They conceded only 16 goals.

Gerber credited the first team’s success to the growing hockey programme at Rhenish. “We had a lot of goals for this young team, and the first was to make sure they establish themselves as good players and understand the structures and values we have as a team,” he said.

“We believed from the outset we could be one of the best teams in the country, and we just had to make sure that the girls truly believe that and work hard to be consistent in every match they play.

“We have an amazing hockey culture at Rhenish,” he continued, “and we started this journey a few years ago.  and everyone bought into that and the girls are taking it into their stride and making a difference on all fronts. The girls are extremely motivated and determined I really believe that sets us apart from the rest.”

On their way to the impeccable season, the Stellenbosch outfit was captained by the influential Leah du Plessis, alongside her deputy Puck Bakker.

The two led the team to some memorable wins, a second-place finish at the All Girls Festival, Derby victories against the likes of Fairmont High 10-0, Parel Vallei 2-0, HMS Bloemhof 3-0, and Rustenburg Girls’ High 4-1 in their final match of the year.

“It’s always difficult to single out players as we had a team of 15 superstar players that all stepped up.”

“Our Captain Leah du Plessis has been a standout player, and to lead a young team to win the Super 12 is no easy fate. What impressed me the most about her is that she steps up in the big moments, she is one to watch for the future.”

“Her deputy Puck Bakker has been a rock in our team. She has had so many disappointments over the year where she was overlooked for a provincial team but she showed she is as good as anyone in every tournament we played in and she was a kingpin in our team.”

Rhenish will keep a bulk of their team heading into 2025, with Kaitlyn van Binsbergen being the only player who’s in Grade 12 and is leaving the school at the end of the year.

Gerber paid credit to the youngster and believes she has a bright future in whichever direction she opts to go in.

“Kaitlyn has been such a wonderful player to have in the team. Not only is she an incredible goal scorer but she has also had such an impact in the side over the years.”

“We will definitely miss her, however, we know she will be successful no matter what as she has the character, determination, and willpower to be successful in anything she takes on.”

Rhenish will enter the 2025 season with a target on their back, however, with a strong team that knows each other, they could well again cause problems for many schools in the country. Until then, we wait and see.

RHENISH FIRST GIRLS’ HOCKEY RESULTS FOR 2024
Results Summary
Date			Score		Opponent		Outcome
1-Mar	Series		3	0	Fairmont		W
2-Mar	Series		6	0	Fairmont		W
8-Mar	Friendly		18	1	Wynberg		W
9-Mar	Friendly		5	0	Springfield		W
14-Mar	Gregg B		4	1	Clarendon		W
15-Mar	Gregg B		3	0	DSG Makhanda		W
15-Mar	Gregg B		5	1	Eunice		W
16-Mar	Gregg B		4	0	Pearson		W
16-Mar	Gregg B		4	0	Affies		W
26-Mar	Friendly		2	0	WPCC		W
27-Mar	Friendly		5	0	Van Der Stel		W
4-Apr	St Mary’s		0	0	Waterkloof		D
4-Apr	St Mary’s		4	0	St John’s		W
4-Apr	St Mary’s		1	1	Garsfontein		D
5-Apr	St Mary’s		2	0	Somerset		W
5-Apr	St Mary’s		1	0	St Andrew’s		W
5-Apr	St Mary’s		1	0	Oranje		W
5-Apr	St Mary’s		4	0	Pietermaritzburg		W
6-Apr	St Mary’s		2	2	St Mary’s Kloof		D
6-Apr	St Mary’s		0	0	St Stithians		D
6-Apr	St Mary’s		0	1	Paarl Gim		L
7-Apr	St Mary’s		1	1	Affies		D
7-Apr	St Mary’s		1	0	St Annes		W
12-Apr	Derby		2	0	DF Malan		W
22-Apr	Derby		3	0	Springfield		W
25-Apr	Derby		4	0	Pearson		W
26-Apr	Derby		6	0	Woodridge		W
28-Apr	Derby		4	0	Collegiate		W
2-May	All Girls		13	0	Jeppe		W
2-May	All Girls		1	1	Bloemhof		D
2-May	All Girls		2	0	Danville Park		W
2-May	All Girls		1	0	Durban Girls HS		W
3-May	All Girls		5	0	Wynberg		W
3-May	All Girls		0	0	Oranje		D
4-May	All Girls		0	0	Affies		D
13-May	Derby		2	0	Herschel		W
17-May	Derby		10	0	Fairmont		W
24-May	Derby		2	0	Parell Vallei		W
18-Jul	Derby		2	1	Paarl Girls’ High		W
20-Jul	Derby		2	3	Paarl Gim		L
26-Jul	Derby		3	0	Bloemhof		W
1-Aug	Derby		3	0	Somerset College		W
8-Aug	Top 12		3	1	St Anne’s		W
8-Aug	Top 12		3	0	Menlo		W
8-Aug	Top 12		0	0	Eunice		D
9-Aug	Top 12		4	0	St Stithians		W
9-Aug	Top 12		1	1	Durban Girls College		D
10-Aug	Top 12		3	0	Waterkloof		W
10-Aug	Top 12		1	1	St Mary’s Kloof		D
17-Aug	Derby		4	1	Rustenburg		W
Games Played		50
Games Won		37
Games Lost		2
Games Drew		11
Goals For		160
Goals Against		17
Clean Sheets		36
PC A Goals		60
Field Goals		92
Penalty Stroke goals		6
PC Goals Against		9
Field Goals Against		8
Penalty Stroke Against		1

As the Clifton Centenary Water Polo Tournament headed into Saturday – much like day three of a golf tournament, known as moving day – there was a noticeable increase in intensity, especially among the top teams that had qualified for the quarterfinals, with each of those matches producing enthralling contests.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Hilton College, the winners of Pool A, faced Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in the first of those last eight clashes.

