Dit is hierdie naweek die Chillies, oftewel Hoërskool Duineveld, en Hoërskool Diamantveld se beurt om mekaar die stryd aan te sê.
Met dié netbalstryd, geskeduleer vir 11:20 op Duineveld se bane, is die Chillies oorgehaal om hul titel, as beste span in die Noord-Kaap vir 2023, te verdedig.
Hoofafrigter, Madri Steyn, beklemtoon die belangrikheid van spanwerk om sukses op die baan te behaal en die Chillies is voorbereid op ‘n klipharde, kompeterende wedstryd.
Hoërskool Diamantveld: Mari du Raan, Johandri de Wet, Izeldi Jacobs, Valmari Faber, Carmen Louw, Lara van Niekerk, Klarissa Taljaard, Brithe Honiball, Zandri Starke, Timney Greyling.
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 06: Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko during the South Africa U20 men’s training session at Stellenbosch Academy of Sport on 6 February 2024, in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
Five members of last year’s Junior Springboks’ squad have been included in the 31-player touring group, which was announced by SA U20 head coach Bafana Nhleko on Thursday, for the inaugural Under-20 Rugby Championship in Australia.
The inaugural SANZAAR-arranged tournament, which features the top up-and-coming U20 players from South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia, will be staged in Queensland next month.
Thursday’s squad announcement follows an intense period of preparations for the SA Rugby Academy training group at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sports (SAS).
The new event will be hosted in the Sunshine Coast region, north of Brisbane on Australia’s eastern seaboard, during early May, and will comprise a round-robin format, where all teams will play each other once. The top team after the three-round, six-match tournament, will be declared the first champion.
The five players who represented the Junior Boks during last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town are Zachary Porthen (prop), JF van Heerden (lock), Asad Moos (scrumhalf) and midfielders, Jurenzo Julius and Litelihle Bester.
The training group’s preparations for the forthcoming Australian tour and the World Rugby U20s have included a couple of training matches against provincial outfits.
Nhleko said his coaching staff is pleased with the progress made by the group since planning preparations for their international season began with a series of alignment camps.
“The three matches will be a good test of our group’s character and skill set, as part of a performance process in preparation for the World Rugby u20 Championship,” said Nhleko. “The players have responded well to the detail and demands during the camps. It is now about executing and learning in a Test-match pressure environment.”
The Junior Bok coach said the Sunshine Coast tournament will give the players crucial playing time against quality opposition, opportunities to test combinations in a demanding competition environment, and will assist the coaching staff in fine-tuning their team selection before the squad announcement for the World Championship.
“The tour will be a great opportunity for the players to gain experience and enjoy a different environment and culture, while we continue to grow as a group, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to play in this tournament from a performance and preparation perspective,” Nhleko said.
“I also see it as part of reviving our Elite Player Development(EPD) pathway programme, because some of the players in the group have been part of the identification and development process, while those selected, who were not part of the EPD, have also shown that the pathway process is extensive and there are always opportunities.
“A few players would be disappointed to have missed out on the opportunity to tour, while there are also a few of players who could not be considered for selection because of injury. However, the door is still open for all of them, and we will continue working with the unions to monitor other players because we still have a preparation block to complete when we return from Australia, before we wrap up our final preparations for the World Rugby U20 Championship.”
The Junior Springboks leave for Australia on Wednesday, 24 April, and return home on Tuesday, 14 May. All games will be staged at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Junior Springbok squad for the U20 Rugby Championship
Scrumhalves: Asad Moos (DHL Western Province), Ezekiel Ngubane (DHL Western Province), Hassiem Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions).
Flyhalves: Thurlon Williams (Fidelity ADT Lions), Tylor Sefoor (Toyota Cheetahs).
Centres: Bruce Sherwood (DHL Western Province), Joshua Boulle (DHL Western Province), Jurenzo Julius (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Litelihle Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Philip-Albert van Niekerk (Vodacom Bulls).
Outside backs: JC Mars (DHL Western Province), Joel Leotlela (DHL Western Province / SA Sevens contracted), Michail Damon (Vodacom Bulls).
The Rondebosch Boys High team at this year’s KES Easter Hockey Festival. Photo: Team PhotoSA.
