Blog

Twelve schools are represented in the 18-player South African men’s u21 hockey squad, which is set to participate in the FIH Junior World Cup in Malaysia next month.

The tournament starts on the 5^th of December and will see South Africa make the trip with the intention of improving on their recent performances in the Southeast Asian nation.

The South Africans have been seeded in Pool B, alongside African giants’ Egypt, whom they beat at the beginning of 2023 to be crowned African champions, and the European nations of Germany and France.

Guy Elliott‘s troops enter the event on the back of a not-so-impressive showing during last month’s Sultan of Johor Cup, which was also held in Malaysia, and won by their pool opponents, Germany, who beat Australia 3-1 in a penalty shootout after the final finished 0-0.

Playing in the tougher of the two pools, South Africa’s results in the tournament included a 1-6 loss to Germany, a 1-2 defeat to Great Britain, and a 0-4 loss to Australia. After failing to register a win during the pool stages, South Africa suffered a narrow 1-2 loss to the hosts, Malaysia, in the 7^th/8^th place playoff.

That team, however, was quite different to the one that will do duty in December, with seven changes having been made to that line-up. Contrast that, too, with the squad that won the Junior Africa Cup; only nine of those players are in the Junior World Cup squad. It should be a stronger team, without a doubt, than the one that was recently in action in Malaysia.

When the South African Hockey Association last week confirmed the squad for junior hockey’s biggest event, it featured players from a handful of the top hockey-playing schools in the country.

From Jeppe Boys High, 18-year-old Jaydon Brooker has been called up after a stellar season leading the Johannesburg school. He is the youngest player in the team and is joined by Jeppe Old Boy, Ross Breytenbach.

If you missed it, read here: SA’s Rising star, Brooker is just getting started.

SACS and Bishops, both from the Western Cape, have three players each in the squad.

The SACS boys are Damian Knott, Nathan Ansell and Gianluca Virissimo. Ansell, who was the Head Boy, matriculated in 2020, while Knott and Virissimo are from the class of 2021. Their neighbours, Bishops, will be represented by Daniel Neuhoff, James Flint, and rising star, Mustapha Cassiem.

Paul Roos Gymnasium also had two of their former players selected, Hans Neethling and Sian Maart. The rest of the side is made up of players from King Edward VII (Reece Govender), Maritzburg College (Ayakha Mthalane), and Hilton College (David Tshebi).

Cameron Le Forestier, from Park Town Boys High, is also included, along with Beaulieu College‘s Fawaaz Kahder, while Cape Town’s Langa Hockey Club is represented by Thabang Jeyi. Leruo Ditlhakanyane who, like Brooker, is in matric in 2023, is from Durban High School, and Calvin Davis flies the flag for Kearsney College.

South Africa will kick off its campaign on the 5^th of December against Germany at 11:00. The side will also be looking to draw inspiration from the men’s team who won the African Olympic Qualifier earlier this month to secure a place at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Team

Leruo Ditlhakanyane (Durban High School), Jaydon Brooker (Jeppe Boys High), Ross Breytenbach (Jeppe Boys High), Ayakha Mthalane (Maritzburg College), Calvin Davis (Kearsney College), Cameron Le Forestier (Parktown Boys High), Damian Knott (SACS), Daniel Neuhoff (Bishops), David Tshebi (Hilton College) Gianluca Virissimo (SACS), Hans Neethling (Paul Roos Gymnasium), Thabang Jeyi (Langa Hockey Club), Sian Maart (Paul Roos Gymnasium), Reece Govender (King Edward VII), Nathan Ansell (SACS), Mustapha Cassiem (Bishops), James Flint (Bishops), Fawaaz Kahder (Beaulieu College).

Michaelhouse captain Murray Baker concluded his career for the Balgowan school with a bang, scoring a century on Saturday at Saint Charles College, to lead his team to a comprehensive 101-run victory.

Batting first in the 35-over-a-side contest, House lost Seb Hofmeyr early, but Dylan Hewlett then joined Ethan Muir in the middle and the pair put on 73 for the second wicket before Muir was caught off the bowling of leg-spinner Nathan Beaumont at the start of the 14th over.

Muir’s dismissal, though, brought Baker to the wicket, and he went after the Saints’ bowlers. At the other end, Hewlett played a fine innings as he and the skipper shared a stand of 88 runs for the third wicket.