For the first half, it was neck-and-neck. Every time one of the sides went two goals clear, their opponents pulled it back. At the break, it was all square at 8-8. At last, though, PRG, beaten 7-6 by SACS in the 2023 final, managed to create a small buffer and they went on to a 14-11 victory.

There was another victory for a team that had placed second in the pool stage over a pool winner in the second quarterfinal. This time it was the defending champions, SACS, battling their way to a hard-fought 11-9 victory over Affies.

The Pretoria school started strongly, quickly charging into a 2-0 lead and they made SACS work hard for their goal-scoring successes, with Affies’ organised defence doing a good job. The Capetonians, though, kept their composure, used the width of the pool well and created openings with crisp ball movement.

Nicholas Fall, their South African Schools’ attacker, lent SACS a calm presence on the right and a blistering left-arm shot helped them to an 11-9 win.

It was Kearsney College against St John’s College in the third quarterfinal, with Kearsney coach, Nick Rodda, previously of St John’s, very familiar with the team his side would be facing. St John’s coach Jon-Marc De Carvalho, best of mates with Rodda, said, however, he made no adjustments for the fact that Rodda knew the St John’s boys so well.

The Johannesburg school went with its tried and tested formula of applying heavy pressure on the opposition’s ball carriers as soon as they gained possession. From there, they would hit hard on the counter.

It worked well and it appeared as if St John’s were on their way to a comfortable win when they went 7-3 ahead. They looked to have all the momentum, but Kearsney quickly dispelled that perception and fought their way back into the contest, coming back to only 8-9 down.

Credit to St John’s, they kept their shape, stuck to their game plan, weathered the storm and pulled clear near the end to run out 12-9 winners.

Up front, Ross Rovelli, as he has done all tournament long, set the standard and was a danger throughout. At the back, his SA u18 team-mate Greg Pryce controlled the defensive effort.

The fourth quarterfinal was a KZN affair, with the hosts, Clifton, up against a talented Westville Boys’ High lineup. Predictably, it was a tight contest, and there weren’t many goals in it, although Clifton, with nine shots against the frame of the goal, came close to scoring a lot more than they did.

They won it 6-4, scoring the last two goals of the game to take the win in front of a packed and buzzing crowd. A sublime long-range lobbed goal by Clifton captain Ollie Ditz highlighted the first half, but Jamie Nicolau‘s goal near the end that made it 6-4 was super special.

When he received the ball up front, close to the goal but alone, he had two defenders on him. Somehow, he squirted past them, but goalkeeper Connor Clare, responding correctly, lunged forward to close down the space. Nicolau, audaciously, slapped the ball hard into the water. It popped up and over Clare and into the Westville goal for a memorable game-deciding score.

It would be remiss not to also mention Clifton’s SA u18 goalkeeper, Ross Strauss, who has been in magnificent form and pulled off some fantastic saves.

The cross-pool playoffs that followed delivered more good contests, with Selborne College scoring a comfortable 9-4 win over Reddam House Constantia.

Northwood withstood a strong challenge from Durban High School (DHS) to win 7-5. Lian Terblanche and Matt Lortan are two Knights who have caught the eye, and Northwood, as a team, is undoubtedly ascending.

King Edward VII (KES) beat Grey College 10-6 to score their first victory, while Michaelhouse, who’ve had their moments, finally grabbed a win, defeating Maritzburg College 10-7. College, though, will take heart from their performances on Saturday. They lost to ‘House and were beaten 14-6 by DHS in the second game of the day, but they were far more competitive at both ends of the pool than they had been on the first two days of competition.

Then, in the first of the Plate semi-finals, Kearsney College served notice that they’re going to be challenging Clifton and Hilton, the two top dogs in KZN last season, for the number one spot this season and next year. In a very tight contest, they edged out Hilton 9-8 and, with a young side, many of whom played for the first team last year already, they’re becoming a battle-hardened unit.

Affies and Westville faced off in the second of the Plate semis, and both sides produced strong defensive performances. That’s been their calling card. The most Westville had conceded in their previous four games was six goals and they kept Affies to five on this occasion, which proved enough for a 7-5 victory.

Surprisingly, the first of the Cup semi-finals was a high-scoring affair and it resulted in the most goals in a game in the tournament thus far. Given that it was between Paul Roos and St John’s, it was a bit of an eye-opener.

In the four games they had played before the PRG clash, St John’s had given up only 19 goals, but Paul Roos put 12 past them. Unfortunately for last year’s runners-up, St John’s struck 16 times in response to book themselves a place in the final where they will have a shot at winning the title they won in 2022.

To do that, they’ll have to take down the 2023 champions, SACS, who’ve had some tight games along the way. They lost to Hilton College in a penalty shootout in the match to decide first place in Pool A. Then, in the playoffs, they beat Selborne by one goal. They followed that up with a tight quarterfinal against Affies, in which they clawed their way to an 11-9 victory.