After a positive start to their 2024 campaign, Rondebosch Boys’ High will have an opportunity to stake their claim to being one of Western Cape’s top teams when they host Paul Roos Gimnasium(PRG) at the Bosch Astro on Friday night.
The clash takes place at 19:00.
‘Bosch enters the game on the back of a gruelling pre-season campaign, and a tough season opener against Stellenberg last Friday.
They played to a 2-2 draw against Stellies, with Martin Barnard and Jamie Hundermark getting onto the scoresheet for Rondebosch.
Before that, ‘Bosch participated in the annual Founders and King Edward VII Hockey Festivals, in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng respectively.
At Founders, coach Waseem Domingo‘s side, up against some of the best schools in the country, held their own.
They defeated Affies (2-1), held a strong Kearsney College team to a draw (1-1), beat Dale College (3-1), and recorded a draw (0-0) against Northwood School‘s 2nd XI. Their only defeat came against the defending Aitken Cup champions, St Stithians College (1-2).
Fast forward less than a week, and Domingo’s charges were in action at the annual KES Easter Hockey Festival.
There, ‘Bosch impressed, playing an attacking brand of hockey and, again, losing only one match, against Grey College (1-2) on day two.
They drew with the hosts, King Edward VII (3-3), Maritzburg College (1-1), and the Northwood School 1st XI (1-1), and beat Jeppe (1-0) on the final day.
“I think the preparation at both KES and Founders helped immensely,” Domingo told SuperSport Schools.
“The boys had very good wins against Dale College, Affies, and Jeppe, before coming back home.
“I feel like we are on the right footing, and we are in a better position than we were in last year. Our boys are getting the meaning of what it means to play an attractive brand of hockey.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had a couple of injuries, so that was a setback, but very happy with the progress we’ve made so far,” he added.
The Rondebosch team is a mixture of youth and experience, with several players in the side currently in matric, playing their final year.
Domingo said they have worked hard as a unit to ensure that squad depth exists within the team heading into 2025.
“At Rondebosch, we pride ourselves on depth, and I think we are back to that level where the depth has been incredible,” he said.
“We have an even number of grade 12s and grade 11s, so we have a good amount of experience and continuity in terms of the boys that are playing this year going into 2025.
“We’ve got a couple of grade 10s, as well, who are in the team based on talent. It’s well balanced but the team chemistry on and off the field has been immense.”
That team chemistry will need to be at its sharpest when Domingo’s side welcomes Paul Roos on Friday night.
PRG is led by the school’s Director of Hockey, Michael Baker, who made the move from KwaZulu-Natal’s Durban High School at the start of the year.
Domingo said his team recognises the big threat the Stellenbosch side poses, and his ‘Bosch boys will give their all, in front of their home supporters.
“The major thing with Paul Roos is that we have to respect them,” Domingo said.
“They are a well-oiled machine, well versed. They know what’s expected of them. They are going to come at us hard, but our team knows what’s at stake.
“We are ready, willing to go the extra mile, and we have to take the step up against them physically, and our concentration can’t drop. We have to back ourselves and understand that we have a level of confidence to contribute to the match,” he concluded.
Paul Roos, on the other hand, will enter the clash filled with self-belief after an impressive showing at the Founders Festival.
They will, however, be without their influential goal scorer and skipper, Reuben Sendzul, who went down with an injury this week. Coach Baker’s boys will need to step up as a unit to make up for his absence, if they are to register a win away from home.
Paul Roos: Keanu Meyer, Hano Basson, Callum van Oudtshoorn, Louan van Zyl (Vice), Joshua Smit, Seth Paterson, Keith Siebrits, Luke Oliver, Barend Geldenhuys, Juan Mouton, Christo Swanepoel (Captain), Charles Lombard, Logan Lackay, Dan Lurie, Ruben Gouws
Other matches
Fairmont against SACS during the first week of hockey action in the Western Cape. Both sides are back in action this week against Westerford, and Parel Vallei respectively. Photo: Colin Hadley.
The weekend is jam-packed with a busy fixture list, starting at 15:00 on Friday at Fairmont High School, who welcome Westerford.
Fairmont will be chasing a bounce-back performance after being on the wrong end of a 0-6 drubbing from SACS last weekend.
Belville High takes on The Settlers, Pinelands hosts Somerset College, and Curro Durbanville entertains the unpredictable Langa Hockey Club.