When Hewlett was out, caught by Sam Brown off the bowling of Stefan Veldsman, 11 overs remained, with Michaelhouse on 167 for 3. Hewlett had made 70 from 65 balls, with five fours and a six.

Murray Hall-Jones didn’t last long, but Murray Baker was on fire. When Hall-Jones fell for six, the pair had put on 34 runs as Baker got stuck into the home team’s bowlers.

He continued to score all around the wicket and went to three figures, but was out shortly after that, having contributed 102 from just 65 deliveries, striking three sixes and nine fours. During his time in the middle, Michaelhouse had added 181 runs, including 59 from his last partnership with West Mitchell-Innes.

Mitchell-Innes lasted until the second-last ball of the innings, when Rowen Rajah had him caught by Matthew Urquhart for 28 from 20.

Two runs from the final delivery, scored by Cameron Strudwick, took the visitors to an outstanding 270 for 6 from their 35 overs, leaving Saints needing to score at 7.74 runs per over to win.

Off-spinner Brendon Sunguro did a tidy job for the home team, opening the bowling alongside Rajah, picking up 3 for 42 in seven, as most of the rest of the attack received some tap.

Saint Charles faced a big ask to win, but whatever small chance they had of victory went out of the window within the first five overs of their run chase as they stumbled to 12 for 3.

Sam Brown was the first to go down, caught behind by wicketkeeper Baker off the bowling of Tom Mitchell for seven. Two runs later, it was 10 for 2 when Brendon Sunguro was run out by Cameron Strudwick.

Then, with the total having advanced by only two more runs, Cian Fortmann, so often an anchor at the top of the Saints’ order, was on his way, caught by Michael Thornton off of the left-arm spin of Strudwick for two.

Marcus Wellman shared a 23-run partnership with Saints’ skipper Matthew Urquhart, but he was caught off the bowling of Ross Moller for eight.

Urquhart stood firm, but all around him the Saints’ batsmen departed quickly. Connor Riley, Rico Honiball and Rowen Rajah all went relatively cheaply, with Honiball’s 14 the best they had to offer. Urquhart, meanwhile, sent 10 deliveries to the boundary before he was bowled by Mitchell for 69 from 77 balls. His exit saw Saints slump to 127 for 8.

Nathan Beaumont and Stefan Veldsman showed some fight, but Beaumont was then the ninth man out, another victim of Mitchell, caught behind for 12.

Veldsman hit out, finishing with an unbeaten 21 from 16 deliveries, but there had been few innings of substance when the last St Charles wicket went down with their total on 169 in the 34th over.

Mitchell had put the skids under the Saints’ reply, knocking over 3 for 39 in seven, while Cameron Strudwick, who took the new ball, dialled up the pressure with a return of 2 for 17 from his seven.

Ross Moller, who more often than not opens the bowling, sent down only three overs, but he made quite the impact, bowling two maidens and finishing with 1 for 1.

In the end, it was a very good all-round performance and a very convincing win for Michaelhouse, which, no doubt, would have delighted coach Darryn Mortimer.

Summarised Scorecard

Michaelhouse 270/6 (Murray Baker 102, Dylan Hewlett 70, Ethan Muir 39, West Mitchell-Innes 28, Brendon Sunguro 3/42); St Charles College 169/10 (Matthew Urquhart 69, Stefan Veldsman 21*, Tom Mitchell 3/39, Cameron Strudwick 2/17, Ross Moller 1/1)

Michaelhouse won by 101 runs

The Free State contingent that will be competing at the 2023 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week boasts a core group of six veterans who took part in the event last year.

Watch all the games live on SuperSport Schools – Register now

Samokelo Lepheto, Sicelo Matayi and Johnathan Muller are the three players from Grey College who were part of the team in 2022.

This year, they are joined by five of their schoolmates, which gives the Free Staters the advantage of familiarity with one another’s games.

The other three returnees are Andre du Preez and Dakalo Leketa from St Andrew’s School, along with HTS Louis Botha‘s sole representative, Khanyisile Nondwangu.

Muller and Leketa both earned a place in the SA Colts team after their performances at the event last year.

Connor Nel and Jordan van den Berg complete Saints’ quadruple selections. On the rugby field, Nel captained the St Andrew’s 1st XV and enjoyed a good season as a counterattacking fullback.