Then, in Saturday’s last game, they edged out the hosts, Clifton, 7-6. While SACS have won by tighter margins than St John’s, their opponents in the final, which takes place at 12:30 on Sunday, it’s important to remember that they’ve won when it truly mattered.

The finalists resemble one another in the sense that they look comfortable with the style in which they play the game. They don’t panic. They keep their shape and they keep plugging away until their opposition finally cracks. Of course, on Sunday, one of them will have to concede. It should be fascinating.

Before they meet, there are some cracking contests lined up as the final places are decided. Even the ninth-place game between Selborne College and Northwood looks very tasty. Both teams are capable of some very good water polo. Both are improving, and both boast some outstanding individual talent.

After them, Hilton against Affies should be exciting. The local lads will need to get over the disappointment of two tight losses on Saturday because Affies will take it to them. They’re a more complete side than they were last year.

Kearsney versus Westville is a rivalry match-up. When rivals meet, outcomes are unpredictable, and, individually, both teams are loaded. It’s going to be a battle for fifth place.

Then, in the third place game, Clifton faces Paul Roos, with an opportunity to match the third place they achieved in 2023 with a handsome 9-5 win over Hilton. They would be thrilled to achieve a similarly convincing victory, but it’s likely to be tougher than that, and they would be happy with any win.

Clifton has come on in leaps and bounds during the tournament. For that matter, Paul Roos is finding its groove, too. If they are to have any hope of beating the Stellenbosch boys, Clifton will need to play wider and not become static. It’s a point their coach Paul Martin drummed into his side late in their quarterfinal win over Westville. When they did that, they looked far more dangerous. If that’s the Clifton that takes to the water on Saturday, an exciting game is on the cards.

FIXTURES

07:00 – Maritzburg College vs Grey College (15th/16th)
07:45 – Michaelhouse vs KES (13th/14th)
08:30 – Reddam House Constantia vs DHS (11th/12th)
09:15 – Selborne College vs Northwood (9th/10th)
10:00 – Hilton College vs Affies (7th/8th)
10:45 – Kearsney College vs Westville Boys’ High (5th/6th)
11:30 – Clifton vs Paul Roos (3rd/4th)
12:30 – St John’s College vs SACS (1st/2nd)

RESULTS

Northwood 11-6 Michaelhouse
DHS 14-6 Maritzburg College
Hilton 11-14 Paul Roos
Affies 9-11 SACS
St John’s 12-9 Kearsney
Clifton 6-4 Westville
Selborne 9-4 Reddam House Constantia
Northwood 7-5 DHS
KES 10-6 Grey College
Michaelhouse 10-7 Maritzburg College
Hilton 8-9 Kearsney
Affies 5-7 Westvile
Paul Roos 12-16 St John’s
SACS 7-6 Clifton

The Engen Champ of Champs has officially kicked off, running through to September 29, at the prestigious Wits Marks Park Sports Ground. The tournament has already captured the attention of youth football enthusiasts, showcasing the immense talent of aspiring young athletes from across the country.

As the first day unfolded, the competition was fierce, with teams eager to make their mark. In the boys’ division, Shayamoya has emerged as a standout performer, dominating their group with impressive teamwork and skill. Their determination and tactical execution have set a high standard, making them a formidable contender throughout the tournament.

On the girls’ side, Sundowns Ladies has taken the tournament by storm, showcasing flair and confidence on the pitch. Their ability to work cohesively as a unit has made them the team to watch, propelling them to the top of their group with a display of exciting football that has left spectators eager for more.

As the tournament continues, anticipation builds for the remaining matches, with fans excited to see if these top-performing teams can maintain their momentum. The Engen Champ of Champs is proving to be a celebration of youth football, bringing together talent, passion, and the spirit of competition.

Boys Full Results 
Virginia Sports Academy 2-0 Tlhotljokwe FC
Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Ebhayi FC
Shayamoya 2-0 Virginia Sports Academy
Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Tlhotlhokwe FC
Ebhayi FC 1-1 Shayamoya FC
Ebenezer FC 1-2 Juventus
Stellenbosch 1-0 Galeshewe

Ladies Full Results 
Storm Ladies 3-0 Ixias Ladies
Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 Sisters FC
Diamond Ladies 0-0 Storm Ladies
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Ixias Ladies
Sisters FC 1-1 Diamond Ladies
Nav Galaxy 0-2 Durban Ladies
Cape Town Roses 5-0 Thames Ladies

Hilton College, SACS, Paul Roos, Affies, St John’s, Clifton, Westville, and Kearsney punched their tickets to the quarterfinals of the Clifton Centenary Water Polo Tournament on Friday at the Clifton Aquatic Centre in Durban.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

The story of the day was Kearsney’s qualification for a spot in the top eight.

The Botha’s Hill boys took a circuitous route, despite leading Pool B after day one. Kearsney played the first match of the event, and they got the tournament challenge off to a roaring start by walloping Michaelhouse 13-3. They followed that up with a victory over Affies and went to bed on Thursday in first place.

However, their win over Affies had come in a penalty shootout, which meant they didn’t receive the three points that victories in regulation time bring. Instead, they picked up two points and Affies received one, which would prove to be important.

On Friday, Kearsney’s qualification for the next stage was cast in doubt when Paul Roos edged them 8-7. They were pushed further down, into third place, when Affies thrashed Michaelhouse 10-3 in the last round of group matches. That sequence of events to Kearsney facing Durban High School (DHS), who had two wins and a single loss under their belt, in a playoff match.