The action doesn’t end there, as SACS has a home game against Parel Vallei. While SACS thumped Fairmont last weekend, Parel Vallei shared a 1-1 draw with DF Malan.
Later, on Friday, Bishops has home ground advantage against that same DF Malan side, Worcester Gimnasium battles Punt, and Wynberg Boys’ High travels to Paarl Boys’ High for a match that begins at 19:20.
Saturday’s action begins with a clash between HTS Drostdy and Framesby, before Durbanville tackles Edgemead.
BrackenfellHigh School has a 16:00 meeting with Cannons Creek.
Fixtures
Friday, 12 April
15:00 – Fairmont High School vs Westerford
17:00 – Belville High vs The Settlers
18:00 – Pinelands vs Somerset College
18:30 – Curro Durbanville vs Langa Hockey Club
18:45 – SACS vs Parel Vallei
19:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
19:00 – Bishops vs DF Malan
19:15 – Worcester Gimnasium vs Punt
19:20 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’ High
Saturday, 13 April 10:00 – HTS Drostdy vs Framesby
11:00 – Durbanville vs Edgemead
16:00 – Brackenfell vs Cannons Creek
Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) will be out to cause an upset when they come up against their old foes from the Western Cape, Paarl Gimnasium, in the seventh Premier Interschools derby between the schools at 13:00 in Pretoria on Saturday.
The last time Affies came out on top against the men from Paarl was in 2022, when they surprised everyone, by claiming a nail-biting 29-26 victory at home.
Paarl Gimnasium, however, avenged that defeat last year, recording a convincing 38-21 victory at home.
Prior to that, the Witbulle last won against Gim in 2012, when they triumphed 27-20, again in Pretoria, which begs the question, will Affies be able to stop the visitors’ momentum with the advantage of playing at home on Saturday?
The Affies’ pack has already shown this season that it is capable of dominating any opposition pack. Many credit their recent victory over Garsfontein to the dominant performance of their forwards.
Unfortunately for the Witbulle, they will be without the services of their outstanding openside flank, Luan Potgieter, who is out of the game due to injury. Stephan McDonald, who takes over from Potgieter, is a high-class replacement. He was vice-captain of the Bulls’ 2023 Grant Khomo team and has been in superb form for the Affies 2nd XV.
An intriguing battle will take place at the back, between the sides’ midfield combinations. Affies’ Janco Purchase plays directly opposite Kobus Blankenberg and both inside centres wear the captain’s armband. Their personal duel and leadership will be key components of the game.
Outside of them, two of the best u17 outside centres in the country will go head-to-head. Nic Grobler, the Pretoria side’s number 13, was in wonderful form during his team’s victory over the Bere last weekend. At the same time, Markus Muller ran rampant against Boland Landbou, crossing for a hattrick of tries in Paarl Gim’s comprehensive 47-13 victory.
With both sides playing exciting, attacking rugby, it will, perhaps, come down to which team is better on defence on the day.
TEAMS
Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool vs. Paarl Gimnasium at 13:00 in Pretoria
Affies: 15 Ruben Groenewald, 14 Rikus Strydom, 13 Nic Grobler, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Eagan Roux, 10 Ruben Pienaar, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Ruan Lippold, 7 Albert Smit, 6 Stephan McDonald, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Muntingh Hamman, 3 Ruan Smuts, 2 Ethan van Dyk, 1 Werner Vrey.
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Freek de Kock, 14 Immanual Prinsloo, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Kobus Blankenberg, 11 Markus Moolman, 10 Chandler Green, 9 Melt Viljoen, 8 Nicolas Nel, 7 Wihan Kotze, 6 Jan Koegelenberg, 5 Marinus Daling, 4 Quintin Potgieter, 3 Ely Williams, 2 Dawie Stemmet, 1 Jean-Jacques du Preez.
Phiwayinkosi Kubheka on the charge against Westville Boys’ High on Reunion Weekend in 2023.
Phiwayinkosi Kubheka first captured the national spotlight in the 2023 rugby season. Maritzburg College was facing Grey College at the North-South Tournament in Pretoria. It was expected to be another straightforward Grey victory. It turned out to be anything but that.