Although there is no Free State player currently in the provisional SA u19 squad for January’s ICC u19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, there will be a couple of players in the team who the selectors will place under the microscope in Makhanda in December.

The Team

Free State u19: Dale Williams (Grey College), Jordan van den Berg (St Andrew’s School), Samokelo Lepheto (Grey College), Juan Viljoen (Grey College), Connor Nel (St Andrew’s), Andre du Preez (St Andrew’s), Khanyisile Nondwangu (HTS Louis Botha), Sicelo Matayi (Grey College), Johnathan Muller (Grey College), Dakalo Leketa (St Andrew’s), Ruben Maree (Grey College), Darion Rabie (Grey College), Kamohelo Mokoena (Grey College).

8 Grey College | 4 St Andrew’s School | 1 HTS Louis Botha

Free State u16: Adem Niewoudt (Grey College), Naude Botha (St Andrew’s School), Eddie Mabena (Grey College), Cullen Marais (Grey College), FG Botha (St Andrew’s School), Lebohang Mohloni (HTS Sasolburg), Henru de Wet (Grey College), Nikhil Sukraj (Sasolburg High), Cullen Kakora (St Andrew’s School), Otto Krause (Grey College), Onalenna Molale (Kagisho Comprehensive), Lamla Mgedezi (Grey College), Kabelo Mosia (Hoërskool Henneman).

Northern Cape has selected a youthful squad for the 2023 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week, with Monnapule Jansen from Emang High School, Deshwin Willemse from Carlton van Heerden and Northern Cape High‘s Tumiso Seetelo being the only three returning players from last year’s group.

Watch all the games live on SuperSport Schools – Register Now

Jansen has consistently been a fixture in the provincial teams across various age categories, and Seetelo, who shared the field with him in the U16 cricket team in 2022, is a talented athlete, who was also selected for the Northern Cape U18 hockey team this year.

Even though none of their teammates have prior experience at the Khaya Majola Week, the squad shows impressive cohesion, which has been forged over at least four years of them playing together at various events.

Since as early as 2019, the duo from Diamantveld, Simon Liversage and Luhan de la Rey, have been selected for teams with their counterparts from Northern Cape High, Junaid Jacobs and Yazeed Kajee, as well as Oratile Jubeni from Lesedi High School and Malan Lubbe from Hoërskool Kalahari. They first played together in the Northern Cape u13 team and established a connection that has endured over the years.

It’s that collective unity and their youthful skill set which Northern Cape hopes will drive them towards success in Makhanda from the 16th to the 20th of December.

The Team

Northern Cape u19: Monnapule Jansen (Emang Mmogo High School), Gift Seane (Tshireleco High School), Tumiso Seetelo (Northern Cape High), Luhan de la Rey (Diamantveld), Kaiden van Wyk (Diamantveld), Simon Liversage (Diamantveld), Junaid Jacobs (Northern Cape High), Malan Lubbe (Kalahari), Oratile Jubeni (Lesedi High School), Caleb Willemse (Hoërskool Kathu), Deshwin Willemse (Carlton van Heerden), Yazeed Kajee (Northern Cape High), Thabo Obusitse (Floors High School).

3 Diamantveld | 3 Northern Cape High | 1 Carlton van Heerden | 1 Emang Mmogo High School | 1 Floors High School | 1 Hoërskool Kathu | 1 Kalahari | 1 Lesedi High School | 1 Tshireleco High School 

Twelve top cricketing schools from across South Africa will converge on Gqeberha on the 11th of January 2024 for the annual Grey Cricket Festival, turning the picturesque city into a cricketing hub and providing a thrilling start to the year.

Watch all the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now

Hosted alternately by Bloemfontein’s Grey College and Gqeberha’s Grey High School, the 2024 edition will unfold in the Eastern Province, with the opening match scheduled between the hosts, Grey High School, and Menlo Park on Thursday, the 11th of January, on Pollock Field.

Grey College gets their season underway with a clash against Selborne on Victoria Park. Meanwhile, their neighbours from Bloemfontein, St Andrew’s School, take on Jeppe in what promises to be an exhilarating match.

The hosts continue their campaign in a timed format match against King Edward VII from Johannesburg before switching to a 50-over game against Glenwood on the Saturday. They finish with one final test on the Sunday against Jeppe.