DHS finished second in Pool D, but Kearsney would have fancied their chances of taking down the Horseflies. After a competitive battle, Kearsney clinched a 10-8 victory, which made them the only third-placed team to win their playoff game against a second-placed side.

Kearsney will go to battle against St John’s in their quarterfinal tie, a school that was home to Kearsney coach Nicholas Rodda before he moved to the KZN school.

The Gauteng side, who overwhelmed Maritzburg College and Selborne on day one, made it three in three when they brushed Westville aside, defeating the KZN boys 6-2 to complete a clean sweep that left them in the top spot in Pool C.

Alongside St John’s, Clifton and Hilton also produced dominant runs in Pools C and D respectively.

The hosts, Clifton, made light work of the challenges from DHS and KES on day one. They put the cherry on the top, to the delight of the home crowd, with a 12-3 thrashing of Reddam on Friday in which they moved the ball well. Clifton will a stern test from Westville in their quarterfinal contest.

The Griffin had a strong start, chalking up two wins in two matches on day one, but they fell to the log leaders, St John’s, in the final round of group games. In the playoffs, though, they punched their ticket to the quarterfinals with a 5-3 win over Northwood.

Hilton topped Pool A, withstanding a furious Northwood challenge in their opener before scoring a convincing win over Grey College. Their sternest test came when they met SACS on Friday afternoon.

On day one, Jason Sileno’s charges came up trumps when they scored two late goals to record a hard-fought victory over Northwood. More of the same mettle was required when they took on SACS. There were no late goals this time around. Their encounter was decided by a penalty shootout, where Sileno’s charges held their nerve to claim a 9-8 victory.

Paul Roos, who finished second in Pool B, stands between Hilton and a semifinal spot. It is a tie the KZN side will not be taking lightly. The Stellenbosch side has a proven pedigree. They were the runners-up in last year’s Clifton Water Polo Tournament and came into the tournament as one of the favourites to win the title.

The Capetonians were in a tight group where they squeezed past Michaelhouse and narrowly lost to Affies on day one, before delivering an 8-7 victory over Kearsney to knock the local team from the top spot in the pool.

Affies topped Pool B, scoring two wins and a penalty shootout loss. They face arguably the toughest of the second-place finishers, SACS, who defeated Selborne College in their playoff match.

The battle-hardened Capetonians have shown their ability to score big and not concede a lot in their victories over Grey College and Northwood. They also showed their fighting spirit in their narrow loss to Hilton, coming back to level the contest at 7-7 after twice trailing by three goals.

The quarterfinal matches begin at 09:30 on Saturday.

Results Group Stage

KES 5 –7 DHS
Kearsney 7-8 Paul Roos
Northwood 7-4 Grey College
Clifton 12-3 Reddam Constantia
Selborne 18-3 Maritzburg
Affies 10-3 Michaelhouse
Hilton (9 ) 7-7 (8) SACS
Westville 2-6 St John’s

Playoff Matches

SACS 5-4 Selborne
Paul Roos 9-3 Reddam
Northwood 3-5 Westville
Kearsney 10-8 DHS
Selborne 10-7 KES
Reddam Constantia 11-1 Grey College

Adnaan Lagadien scored an outstanding century as South Africa u19 Emerging thrashed Zimbabwe u19 Emerging by 237 runs in their 50-over encounter at Queen’s Sports Club, in Bulawayo, on Friday.

After that emphatic victory, coach Malibongwe Maketa’s charges lead the five-match series 4-0.

South Africa, who won the toss and elected to bat first, powered their way to 434/6 in 50 rollicking overs. Just over a quarter of those runs came off the bat of Lagadien, who carved 12 fours and three sixes on his way to 112 off 87 deliveries.

The Muhammed Bulbulia-captained side then turned around and bowled out their hosts for 197 runs in 32.1 overs.

As they have done throughout the series, South Africa tried out a different opening pair. And, as has become the trend, the openers provided the visitors with a brilliant start. Maketa’s charges got things going with a hard-hitting 114-run opening partnership off only 81 deliveries. The blistering start was thanks to Jorich van Schalkwyk‘s attacking play, with the Affies’ learner scoring a brisk 43-ball 58.

Lagadien, who had been happy to be the foil for Van Schalkwyk’s strokeplay, took charge of the innings after his opening partner’s dismissal. He reached his century during a 97-run second-wicket stand with Daniel Bosman, who was also in an attacking mood and struck a 32-ball 39.

Bosman was replaced by Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, but the Cornwall Hill learner did not enjoy a big partnership with Lagadien. They added 26 runs before the opener was dismissed. However, like the other batsmen before him, Phahlamohlaka went after the Zimbabwe bowling attack and registered a half-century, contributing 52 from 41 balls.

He also shared a 90-run fourth-wicket partnership with Paul James, who will consider himself unlucky to have missed out on a century. The Wynberg Boys’ High man scythed a destructive 65-ball 96 that left Zimbabwe reeling.

Samuel Muyambo was Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler, but his two wickets came at a price, as he conceded 71 runs from his nine overs. Darren Ncube, Nawej Mutumwa, Brandon Senzere, and Othaniel Makuzo bagged a wicket each.