Early in the game, Grey’s big 8th-man JJ Theron, who would go on to captain South African Schools, picked up the ball at the back of a ruck, and broke around the left. In front of him was College’s loosehead prop, Kubheka. Theron dropped his shoulder and tried to run over Kubheka. It didn’t happen. He was stopped in his tracks, driven backwards, and landed on his back. Introduction and statement made!
Recalling that meeting with his future SA Schools’ team-mate, Kubheka said: “I don’t think there was much to it, because it was probably my weak shoulder. I don’t think about it. I just go at it. It’s just a mentality that I came with.”
After that game, which Grey College won 37-24, but which was certainly a lot closer than the scoreline makes it appear, the KZN side was on rugby fans’ radars, and their big, mobile, and abrasive, loosehead had become a fan favourite.
Big guys don’t usually get through much work as ball carriers and tacklers, but Phiwayinkosi Kubheka exhibited some of the qualities that one expects a good loose forward to have.
Towards the end of 2023, Kubheka was appointed Deputy Head Prefect of Maritzburg College. It was a prestigious position and a vote of confidence in his character and leadership.
Maritzburg College is also a school with a very rich rugby history. Success and playing the College way on the field – hard, uncompromising and fair – is important, not just to the players but also to the school’s very loyal old boys. Kubheka, recognising this, chose to voluntarily step down from his position as Deputy Head Prefect. It couldn’t have been an easy decision, but he felt he couldn’t do justice to either role if he stuck with both.
He’s a humble, well-spoken leader, but his nickname, “Rambo“, wouldn’t suggest that. Then again, it reflects his physical approach to the game.
Interestingly, it wasn’t his College team-mates who gave him the name, he shared: “Two of my mates, from Northwood… We were having a district practice and a KZN practice and they just started calling me Rambo back then.
He may be an intimidating sight to some, but “Rambo” Kubheka, while a force to be reckoned with on the field, is a gentleman off of it.
“I think it was off a ruck, because I was quick back then, so immediately from a ruck I would join the backs, some way somehow. Then, they just started calling me by that name.”
Kubheka has good hands, and he passes well to both sides, which further catches the eye. Big guys aren’t supposed to do that. But he does. His secret? Touch rugby.
“I think that helped me a lot, especially passing with my weak hand, because when you are playing against backline players you want to play it quickly through the hands. I think that put me at an advantage over other forwards, who maybe can’t pass with both hands and have the skillset.
Although he might not be as fast as he once was, the College captain is a load and opponents know they are in for a take-no-prisoners, bruising battle when they face the Red, Black and White. Dishing out punishment means taking hard knocks at the same time and it takes a toll, Kubheka admitted.
“I think it’s a build-up,” he said, “so you don’t necessarily feel it in the mid-season, but you feel it maybe in the last four games. That’s when you have to wake up in the morning and go to the gym and you can feel your body is a bit reluctant. You start to not slack off, but you can just feel yourself not being yourself, in terms of your body. Mentally, you still want to carry on.
“I would carry on forever but then the body also takes preference. So, fortunately, we have staff, including strength and conditioning coaches, physios, and even the rugby coaches, who assist us in terms of us getting our rehab done and us taking time off, getting off our feet and all of that.”
Following on from an impressive 2023 season, which finished with him wearing the green and gold of South Africa, Kubheka has a single goal and it’s not flamboyant. That’s not his style. It’s very simple: to leave the jersey in a better place. That, very much, is the Maritzburg College way.
Before joining the Red, Black and White, he attended Monument Primary School in Ladysmith. When he attended KZN u13 trials, it was hard to miss to burly front-ranker. Maritzburg College noticed him and presented his mother with a prospectus, hoping that College might be a consideration for his future in high school.
There were other schools who expressed an interest in him, but his mother said she would pray about it. It was not her decision, she told her son, it was God’s. The answer was Maritzburg College.
Many people helped him on his rugby journey through the ranks and up to the 1st XV at Maritzburg College, Kubheka said. Most of all, he stated, his mother and his faith have played the biggest role.
His mom has sacrificed a lot for him, he explained: “She’s done more than enough, in my opinion. I don’t think, if another parent was in my mother’s shoes, they would have survived.”
Why you play the game: for your school, for your team, and for yourself: Phiwayinkosi Kubheka holds the James Dwyer Memorial Trophy aloft, with a proud Headmaster, Dr Chris Luman (wearing the College cap) at his side, after Maritzburg College’s 18-7 win over Glenwood on 6 April.