Grey High boasts a proud cricketing tradition, with their alumni including Graeme and Peter Pollock, Wayne Parnell and Jacques Theron. Most recently, they have also produced the likes of Tristan Stubbs, who made his international debut for the Proteas in 2022, and Colin Ackermann, who earned his national stripes for the Netherlands in 2019.

The yearly festival will provide an early glimpse at some of the stars of the future as the participating schools include some of the finest nurseries of schoolboy cricket talent in the country.

The provisional fixtures:

11 January 2024 (Time cricket)

Grey High School vs Menlo Park (Pollock Field)
Grey College vs Selborne (Victoria Park)
Pearson vs KES (Pearson)
St Andrew’s School vs Jeppe (Old Grey)
Framesby vs Namibia Invitational (Framesby)
Potchefstroom Volkskool vs Glenwood (Kolisi Field)

12 January 2024 (Time cricket)

Grey High School vs KES (Pollock Field)
St Andrew’s School vs Potchefstroom Volkskool (Victoria Park)
Pearson vs Namibia Invitational (Pearson)
Framesby vs Glenwood (Framesby)
Grey College vs Menlo Park (Old Grey)
Jeppe vs Selborne (Kolisi Field)

13 January 2024 (50 overs)

Grey High School vs Glenwood (Pollock Field)
Selborne vs Potchefstroom Volkskool (Victoria Park)
St Andrew’s School vs Namibia Invitational (Old Grey)
Pearson vs Grey College (Pearson)
Framesby vs Jeppe (Framesby)
KES vs Menlo Park (Kolisi Field)

14 January 2024 (T20/50 overs)

Grey High School vs Jeppe (Pollock Field)
KES vs Potchefstroom Volkskool (Victoria Park)
Pearson vs Menlo Park (Pearson)
Namibia Invitational vs Selborne (Kolisi Field) (T20)
Framesby vs St Andrew’s School (Framesby) (T20)
Glenwood vs Grey College (Old Grey) (T20)

The Eastern Storm u19 side for the 2023 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week has been revealed, with four big names returning from last year’s team.

Thus, it will be an exciting blend of experience and youth representing the region at the inter-provincial tournament.

Dewan Marais and Tristan van Schalkwyk from Marais Viljoen will form the core of the group’s leadership, along with the St Benedict’s College duo of Simele Maye and Luphumlo Mhlongo, who were also members of the 2022 side.

Another talent from Marais Viljoen, Juan Steyn will also attend his first week. The exciting fast bowler’s performances recently secured him a spot in the provisional SA squad for the 2024 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup alongside Marais, who’s been outstanding with the bat in hand.

Aldre Huyzers and Sheldon van Wyk also cracked the nod to lift Marais Viljoen’s tally up to five representatives.

St Benedict’s have four players in the line-up, with Parth Patel and Dean Hackner breaking through to earn their first call-ups.

At the same time, Ephes Mamkedi School can boast their two representatives in Martin Khumalo and Sabelo Mabanga.

Ahmed Imran, an exciting young talent, is in the team for the first time this year as the only representative from Springs Secondary School, while MOM Sebone Secondary School’s Nhlakanipho Ndaba completes the line-up after also receiving a tick from the selectors.

The Eastern’s squad appears to be well balanced, with all bases covered. It’s a line-up that could cause some major upsets in Makhanda in December.

Eastern Storm u19: Sabelo Mabanga (Ephes Mamkedi School), Dewan Marais (Marais Viljoen), Aldre Huyzers (Marais Viljoen), Tristan van Schalkwyk (Marais Viljoen), Simele Maye (St Benedict’s), Juan Steyn (Marais Viljoen), Ahmed Imran (Spring Secondary School), Luphumlo Mhlongo (St Benedict’s), Dean Hackner (St Benedict’s), Martin Khumalo (Ephes Mamkedi School), Part Patel (St Benedict’s), Nhlakanipho Ndaba (MOM Sebone Secondary School).

Marais Viljoen 5; St Benedict’s 4; Ephes Mamkeli 2; Springs Secondary School 1; MOM Sebone Secondary School 1 

The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers team for the 2023 Coca-Cola u19 Khaya Majola Cricket Week has been announced and Hoërskool Outeniqua‘s Charl Marais has been chosen to captain the team at the prestigious festival in Makhanda in December.

Watch every moment live on SuperSport Schools – Register Now

Marais, accompanied by Zander Nel and Stefan May, makes Outeniqua the school with the most players in this year’s side.