As they had done in their previous match, Zimbabwe got away to a decent start. Nathaniel Hlabangana, with 42, shared a 60-run opening stand with Kupakwashe Muradzi, who weighed in with 20. Also, as happened in their previous match, and as has happened throughout the series, they lost wickets in clumps, which stalled their momentum. They were 60/0 after 7.3 overs, but after 14.2 overs they had slipped to 89/4.

Besides Brandon Senzere, who made 50, and Samuel Muyambo, who scored 41, the Zimbabweans struggled against the bowling of Paul James. The Wynberg all-rounder snapped up a tidy three wickets for 13 runs from five overs.

However, the opening batsman, Jorich van Schalkwyk, was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa. He ripped through the Zimbabwean innings, capturing four wickets for seven runs in only 2.1 overs. Bosman, Luke Kleinsmith, and Rowen Rajah claimed a wicket each.

Summarised Scorecards

South Africa u19 Emerging: 434/6 (Adnaan Lagadien 112, Paul James 96, Jorich van Schalkwyk 58, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka 52; Samuel Muyambo 2/71) Zimbabwe u19 Emerging: 197/10 (Brandon Senzere 50, Nathaniel Hlabangana 42; Jorich van Schalkwyk 4/7, Paul James 3/13) South Africa u19 Emerging won by 237 runs.

Refilwe Girls Football Club (FC), has made a strong move to boost the club by appointing the highly experienced coach and former player, Claudia Raposo, to the role of the new Director of Football.

The club’s founder, Lebo Ramodike, commented: “It’s truly an honour to have Claudia join Refilwe Girls Football Club. Her coaching style and passion for the development of women’s football align perfectly with our commitment to balancing sports and academic excellence over the next four years.

“Claudia will not only mentor upcoming female coaches but also work with us to integrate academic success with football excellence. Her extensive knowledge and experience will be invaluable in helping us grow and achieve our goal of having Refilwe girl represent South Africa’s national team in the near future.”

Raposo is a former professional player, who played for Luso Africa, Crouses Ladies, and JVW FC in the Sasol League. She holds a CAF C coaching licence and brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to her new position at Refilwe.

Raposo, who is also a Level Three referee, certified by the South African Football Association (Safa), will focus on developing and implementing a fresh playing style and tactical approach for Refilwe over the next four years.

Her previous coaching experience includes working at JVW FC, where she served as the Head Coach of the club’s u15 Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL) team, and she also led the JVW Reserve Team. Her accomplishments with JVW include winning the Safa GWDL u15 Tournament and securing the Championship title in 2023. She also led the club to a runner-up finish in the u20 Engen Cup in 2022.

Raposo told SuperSport Schools Plus that she feels excited about her new role, adding that she cannot wait to start working with Refilwe FC.

Q: Claudia, welcome to Refilwe. How have you been feeling over the past few hours?

A: Thank you for the very warm welcome, I’m feeling overwhelmed with excitement. Can’t believe this day has finally arrived. The hard work starts now, but I’m excited to see what we can do together.

Q: Having spent several years with JVW, what prompted you to join Refilwe FC at this moment?

A: Siya, as you said I spent most of my coaching career at JVW. I just felt that it came to that point in a coach’s career that I had achieved all that I could at the club that I hold dearly to my heart, that gave me the platform to become the coach I am today, and, for that, I shall forever be grateful. Thank you, JVW FC!

“I choose to challenge myself and timing is a funny thing, Siya. Refliwe FC Boss, Lebo, heard that I had left and offered me a new challenge. I never thought that all my hard work, passion, and sacrifices were getting noticed but they were and he offered me the opportunity to grow women’s football and I’m always up for that challenge.”

Q: Your extensive experience in South African football and coaching is well recognised. How do you believe this experience will benefit Refilwe FC?

A: Well, seeing how much football has changed over the years, it thrills me to see such growth and I would like to be a part of that continuous change for a very long time. I forever will be a student of the game.

“It’s a new club and we share a vision. I am humbled and feel privileged for this opportunity to create a new breed of young female footballers. I am here to provide and promote a new belief in the game we all love, and to encourage these young footballers to make their way by creating a philosophy and methodology within the club, allowing them to use the knowledge they have gained, and expanding their skills, love, and thirst for the game, by ensuring that the level of our development performance is on track.

Q: Given your background in developing young talent at JVW, where you witnessed players advance to the first team, Refilwe currently boasts one of the youngest squads in the GWDL. Will you be looking to these young players to bolster the team, and did this factor into your decision to join Refilwe FC?

A: Of course, it excites me. It would excite anyone, seeing young players playing [others] two, nearly three years older than themselves, and giving it their all regardless of the score. You know, Siya, no matter what experience you bring as a coach, we, as coaches, can never teach you that willingness to never give up or fight, and that, for me, is something very special. In my eyes, regardless of your age, if you give me your everything, you will always earn your spot in the team.

Q: Lebo [Ramodike] has mentioned your coaching style. Could you elaborate on your approach to coaching for those who may not be familiar with it, and how it will aid Refilwe in nurturing young players?

A:  I guess my coaching style comes a lot from how I played and understood the game myself. I allow the players to fall in love with the game by playing and enjoying the ball as much as possible – ball mastering, setting individual and team goals, and achieving them together.

Q: At this stage in your career, having achieved so much, some may question whether you are taking a step back. How would you respond to such comments?

A: Well Siya, I don’t see it as a step back. I see it as a personal growth opportunity. And I’m up for the challenge.