For Phiwayinkosi Kubheka, rugby is not just about winning, it’s about brotherhood, another of those qualities that Maritzburg College focusses upon. It’s about knowing that your brother has your back, no matter the challenge. It was what enabled College to take the game to Grey College in that 2023 clash. And it caught many people unawares.
While they didn’t pull off a win against Grey, they scored a spectacular 50-31 victory over Affies in Pretoria later in the season, and wins over the Pretoria school had been few and far between in recent years.
It was the brotherhood that stood out to him in that game. Affies scored the first two tries, both converted, and College responded with penalties. They were eight points down, but there was no backing away from the fight. He could see it in the eyes of his team-mates. It was a hard-fought game but, in the end, College won comfortably.
Hearing old boys call out the names of the players told him they were doing something right. “You feel the weight of the jersey, not being heavy but being meaningful.
“This jersey is about more than playing rugby. It’s about people who have worn it in the past and lifted it into a better place for me.”
It says something about his character that the game he chooses as his most memorable wasn’t a victory for College. It was his first start in the 1st XV, in the first game of the 2023 season, which College lost 20-27 at Michaelhouse.
He explained: “From grade eight, almost every single rugby player wants to play 1st team. Even the people who don’t play rugby, still want to go to the games.
“Just to experience that feeling, running onto the park, with the white badge, that was… a blessing in disguise because I didn’t know what the future held. But I knew with me being in this setup, I’m going to try to contribute, not only to better myself, but to show that I believe in what the coaches have put into place, and especially the circle around me, the brothers next to me.
“I’m with them to the very end. As you say, we fight, we fight till the bitter end, so I was willing to do that with the white badge on my chest.”
That mindset is a leader’s mindset, someone you can trust and believe in, someone who sets an example, and who always has his brother’s back. That’s why Phiwayinkosi Kubheka was entrusted with leading Maritzburg College in 2024.
The Queens College first team squad before they took part in the KES, and Founders Festival. Photo: Queen’s College
A sea of black and white, and a vibrant crowd in full voice will welcome Queen’s College to East London on Friday for a showdown with Selborne College.
Queen’s are undoubtedly the underdogs. They’ll be aiming to end Selborne’s 15-game winning streak since the start of the 2024 hockey season.
In their local season opener last weekend, the Komani boys let a 2-0 lead slip, with Stirling High fighting their way back into the game to salvage a 2-2 draw.
Before that, Queen’s endured a challenging run at the Founders, and King Edward VII Hockey Festivals.
Playing against some of the top schools in the country, Queen’s lost the majority of their matches but a 1-1 draw with St John’s College at KES was an indictor of the potential of the team.
“Playing at these festivals allowed us to play against top schools in the country that are not part of our normal fixture list,” Queen’s head coach Michael Baiden told SuperSport Schools.
“It has also allowed us to measure ourselves compared to the best in the country, and it also allowed us to learn more about where we are as a team and where we need to improve.
“We now know the level we are capable of playing, and that should help us in our in-season fixtures.”
Queen’s will need to be switched on and concentrate for the full four chukkas if they are to get one past their arch-rivals.
Last season, Selborne scored a 3-1 win in their first outing against Queen’s and then romped to a 9-2 victory the second time they met.
Baiden’s side won’t want a repeat of that history and they’ll turn to a handful of experienced campaigners to lead their challenge against Selborne.
Queen’s has five players who featured in the first team last year. The remainder of the squad is made up of 16-year-olds and one 15-year-old.
Queen’s College in action during their first match of the season against Stirling High School. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Baiden said a massive challenge awaits his side: “Of course, Selborne is a team that has not lost a game this whole year and they are always a tough side to come up against.
“The truth is our team will have to show good character to stay in the fight and consistently trust our game plan that we have worked on for months now.
“We will have to limit the number of mistakes we make and also do our best to try and minimise the influence of their key players in the game, which will be a difficult task, but the boys will be up for it.”
The side from Komani will be led by Bevaneo Maytham in the absence of injured skipper, Luke du Preez, who tore a hamstring. Aiden van Jaarsveld is the vice-captain.