They will have a vital role to play, drawing on their collective experience. Nel and Marais are both playing for a second successive year and, while this is May’s debut at the tournament, he has been in impressive form for their first team since last year.

Adding more depth to the squad are Elro Spies from Knysna High School and Thurstin Murphy from Bridgton Secondary, two players who boast significant experience as part of the u19 regional team since 2021. Their wealth of knowledge and skills is expected to form the bedrock of the team’s performances.

Hoërskool Punt from Mossel Bay is the only other school with more than one player in the Badgers’ squad. Zane Greyling, Punt’s captain, and the promising young Jessie Lewis, who has already earned a spot in the Badgers Academy team, add depth and talent to the line-up.

After missing out on last year’s tournament because he broke a finger on the final day of trials, Greyling, who is also a top academic performer at Punt, will be eager to showcase his cricketing abilities before matriculating. Fittingly, Lewis takes over the reins from his captain in their first team next year.

Oakdale‘s Corné Kennedy is another exciting prospect who will be available for selection again in 2024.

Sibabawle Msi from Jonga High School has been an integral part of the Thembalethu Hub team this year and is another seasoned campaigner who has made his way through the age grades since playing for the SWD u15 team in 2019.

George High School‘s Davino Koert also received his provincial call-up back in 2017 for the SWD u13 team. Bridgton’s Murphy has shared the field with both Kennedy and Msi since then, forming a strong camaraderie.

Hlumelo Bontiya (Thembalethu High School), Lee-Mar Pedro (Hoërskool Outeniqua) and Sebastian Bell (York High School) are not included in the squad but will be ready if needed as the non-travelling reserves.

The Teams

Garden Route Badgers u19: Charl Marais (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Enathi Khishini (Thembalethu High School), Zander Nel (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Stefan May (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Elro Spies (Knysna High School), Davino Koert (George High School), Zane Greyling (Hoërskool Punt), Jessie Lewis (Hoërskool Punt), Igcobe Khisini (Imizama Yethu High School), Corné Kennedy (Oakdale), Thurstin Murphy (Bridgton Secondary), Sibabawle Msi (Jonga High School), Josh Karelse (Protea High School).

3 Hoërskool Outeniqua | 2 Hoërskool Punt | 1 Bridgton Secondary | 1 George High School | 1 Imizama Yethu High | 1 Jonga High School | 1 Knysna High School | 1 Oakdale | 1 Protea High School | 1 Thembalethu High School 

Garden Route Badgers u16: Joof Enslin (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Keano Coericius (Bridgton Secondary), Daniel du Plessis (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Kurt Botha (George High School), Hlumelo Hlangani (Glenwood House), Singumzi Blou (Glenwood House), Lastio Williams (Aurial College), Danie Venter (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Liviwe Bawulie (Thembalethu High School), Luaan Erasmus (Glenwood House), Ducayne Plaatjies (Bridgton Secondary), Huisamen Trent (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Kwetana Aluve (Jonga High School).

4 Hoërskool Outeniqua | 3 Glenwood House | 2 Bridgton Secondary | 1 Aurial College | 1 George High School | 1 Jonga High School | 1 Thembalethu High School 

Kearsney College captain Hayden Bishop, whose career in the 1^st XI began at the end of his grade 10 year of 2021, saw it come to an end against St Charles College on Saturday, 11 November.

Now, after only seven losses in 38 matches, he can look back on an excellent season for the boys from Botha’s Hill, and also a season of personal triumph, which saw him set a school record for the most runs scored in a year.

(Feature photo and two others, Justin Waldman Sports Photography)

Bishop finished 2023 with 1 428 to his credit, bettering the feats of former SA under-19 captain Chad Bowes, who opened the batting with Quinton de Kock at the 2012 ICC u19 Cricket World Cup.

A left-handed batsman, Bishop began the season with a bang, making a big splash before the school year had commenced. He explained: “It was so awesome because we started the year and, before we got back to school, we went to the Ihlobo Cricket Festival at Michaelhouse. I got a hundred on the third day and a hundred on the fourth day of that festival.

“After that I came back to school and I had 350 runs before the term started, and I asked our coach what the record was. He told me and I said this is what I’ve got, and I’ve been chasing it ever since.”