Q: The GWDL is becoming increasingly competitive, and women’s football in Gauteng is on the rise. How eager are you to contribute to Refilwe FC and ensure that it competes at the same level as teams like JVW, Remember Elite Sport Academy, Tuks, and Mamelodi Sundowns, among others?

A: I’m just excited to be back in the football scene. Our competitiveness will get there and the Refilwe name will be among the greats, but all in due time.

Q: In closing, what are your thoughts on working with Lebo and his team, including the young girls? What message would you like to convey to the parents and supporters of Refilwe FC?

A: Working with Lebo and the team has been a humbling experience. [It’s] a great atmosphere, and such a thirst for greatness. Exciting times lie ahead, I tell you.

“My message to my new family at Refliwe FC, is you will get the very best from me. I’m passionate and, at the end of all this, it’s not about me but about our future stars.

“Thank you for welcoming me to your family. We will be doing great things together,” Raposo concluded.

After an outstanding victory in the St Anne’s Water Polo Tournament earlier in the week, Reddam House Constantia coach Connor Whiting has credited his team’s defensive work for their title-winning performance.

Fresh off of winning the MacKenzie Cup in the own pool, Reddam Constantia joined 19 other top water polo-playing schools at St Anne’s, where icy conditions made the first two days of the four-day event especially challenging.

In pool play, up against St Mary’s DSG Kloof, Westville Girls’ High, Rhenish, and St Mary’s Waverley, Whiting‘s side dominated. They won all of their pool games to easily secure their place in the playoffs.

“We just got better as the tournament progressed. We were going from strength to strength,” Whiting said. “The whole focus on the weekend, on each game, was on defence, which I think was the main reason for our success,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

The Western Cape side opened their assignments as one of the favourites and they quickly lived up to that tag, powering their way to an impressive 13-1 win over St Mary’s DSG Kloof in their first game. In a tighter second contest, they ran out comfortable 6-1 winners over Rhenish.

St Mary’s Waverley put up a good fight, but Reddam claimed a 6-4 victory.  It was one-way traffic against Westville Girls’ High School, with the Cape girls cruising to a 17-0 win.

In the playoffs, they dealt with the St Anne’s junior team, the Stingrays, who performed admirably against senior opposition, winning 9-2. Then, against Herschel, the team they had faced in the final of the MacKenzie Cup, they won 8-3.

“Conceding a handful of goals, or just over a handful of goals, all weekend, was the key to our success,” Whiting said, “and then the goal for the final was to be patient and control the game on defence, which I think we did well, stopping them from scoring goals.”

Up against St Anne’s for the title, Reddam House Constantia recorded an emphatic 10-2 victory.

“On our attack, it is structured. It’s quite hard for teams to defend us and break us down from a defence perspective, so the goal was to be as patient as possible and wait for opportunities to score, and I think we did that really well, especially in the first half of the game. From then, the goal was to control the momentum throughout the final.” Whiting explained. “Also, with two very strong goalkeepers, it suits our defence, and the overall team effort worked well for us.

“We have been working with the first team girls and u16 girls, Nick Tinkler and I, and we have structured our defence and worked on it for the last two years, and it is showing success now.”

ST ANNE’S WATER POLO TOURNAMENT TOP 10 

1 Reddam House Constantia
2 St Anne’s Diocesan College
3 Roedean School
4 Herschel Girls School
5 St Stithians Girls’ College
6 Rhenish High School
7 Durban Girls’ College
8 St Anne’s Stingrays
9 Reddam House Bedfordview
10 St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls

A bright, sunny day, but with south-westerly winds that reached 40 km/h, made for a challenging opening day of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament on Thursday, but there was some fantastic action in the Clifton Aquatic Centre pool. In the end, the favoured teams won their games, until the last match of the day.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), one of the favourites and last year’s runner-up, was somewhat fortunate to escape with a 9-8 victory over Michaelhouse in their opener.

The Stellenbosch powerhouse was stunned in the first chukka as ‘House stormed into a 4-0 lead. Undaunted, PRG fought their way back to level the scores at 4-4. They appeared to have the momentum, but Michaelhouse, again, wrestled control of the contest away from them, surging 7-4 in the clear.

Coach Vaughn Marlow was calm and encouraging towards his Paul Roos players as the fourth chukka began, telling them they were doing well and encouraging them to keep doing what they were doing. It worked. Paul Roos clawed their way back to 8-8 and then clinched a win in the last 30 seconds.

A late red card in the day’s last clash, between PRG and Affies, however, cost the Bolanders as the Pretoria side overcame a 5-7 deficit to snatch an 8-7 victory. That result leaves Pool B as the toughest to call on day two, although Kearsney College has the inside line to first place.

Their loss to Paul Roos must have stung Michaelhouse, but they should take great heart from that performance. It was light years better than what they produced in the tournament’s first game against Kearsney, which the Botha’s Hill boys won 13-3.

Later in the day, Kearsney, playing without KZN water polo player and SA swimmer, Luca Sandri, shared a tense 5-5 draw with Affies. That sent the tie to a penalty shootout and goalkeeper Phiwayinkosi Hadebe firmly rejected Affies’ second attempt to help his side to a 2-1 win from the spot. On Saturday, Kearsney will welcome Sandri back from a swimming competition, which will boost their campaign.