For Queen’s to win, goalkeeper Rowan Miles will need to be at his best in the box.
The clash starts at 18:30 on Friday at the Selborne College Astroturf.
Look out for the game on DStv Channel 216, or catch it live on SuperSport Schools.
Queen’s College: Rowan Miles (gk), Asi Tybosch, Brett Hoffmann, Yibonge Mquqwana, Mafu Mandaba, Aiden van Jaarsveld (vc), Morgan Hayes, Mbasa Batyi, Damian Miles, Bevaneo Maytham (c), Liso Mtalaliso. Reserves: Liyema Auwa, Asi Vena, Tafiro Kagoro.
Other matches
Makhanda hosts a derby clash on Friday, with Cambridge High School visiting Graeme College.
An improved Dale College side, which has played some good hockey this season, faces one of their toughest tests of the season when they welcome Grey High School to Qonce.
Pearson, after going down 1-2 against Selborne College last weekend, will face a Stirling side, which will be buoyed after coming back from two goals down to draw with Queen’s College last weekend.
Hudson Park is the only Eastern Cape side in action on Saturday. They take on Milnerton at the Oakhill Co-Ed Hockey Festival in Knysna.
Fixtures
Friday, 12 April
16:00 – Graeme College vs Cambridge High 16:00 – Dale College vs Grey High 18:00 – Pearson High vs Stirling High 18:30 – Selborne College vs Queen’s College
Menlopark sal op hul hoede moet wees wanneer hulle Saterdag teen Nelspruit op die Rhino-park te staan kom.
Die Rhinos het tot dusver vanjaar nie net by St John’s se Paastoernooi beïndruk nie, maar ook ‘n besliste waarskuwing aan die Parkies gerig met ‘n eersteklas vertoning verlede naweek toe hulle vir Eldoraigne se Drake met 53-10 verslaan het.
Die span van Pretoria beklee die boonste posisie op die reeks se punteleer.
Die Parkies se afrigtingspan, onderleiding van breier, Andries Ferreira, het egter ‘n paar veranderinge vir die Pretorianers se groot kragmeting in Mbombela aangebring.
Ruben Rudolf, die staatmaker op binnesenter loop die kragmeting mis, met Leskin Samuels wat ‘n geleentheid kry om moontlik vir hom ‘n plek in die res van die jaar se beginspan los te speel.
Die ander groot terugslag is dat Menlopark sonder hul spelskepper op skrumskakel, Phillipus de Bruin, se dienste sal moet klaarkom. De Bruin is nie slegs ‘n gevaarlike wapen op die aanval nie, maar het tot op hede ook die Parkies se stelskopwerk waargeneem. Gustav Schaffner vervang vir De Bruin in die nr. 9-trui.
Die Nellie-breiers het besluit om nié te karring aan dit wat nie gebreek is nie en die Rhinos betree dus Saterdag se stryd met ‘n onveranderde span. Jordan Pretorius, wat verlede naweek op linkervleuel diens gedoen het, skuif egter terug na sy gewone posisie op regtervleuel, en Tinyiko Shilubane terug na linkervleuel.
Die twee drieëvrate hou ‘n groot bedreiging in vir die Parkie-verdedigers, terwyl binnesenter Divan de Kock ook ‘n deurslaggewende rol het om te speel met sy skopstewel, indien die tuisspan hoop om Menlopark te troef.
In die Jakarandastad gaan die skote behoorlik klap wanneer Eldoraigne se Drake teen Oos-Moot in Centurion te staan kom. Die Drake sal oorgehaal wees om hul laaste wedstryd in vanjaar se reeks met slegs hul tweede oorwinning van 2024 af te sluit. Die span van Centurion het geen rede om kop onderstebo uit die reeks te tree nie, siende dat hulle hoofsaaklik met die groter honde in die Noordvaal moes meeding.
Oos-Moot gaan egter nie ‘n maklike hekkie wees om te oorkom nie, en pronk reeds met ‘n paar puik uitslae in die betreklike jong seisoen – soos hul spogsege van 37-29 teen die einste Rhino-span, wat die Drake verlede naweek gelooi het.
