{"id":72227,"date":"2025-05-14T11:20:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T09:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=72227"},"modified":"2025-05-14T11:20:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T09:20:56","slug":"helpmekaar-fired-up-and-eager-to-take-on-jozis-best-at-aitken-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=72227","title":{"rendered":"Helpmekaar fired up and eager to take on Jozi’s best at Aitken Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The
The Helpmekaar first-team hockey side for 2025. Photo: Helpmekaar Kollege<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Helpmekaar Kollege<\/a><\/strong>‘s\u00a0first-team hockey side will enter the Aitken Cup<\/a><\/strong> with a statement to make and a point to prove following a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Ho\u00ebrskool Noordheuwel<\/strong> on the past weekend.<\/p>\n

In that clash against their rivals, the Helpies<\/strong> <\/em>dominated ball possession, controlled the tempo of the game, and used their chances to full effect.<\/p>\n

That big win was a much-needed confidence booster heading into the Aitken Cup, which takes place from 16 to 18 May at the University of Johannesburg<\/strong>, Wits University<\/strong>, King Edward VII<\/strong>, and St John’s College<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Led by coach Bryan Longbottom<\/strong>, and captained by Juandr\u00e9 Verwey<\/strong>, Helpmekaar will face St John\u2019s College<\/a><\/strong>, Noordheuwel, and Northcliff High School<\/strong> in Pool C.<\/p>\n

They’ve produced a mixed bag of results this season, but a tournament of the magnitude of the Aitken Cup gives them an opportunity to right their wrongs, said Verwey.<\/p>\n

“We’ve had an up-and-down season so far, with a slow start at the Independent Schools Festival and a few disappointing results, especially at KES Fest,\u201d he told SuperSport Schools Plus<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“We would\u2019ve liked to get the momentum going earlier. But the important thing is to stay positive with Aitken and Noordvaal coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under coach Longbottom, who is also the school’s Director of Hockey, the Helpies’ programme has gone from strength to strength in recent years.<\/p>\n

They’ve pulled off some impressive results and shocks, and their captain had been a part of that journey. An experienced campaigner, he has played over 85 matches for Helpmekaar.<\/p>\n

\"Helpies
Helpies’ skipper, Juandr\u00e9 Verwey, was in action for his side at the ISHF. Photo: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He shared the recipe that’s made them a teams not to be underestimated in Gauteng: “I think the most important thing is that the guys in charge are passionate about hockey and about the school,” he explained.<\/p>\n

“In previous years, we didn\u2019t see as much effort put into hockey from directors and coaches.”<\/p>\n

Verwey will be assisted with the leadership duties this weekend by Etienne Scott<\/strong> and Henno Steyn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

He said they\u2019ll be taking the tournament one step at a time: “We\u2019re breaking it down into group stages and playoffs. The first objective is to secure our spot in the top eight, then we reassess and go from there.”<\/p>\n

Helpmekaar’s campaign begins on Thursday at 16:00 when they face St John’s College at King Edward VII.<\/p>\n

TEAM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ilan Van Wyk, Dian Prinsloo, Alec Brink, Kyle Swanepoel, Alexander Turner, Dani\u00ebl Roos Henno Steyn (vc), Etienne Scott (vc), Nicholas Hutton, Juandr\u00e9 Verwey (c), Tiaan Van der Merwe, Rogan Van den Berg, Eben van Graan, Kevin Van Zyl, Ewald Haasbroek, Sebastian Kloek, Jean Lubbe, Keanu Nel.<\/p>\n

Helpmekaar Fixtures at the Aitken Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, 15 May<\/strong><\/p>\n

16:00<\/strong> – Helpmekaar vs St John’s College<\/p>\n

Friday, 16 May<\/strong><\/p>\n

12:00 – Helpmekaar vs Northcliff
\n18:00 – Helpmekaar vs Noordheuwel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Helpmekaar Kollege‘s\u00a0first-team hockey side will enter the Aitken Cup with a statement to make and a point to prove following a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Ho\u00ebrskool Noordheuwel on the past weekend. In that clash against their rivals, the Helpies dominated ball possession, controlled the tempo of the game, and used their chances to full effect. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":72230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/72230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}