Immersed in the game

Bishop has captained cricket teams throughout the different age groups he has played in. Part of the reason for that, he admitted, is he gets bored if he is not immersed in the game. That is also backed up by the fact that he is actually an all-rounder, which is sometimes overlooked because he opens the batting. Bishop, though, has enjoyed plenty of success with his leg-spin bowling.

He credits his father, Gary, for much of that success, and said it was he who inspired Hayden to change from bowling seam to bowling leg-spin.

“He told me I’m not allowed to bowl googlies until I’m 17. He said just bowl leggies. It made me so accurate, and that’s kind of become my trademark. It doesn’t matter where I’m bowling, I feel like I can be the most accurate on the field, and that’s what enables me to bowl lots of overs and trust myself to bowl lots of overs.”

Throughout his cricket career, Bishop said, his dad has been the most influential figure in his growth, that one person he goes to when he needs advice. He knows cricket, and he knows his son. His support is most beneficial from a mental standpoint, Hayden explained.

Batting

In keeping with his desire to always be involved, he gravitated towards opening the batting from the start of his cricket career, especially since it posed a different challenge.

“I’ve always done it and I think it’s quite hard. It’s a niche thing,” he explained. “It’s hard, if you’ve never done it before. I embraced it when I was younger, and it’s just kind of become easy now.”

With a strong top order, Kearsney piled up some large scores during 2023. They scored quickly, which made it appear that they were very aggressive. That’s not necessarily the case, Bishop said.

“Our positivity is not really us looking for boundaries. It’s more that at the beginning of the year we said to each other we were willing to risk a run-out rather than trying to hit a ball for six.

“We are almost looking to get a run off of every ball, and I think that’s what’s made us come across as being so positive. Even if it’s a good ball, we feel like we can score a run off of it, no matter what.”

St John’s Rams T20

That approach served Kearsney very well in the limited overs formats of the game, and one of the highlights of the year was, no doubt, their victory in the St John’s Rams T20 in Harare, Zimbabwe, in September.

The event features mostly Zimbabwean schools, along with some teams from South Africa. On this occasion, the South African representatives included Kearsney, Westville Boys’ High and Clifton College.

Over the years, the Zimbabwean teams have proved themselves a very tough nut to crack, especially on their home pitches. The challenge to win the event is a significant one as South African schools have discovered to their detriment.

Yet, Kearsney, playing in the St John’s Rams T20 for the first time, went all the way, producing a clean record, which included twice defeating the hosts, St John’s (Harare) by five runs. They also beat their neighbours and rivals, Westville, who had beaten them in the 100-ball final earlier in the season, by 35 runs.

Coach Matt Savage was a valuable asset in Kearsney’s run to the title. He had previously been involved with the tournament when he was on staff at Clifton, who have participated in the St John’s Rams T20 more than any other South African school.

“He told us that if anything goes in the air, it will go for six, because the balls just flies up there, and the outfields are so flat and so clean cut that if you get it through the ring, it’s four,” Bishop said.

It helped that shots which would bring one or two at home were going for four in Harare.

The requirements of seam bowlers in Harare are quite similar to what they are at home, Hayden said, but the spinners in Zimbabwe bowl a lot flatter and straighter.

Batting was different, though. He said batsmen from the Zimbabwean schools tended to be aggressive. “They just throw their front leg out the way, and they look to clear everything and go over the top, especially in the first six overs… If you don’t score 80 in the first six, it’s hard to win the game.”

Capturing the title was a huge highlight, he said, especially because the title-decider was against Westville.

“It was so cool because, when we were here, we lost to Westville in the 100-ball final at Kingsmead. It’s always a big rivalry between us and them.”

Michaelmas success

Buoyed, Kearsney returned from Zimbabwe to the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week. There, they enhanced their credentials by winning three out of four – beating KES by 14 runs, Waterkloof by 8 wickets, and St John’s College by six wickets, before a sticky wicket undermined their performance batting first against Affies on the last day. They were the most successful of the KZN schools.

“It’s been an awesome year. Everything this year has been so cool. We really enjoyed it, and I think it’s because last year we only had two matrics in the team, so we basically had the same side That really helped us a lot,” the Kearsney skipper said.

A balanced team

While the strength of Kearsney’s batting immediately caught the eye, the side’s varied bowling attack also played a big part in the team’s many victories. “Our two opening bowlers [Ryan Browning and Sandiswa Yeni] are very good. They are very big threats up front, and we are quite aggressive in the beginning.  We are fine to go for a couple of runs because we know that we’ve got decent spinners who can bring it back in, and medium-pacers who can hold a line.