Die spanne:
Nelspruit t. Menlopark om 13:00 in Nelspruit:
Nelspruit: 15 Chritiaan van Deventer, 14 Jordan Pretorius, 13 Ian Wood, 12 Divan de Kock, 11 Tinyiko Silubane, 10 Theuns Meyer, 9 Liam Pringle, 8 Vaughn van Zyl, 7 Banele Ngwenya, 6 Tiaan de Beer, 5 Ronaldo van Rensburg, 4 Bradley Claasen, 3 WJ Botha, 2 Regard Vermaak, 1 Siya Gama.
Menlopark: 15 Divan Nel, 14 Reinhardt Herbst, 13 Ruben Fourie, 12 Leskin Samuels, 11 Stefan van Niekerk, 10 Andru Kuhn, 9 Gustav Schaffner, 8 Rocco Myburgh, 7 JN van Wyk, 6 Nathen du Plessis, 5 Xander Roets, 4 Keagen Pretorius, 3 Philip du Plessis, 2 Declan Pelser, 1 Mattheus Prinsloo.
Eldoraigne t. Oos-Moot om 12:40 in Centurion:
Eldoraigne: 15 Hendro van Zyl, 14 Cappie Mashabela, 13 Ivan Vermeulen, 12 Kevin Earl, 11 Tristan Lee, 10 JP Meyer, 9 Darren Bruwer, 8 Jaydon Niehaus, 7 SW Liebenberg, 6 Cameron Killian, 5 MC Scheepers, 4 Rikus Rheeder, 3 Jaco Fourie, 2 Marnus Prinsloo, 1 Wian White.
Bayanda Walaza, a Grade 12 learner at Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria, has captured global attention as the fastest teenager on the planet.
Since joining Curro on a scholarship, Bayanda’s dedication to both academics and athletics has propelled him to unprecedented success, setting the stage for a successful journey ahead.
The youngster’s journey to the pinnacle of sprinting showcases the transformative power of education and perseverance. Despite his extraordinary speed on the track, Bayanda remains grounded and committed to his studies, receiving academic support without compromising his training regimen.
At just 18 years old, Bayanda has shattered records and expectations with his exceptional performances. His recent triumph at the South African Junior Championships, where he claimed the titles in both the u20 100m and 200m events, solidified his status as the fastest teenager in the world. With a blistering time of 10.13 seconds in the 100m and a staggering 20.34 seconds in the 200m, Bayanda’s dominance is undeniable.
Under the expert guidance of the school’ Coach T, Bayanda has made remarkable strides in surpassing his previous personal best times, shaving off nearly half a second. Coach T, also known as Thabo Matebedi, holds an illustrious record of mentoring eight African champions and continues to attract aspiring athletes from across the country who seek his guidance and coaching expertise.
As Bayanda sets his sights on the World u20 Track & Field Championships in Lima, Peru later this year, his school is proud to support his pursuit of excellence.
“Despite the challenges of balancing academics and athletics, Bayanda’s determination and focus have pushed him to the forefront of his sport, and we couldn’t be prouder of his achievements both on and off the track,” says Pierre Le Roux, Executive Head of Curro Hazeldean.
Reflecting on his journey, Bayanda remains resolute in his ambitions for the future. With big dreams of competing in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles as well as pursuing a degree in BCom Logistics at either the University of Pretoria or Tshwane University of Technology, Bayanda is ready to continue his ascent to greatness.
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given so far. Having the support of the Curro scholarship has been instrumental in my academic and sporting journey. I am incredibly excited to represent South Africa on the world stage and make my mark in Peru,” said Bayanda.
As he prepares to embark on his first international journey to Peru, Bayanda carries with him the hopes and dreams of a nation. He has his sights set on victory and a medal in both the 100m and 200m events and is ready to showcase his talent to the world.
The Clarendon Girls Hockey team during the St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Tournament. Photo: Clarendon Girls High School.
Being more clinical, solid at the back, and accurate in front of goal will be the main items on the agenda for Clarendon High School for Girls this coming weekend when they host Queenstown Girls’ High School(QGHS) in East London on Saturday.
Clarendon enters the clash on the back of playing a gruelling schedule at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival in Johannesburg over the past weekend.
Coach Luaan Sedras‘s side was drawn in a tough Pool A, alongside Herschel Girls, Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG), Bloemhof, Roedean School, Affies, DF Malan, and Eunice.
During the pool stages, they played seven matches and picked up wins against Roedean School (1-0), and PHSG (1-0).