Northwood and Hilton College shared a cracking game, going blow for blow until it was 8-8. Two late goals from Hilton, however, lifted coach Jason Sileno‘s men to a hard-fought victory.

One of the highlights of the contest was the battle between the Knights‘ SA u18 star, Matt Lortan, and Hilton’s KZN standout Meyer Malherbe. Lortan impressed with his speed and quick hands, getting shots off in the blink of an eye, while Malherbe, the Hilton captain, impressed with his power and composure.

Hilton followed up with a 9-2 win over Grey College, who had two tough matches on the opening day, with the other, against SACS, ending in a big 19-2 victory for the Cape Town school.

They also beat Northwood 13-5, which was an outstanding result, and it has marked SACS as one of the teams to beat. The defending champions were assured and calm and they finished well.

If they’re to go all the way, though, they’ll need to get past St John’s College. The Johannesburg boys looked very good on the opening day. They cruised to a 13-2 win over Maritzburg College and then beat Selborne College 9-6.

To Selborne’s credit, they found themselves 5-1 down but fought back to emerge from the contest with their honour intact. St John’s impressed with their trademark defensive pressure and any team wanting to beat them will have to deal with that challenge.

Unfortunately for Selborne, they ran into Westville Boys’ High in their second outing and the KZN side played up to their considerable potential to score a convincing 8-3 win. In their first match, the Griffin had won 13-6 against Maritzburg College.

The hosts, Clifton College, were given a good workout by Durban High School (DHS) in their opener, with the teams level-pegging before Clifton found their rhythm and scored the last three goals to secure an 8-5 win.

In the early evening, Clifton took on King Edward VII (KES), who had handed Clifton a 9-4 defeat at the Standard Bank King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament in March. This time, Clifton exacted revenge, ironically by a 9-4 margin.

DHS, meanwhile, showed they’re a dangerous team by chalking up a 7-3 win over Reddam House Constantia. The Cape school had looked good in a 6-4 victory over KES first time out.

Early on Friday morning, a crucial game in Pool B has Kearsney taking on Paul Roos. If Kearsney wins, first place belongs to them.

Just after midday, in Pool A, the clash of Hilton College and SACS will decide who wins Pool A, while the last of the pool games, which follows at 13:15, will pit Westville Boys’ High against St John’s with first place in Pool C up for grabs.

Pool D appears to be Clifton’s for the taking as they’re the only team with a clean record after Friday’s play. They tackle Reddam House Constantia at 10:15, with a chance to wrap up the top spot.

On Friday, from 14:45, the cross-pool playoffs begin.

RESULTS

Pool A

Northwood 8-10 Hilton
SACS 19-2 Grey College
Hilton 9-2 Grey College
SACS 13-5 Northwood

Pool B

Michaelhouse 3-13 Kearsney
Paul Roos 9-8 Michaelhouse
Affies (1) 5-5 (2) Kearsney
Affies 8-7 Paul Roos

Pool C

Maritzburg College 2-13 St John’s
Westville 13-6 Maritzburg College
Selborne 6-9 St John’s
Selborne 3-8 Westville

Pool D

Clifton 8-5 DHS
KES 4-6 Reddam
Reddam 3-7 DHS
Clifton 9-4 KES

The defending champions of the annual inter-provincial sevens tournament, Free State, will once again be the favourites to walk away with the honours at this year’s tournament in Bethlehem.

The matches will be played at Voortrekker and will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Free State will face South Western Districts in the opening match on Friday in a Pool A clash. Limpopo Blue Bulls and Namibia are also in Pool A.

Free State’s team, consisting mostly of players from Grey College, will be a force to be reckoned with. Grey College was crowned Champion of Champions of the Toyota High School Sevens Series last week. The Free Staters defeated the Sharks 15-14 in last year’s inter-provincial final.

Two players from the defending champions to look out for are Ethan Adams and Junior Titoti. The latter scored a vital try during last year’s final for the Free Staters.

In 2022, Eastern Province were the champions, while the Sharks lifted the trophy in 2019.

The hosts, the Griffons, will face the Sharks in their opening clash. The Purple People Eaters have a good record in sevens as they’ve produced Blitzbokke like Cecil Afrika, Hoffman Maritz, Seabelo Senatla and Branco du Preez, to name just a few.

The Griffons will however be without players from their top sevens’ school, Welkom Gimnasium. The Gimmies decided to play in the Heidelberg-leg of the Toyota High School Sevens Series, which took place on the same weekend as the Griffons’ trials.

The fact that Western Province, the Valke and Border have decided not to send a team to Bethlehem is truly a sad day for sevens rugby in those three regions.

With sevens rugby being part of the Olympics it is alarming that those unions don’t provide the schoolboys in their systems an opportunity to showcase their talent at the highest level available for schoolboy players in South Africa.

Pool C will probably be the toughest pool as the Golden Lions, Eastern Province, Pumas and Free State B will lock horns. The Pumas have produced Blitzbok heroes like Kwagga Smith and Werner Kok in recent years.

The final will be played on Saturday.

The Pools: 

Pool A: Free State, South Western Districts, Limpopo Blue Bulls, Namibia.
Pool B: Sharks, Griffons, Griqualand West, TBC.
Pool C: Golden Lions, Eastern Province, Pumas, Free State B.
Pool D: Boland, Blue Bulls, Griffons B, Leopards.