“I wouldn’t say that bowling is our strength,” Hayden shared, “but I think the way we use our bowlers has become our strength.”

Meaningful performances

Recalling his personal performances, an unbeaten 157 at Michaelhouse during the iHlobo 1st XI Festival in January was meaningful, especially because he carried his bat through the innings. It was a personal highest score.

The most satisfying innings he played, though, was at the Independent Schools Cricket Festival at St Alban’s College in February, Hayden said. The TC Mitchell Oval is known for being flat, he added. “We played there for our provincial week last year, so I knew what the track was like.

“I struggled for the first two days [of the festival].  I think I got maybe seven, and then I got a first-baller on the next day. So, I said to myself that night if I stay in for 30 overs [on the third day], I’ll score a hundred, and that day I stayed in for 35 overs and I got a hundred.

“It was just so special… It showed me that even if you are struggling, it’s just one innings [that can change everything] and it made me feel good.”

Opening partner

Something that helped his game during the course of the year was opening the batting with Dylan Wiggett, a right-hander, Hayden said. Forcing the bowlers to switch up their lines put pressure on them, he explained.

Wiggett also complemented his approach. While Bishop prefers to play himself in, Wiggett is more inclined to go after the opposing bowlers earlier in his innings.

“He plays lots of shots up front, and if he thinks the guy is not bowling well, he’ll go over top and take the game to them. It helps me on the other side because I don’t really want to be doing that… I don’t feel pressure at all because he’s doing what I need him to do on that side, and I can just play how I want to play.”

Despite the different approach, the two openers tended to accumulate runs at much the same pace.

Special memories

Now that his days leading the Kearsney 1st XI are done, Hayden said he is going to miss the school’s picturesque AH Smith Oval. Looking out upon it, he commented: “It’s so special being here, when we all sit up there under the pavilion, on those benches, just looking over the field and having the scoreboard in front of us.

“I think it is the best view I’ve seen in schoolboy cricket, and the parents have a jol over here every Saturday. They come and set up a braai, so it’s cool for all of us, I think.”

The future

There’s one last tilt at schoolboy cricket that awaits Hayden. He was recently named in the KZN Schools team to contest the Khaya Majola Cricket Week in Makhanda from 16 to 20 December.

After that, he will be heading to the University of Pretoria, where he will be pursuing a B.Com degree. He doesn’t yet know what career he wants to follow, he admitted, but he wants to give cricket a full go at Tuks and see where it takes him.

He appears to have the necessary skills to succeed at the next level: leadership, batting, bowling, and a steely mental make-up.

That’s reason enough to remember the name Hayden Bishop. Where might cricket yet take him?

Chadley Hargreaves, Northwood‘s basketball captain, wants nothing more than a move to the USA, where he dreams of earning an opportunity to compete with the best players in the world. It’s his dream and ultimate ambition to take his talent to the highest level of the game.

From as early as when he was in the eighth grade, he noticed that he was a step ahead of his peers. He credits his brother for teaching him and challenging him to strive to improve. It was also in the eighth grade that he realized he could go far in the sport.

Chadley enjoyed the game, and because of that enjoyment it came easily to him, and it enabled him to play with freedom and to express himself.

But, as with any other sport, there are setbacks, and he has had to deal with those, too. He recalled one such moment in the final of the u18 SA National Basketball Championships, held in Bloemfontein in July.

He fouled out of the game with only two points to his name, which was a huge disappointment because he is a shooter. Also, for someone who had been scoring 18-20 points per game, this stung. The KZN team had been dominant and was winning its games by 40 to 50 points.

He recounted, too, missing an open lay-up, which he felt would have changed the complexion of the contest.

However, moments like those are also moments in which lessons can be learned. One can’t afford to dwell on missed opportunities, Chadley said, when your team needs you to show up and show out. Disappointments like those have taught him how to handle pressure in big games.

His career has already included some impressive highs, which inspires him to keep pushing the boundaries, believing he has it in him to make it as a professional basketballer.

One of those highlights was playing for the University of the Witwatersrand. “I might be wrong,” he acknowledged, “but I don’t think any school kid has ever had the chance to play for the university basketball team. It was truly inspiring, and it showed me that I have something inside.”