They went on to win another two matches later in the tournament, against The Wykeham Collegiate (1-0) and Somerset College, whom they beat 3-2 in a penalty shootout, before going down 0-2 to Collegiate in the 21st/22nd play-off match.
“We played 12 matches over four days, which was a real test for our girls, as we do not play so many competitive games in our region,” Sedras told SuperSport Schools, when reflecting on his team’s experiences at the St Mary’s Festival.
“From the 12 matches we played, our performances consistently improved game by game.
“We defeated the lower ranked teams, and had close results against the higher rank teams,” he said.
Before departing for St Mary’s, Clarendon flexed their muscles at the annual Grens and Greg Beling Festivals on home soil.
At Grens, they were dominant and, despite going down to Stirling High (0-1), ended up winning three of their four matches, against King Williams Town’s Kingsridge High School for Girls (3-0), Hudson Park(1-0), and Merrifield College (4-0)
However, they were unable to replicate that form a week later at the Greg Beling Festival. There, they drew 0-0 against Union High School, before going down to some of the country’s better teams, including Rhenish(1-4), St Anne’s DSG (0-4), Oranje (0-6), and Woodridge College (0-1).
Coach Sedras believes the game is about more than results alone, and having played against those schools has prepared Clarendon well for the season that lies ahead.
“Those games are so valuable to our team,” he said. “They allowed us to build match fitness, assess our playing structures and tactics, assess our player capabilities, and have some fun.”
As the East London school heads into the league season, they’ll have plenty of experience on their side. This year’s lineup includes seven players who ran out for the first team in 2023. It features eight grade 12 learners, four in grade 11, and two in grade 10.
Sedras said he was impressed by how hard his team fought at St Mary’s, but they need to focus on goal scoring to take a step forward in their game.
“We created, on average, between three and five goal-scoring opportunities per game, but just could not convert them,” he explained.
“This is where the other teams were more clinical. They scored from their chances.”
“I am extremely satisfied with how our team performed against Eunice and Bloemhof. In these two games, I could see the progress we have achieved since Greg Beling.
“But one weakness we need to address is, for sure, scoring goals,” he concluded.
Clarendon is led by Demi Knott, who received the player of the match award four times at St Mary’s. She has also received more than 100 caps for the first team.
Other players to keep an eye out for in the team are Cara Knott, Demi’s sister, who reached 50 caps at St Mary’s, alongside Juliana Saffy. Alison Woodin, Claren Lugo Fernandez, and Jenna Frachet also have more than 50 caps for the first team.
They face QGHS at 13:45 on the Clarendon Astroturf.
Other matches
The Stirling first-team hockey girls will make the trip down to Gqeberha to face Pearson High School this coming weekend. Photo: Stirling High School
A number of other derbies will be played across the Eastern Cape on Saturday.
In Gqeberha, Pearson High School welcomes a Stirling side high in confidence after they defeated Queenstown Girls’ High 2-1 at home last weekend.
Coach Michael Dettmer’s side has hit the ground running in 2024 and their results include the previously mentioned 1-0 win over Clarendon at the Grens Festival. They finished in 18th place out of 40 teams at the Belgotex Easter Sport Hockey Tournament.
Stirling will be brimming with confidence and hoping to cause an upset against a Pearson side which finished 15th out of 32 teams at the St Mary’s Festival.
Another fixture to keep an eye out for in the Windy City is that between Collegiate Girls’ High and Outeniqua High School.
Westering High, who are playing some of their best hockey this season, will welcome Hoër Volkskool Graaff-Reinet.
Despatch hosts Nico Malan, while Cambridge takes on Victoria Girls’ High in Makhanda, and Hudson Park faces Cape Town’s Milnerton at the Oakhill Co-Ed Festival in Knysna.
Fixtures
Thursday, 11 April 16:30 – Pearson High vs Westering High
Friday, 12 April 13:00 – Cambridge High vs Victoria Girls High School
Saturday, 13 April 10:00 – Westering High vs Volkskool 11:00 – Pearson High vs Stirling High School 11:00 – Despatch vs Nico Malan 12:30 – Collegiate vs Outeniqua 13:45 – Clarendon vs Queenstown Girls’ High 16:50 – Hudson Park vs Milnerton