The Fixtures | Day 1

08:00 – South Western Districts vs Free State; 08:20 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Namibia; 08:40 – Griffons vs Sharks; 09:00 – Griqualand West vs TBC; 09:20 – Eastern Province vs Golden Lions; 09:40 – Pumas vs Free State B; 10:00 – Blue Bulls vs Boland; 10:20 – Griffons B vs Leopards; 10:40 – Free State vs Limpopo; 11:00 – Namibia vs South Western Districts; 11:20 – Sharks vs Griqualand West; 11:40 – Griffons vs TBC; 12:00 – Golden Lions vs Pumas; 12:20 – Free State B vs Eastern Province; 12:40 – Boland vs Griffons B; 13:00 – Leopards vs Blue Bulls; 13:20 – Free State vs Namibia; 13:40 – South Western Districts vs Limpopo Blue Bulls; 14:00 – Sharks vs TBC; 14:20 – Griffons vs Griqualand West; 14:40 – Golden Lions vs Free State B; 15:00 – Eastern Province vs Pumas; 15:20 – Boland vs Leopards; 15:40 – Blue Bulls vs Griffons B.

Nie eers Jean Oosthuizen se asemrowende beurt van 181 was genoeg om Hoërskool Wesvalia se momentum op die Izintaba Gimmies-Krieketfees te stuit nie.

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

Na die Wessies se Dreyer-broers haas onherstelbare skade vroeg in Hoërskool Brackenfell se kolfbeurt aangerig het, het Oosthuizen die verantwoordelikheid met die kolf op homself geneem.

Die Brakkies se voorslagkolwer het nie die doekies omgedraai nie om ‘n allemintige 181 lopies te moker. Sy beurt het van slegs 100 balle gekom, en 16 sesse en 14 viere ingesluit – wat beteken dat 152 ( 84%) van sy lopies deur grenshoue aangeteken is.

Die ouer Dreyer-broer, Marneau Dreyer, het uiteindelik Oosthuizen se kraantjie toegedraai om sy vierde paaltjie te neem. Ethan Walker was ook uitstaande met syfers van 3/46, terwyl die jonger Eduard Dreyer twee paaltjies vir 32 lopies laat spat het.

Marneau se heldedade was egter steeds nie gedaan nie en hy het die Wessies se jaagtog met ‘n blitsige en onoorwonne 78 lopies, van slegs 46 aflewerings, gelei. Luan Vermeulen het ook weer beïndruk met ‘n puik 59.

Die veelsydige Quewen Fourie het, saam met Dreyer, die Wesvalia-boot veilig tot in die hawe gelei met ‘n onoorwonne 51, terwyl Vermeulen en Fourie elk ook teen ‘n vinnige tempo gekolf het om te verseker dat die Wessies die Brakkies se telling in die 27ste beurt kon verbysteek.

Op dag drie het Juandre Verwey met die kolf uitgeblink vir Helpmekaar Kollege om Hoërskool Rustenburg met 105 lopies te troef. Die Helpies het oor die tydperk van drie dae hul kolfdiepte behoorlik uitgestal met verskeie spelers wat gesonde bydraes gelewer het.

Verwey het die gunstige kolftoestande in Potchefstroom ten volle benut om 116 van net 82 aflewerings te moker. Sy beurt, wat teen ‘n treftempo van 141 gekom het, het 11 viere en vyf sesse opgelewer. Die ervare Anrich Liebenberg het ook sy kolfvernuf tentoongestel om 56 lopies by te dra.

Henlo van Rooyen was die Rusties se suksesvolste bouler op die dag en het aan die einde van sy agt beurte met syfers van 3/42 gespog. Thian Labuschagne het hom bygestaan met drie paaltjies van sy eie. Verskeie ander bydraes deur die res van Helpies se kolwers was egter genoeg om die Johannesburgers tot ‘n reusetelling van 348/9 in die toegelate 50 beurte te help.

Rusties se Christivan Coetzer het op sy beurt vir die span van Rustenburg ‘n belowende platform geskep. Coetzer, wat daarvoor bekend is dat hy die bal ongelooflik skoon slaan, het sy 72 lopies van net 51 balle aangeteken.

Net Nathan Rossouw, wat ‘n welverdiende vyftigtal bereik het, en Thian Labuschagne (37) het egter verder noemenswaardige tellings aangeteken en die Rusties moes tevrede wees met ‘n totaal van 243. Anrich Liebenberg het vier paaltjies vir 34 lopies geneem.

Beknopte telkaarte:

Brackenfell 263 (Jean Oosthuizen 181; Marneau Dreyer 4/50, Ethan Walker 3/46, Eduard Dreyer 2/32); Wesvalia 264/4 (Marneau Dreyer 78*, Luan Vermeulen 59, Quewen Fourie 51*, Eduard Dreyer 26; Taige Niekerk 3/29). Wesvalia wen met ses paaltjies.

Helpmekaar Kollege 348/9 (Juandre Verwey 116, Anrich Liebenberg 56, Zuan Joubert 37, Zander Neethling 29, Xander Jackson 21, Kevin Olivier 21; Henlo van Rooyen 3/42, Thian Labuschagne 3/85, Marnus de Witt 2/54); Hoërskool Rustenburg 243 (Christivan Coetzer 72, Nathan Rossouw 50, Thian Labuschagne 37, Tristan van der Linde 25; Anrich Liebenberg 4/34, Aiden Pretorius 2/47). Helpmekaar Kollege wen met 105 lopies.