It was during the prestigious St John’s Basketball Tournament that he was approached by the coach of the Wits’ team. He said the coach thought that he was in matric, and he wanted him to come to Wits the following year and play for them.

“After I got in touch with them a few months later through their Instagram page, they said they’d keep in touch with me, and they did. Later on, I found myself representing them at the Ashraf Basketball Tournament.”

Playing at that level was challenging, Hargreaves admitted, because the players were “very physical”. That prompted him to work on his physicality and to endeavour to understand other aspects of the game.

Another high point of his career was making the SA Schools team after the SA u18 National Basketball Champs. He had fouled out early in the final, so he was a little surprised that he had been named to the All-Star team.

He works tirelessly on his ball handling and shooting skills and, said Hargreaves, he has learned a lot from his coaches and his teammates about discipline and leadership. His team has helped him become a better captain day by day.

Hargreaves is a student of the game, always ready to learn from others, and he mentioned his Northwood Knights’ teammate, Lusanda Hlongwane, as someone who has helped him to develop his skills. Not many people know Lusanda, “but they will, believe me,” he said.

Another player that he has learned from is Ben Kabuya, an old boy, who was a standout performer for Northwood before Covid-19 struck down the 2020 season. “Defending Ben on the court has been one of my toughest challenges because he’s a fast player,” Hargreaves said.

Speed is one of the weaknesses that he has identified in his own game. But he is a physical player, so his lack of top-end speed does not bother him too much. It is something, though, that he admitted he needs to work on, which playing against players like Kabuya has taught him.

Basketball is growing in South Africa, Hargreaves said, and he urged schools to introduce it to their learners at an earlier age. An introduction in grade eight is a big disadvantage, he reckoned. If basketball was given the attention that some of the other sports enjoy, it would benefit immensely.

Finally, he offered some advice to those just starting out in the game. He said they should play with freedom and enjoy themselves on the court. Basketball is competitive, but it is supposed to be fun, and the moment people start having fun playing it, it will come easily to them.

Remember Elite Sports Academy’s (RESA) Technical Director Thulani Mthimkulu is among a group of elite coaches currently attending a prestigious CAF A Licence coaching course.

Joining Mthimkhulu at the South African Football Association‘s (SAFA) Nasrec headquarters are some of the country’s most experienced and best-known Premier Soccer League coaches, including Gavin Hunt of SuperSport United FC, Steve Barker of Stellenbosch FC, and Eric Tinkler, Cape Town City‘s head coach.

Well-travelled former Bafana Bafana midfielder Godfrey Sapula is also among the invitees.

It has been a long time since SAFA hosted a course of this nature, and only 25 coaches were invited for this one. The course is divided into four phases, the first of which is already underway and runs until 20 November. Its full duration, however, is eight months.

Mthimkulu’s presence will add big value to the Vereeniging-based RESA, which has endured an interesting rollercoaster ride in its Gauteng Development League participation.

“In our first year of participation in the GDL, we finished 3rd in the B-stream, and in the second year we came out on top by 30 points,” Xolani Mathumbo, the Chairman of RESA, said earlier this year.

Historically, RESA has seen some of its players become professional footballers, both in South Africa and abroad. Mduduzi Mdantsane, for example, now plays for the Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, while Calvin Kadi earned himself a spell with Portuguese club, Portimonense in 2010.

With Mthimkhulu’s participation in the elite coaching course, RESA Chairman Mathumbo will be encouraged and confident that his academy can continue to provide a strong platform for the development of footballers in the Vaal Triangle – Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, Sasolburg – region.

CAF A Licence Course attendees

1. Alliance Kubayi
2. Alex Zondi
3. Emanuel Nyathi
4. Boebie Solomons
5. Michael Manzini
6. Moses Weah
7. Dennis Makinka
8. Eric Tinkler
9. Gavin Hunt
10. Godfrey Sapula
11. Grant de Smidt
12. Jabulani Mendu
13. Kabelo Malapane
14. Lunga Ngwane
15. Marcus Mashilo
16. Monde Hlatshwayo
17. Nkosana Mabhena
18. Pogiso Makhoye
19. Johannes Masilo
20. Steve Barker
21. Tiro Van Rooyen
22. Tlisane Motaung
23. Thulani Mthimkulu
24. Wesley Sergel
25. Zane Ryklief