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Durban High School (DHS) Director of Hockey and 1^st team coach Michael Baker has announced his departure from the school. He will be joining Stellenbosch’s Paul Roos Gymnasium as their Head of Hockey from next year.

Baker, who joined DHS six years ago, transformed the sporting code at the school, leading the Horseflies’ various age group teams to become among the best in South Africa. The DHS hockey programme went from being downtrodden to being a force to be reckoned with.

When Baker arrived at DHS, the school had only four hockey teams. Now, it has 12, and the competitiveness he has brought out in the boys has also helped them produce one of the most eye-pleasing brands of hockey to be found anywhere.

Announcing his departure via social media platforms, the coach said he believes he has reached his goal of turning DHS into one of the powerhouses of South African schoolboy hockey. He said the journey had been tough, with School losing many matches before the turnaround took shape. Now, though, the reversal has been nothing short of remarkable.

In an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools earlier this year, Baker revealed that part of the reason for his success and that of his charges was the backing he received from the DHS hierarchy.

“The school was supportive from the get-go; our Director of Sports, Mr. [Nathan] Pillay, and our Headmaster, Mr. [Tony] Pinheiro, have supported me with the vision I had,” he revealed at the time.

“We’ve been able to hire some good coaches that share the same vision as me.

“We are building a good culture in the hockey programme at the moment, and this year has been a game-changer, with the school building an Astro at the school, so it’s been huge being able to train on campus and play on campus.”

After the Inter-provincial Tournament in Bloemfontein in mid-year, DHS had three players – Leruo Ditlhakanyane, Lethabo Bogacwi and Keelan Henry – selected for the South Africa under-18 A squad. In fact, Ditlhakanyane was also a member of the SA u21 team that was crowned champions of Africa, and he scored in the final against Egypt.

Aldridge Maasdorp was included in the SA u18 B squad, Lumi Matwele in the SA u17 line-up and, following the U16 IPT, Josh Mungherera, Bhavesh Naicker and Sitchaba Siyoyo cracked the nod for the SA u16A squad, with Christopher Abrahams in the SA u16B squad.

Those achievements speak volumes about the quality and depth Baker helped nurture during his time in charge at DHS.

In the forthcoming season, Baker, with similar backing from his new employers, will be hoping to make a comparable impact for Paul Roos, which competes in one of the toughest regions of the country.

He and his players will face fierce competition from the likes of Paarl Boys’ High, Paarl Gimnasium, South African College High School (SACS), Bishops, Wynberg Boys’ High and Rondebosch Boys’ High.

Paul Roos Rector Andre van Staden congratulated Baker on his appointment, saying he believes Baker’s expertise will benefit a hockey programme that already ranks among the best in the country.

“Mr Baker’s wealth of experience, not only in top boys ‘ schools, but also as part of the senior national programme, makes him the right candidate for the post,” said Van Staden.

“His passion and vision combined will ensure that PRG’s (Paul Roos Gymnasium’s) hockey programme remains one of the best in the country.”

Baker’s experience includes serving on the SA u21 men’s selection panel, working as a conditioner with the national under-17 squad, and coaching the KZN Coastal u18 team at the Inter-provincial Tournament this year.

One of the best rivalries in South African school’ sport resumes on Saturday, 11 November, when Michaelhouse welcomes Hilton College to Balgowan for a full day’s action of basketball, cricket and water polo.

The spotlight, though, falls on the annual PinkDrive cricket match, which sees the two schools partnering in support of the non-profit organisation, which promotes the awareness, early detection of, and screening for gender-based cancers in South Africa. Its message is “Early detection will help to prolong a life“.

Expect, then, to see the colour pink liberally displayed all around Michaelhouse’s beautiful campus, with supporters encouraged to show their support by wearing something pink.

The schools are running a PinkDrive campaign on the Sport for Lives website, at https://sportforlives.org/campaigns/pink-drive/. There, anyone and everyone is invited to make a donation.

The description of the initiative reads: “Boys, parents, friends and family are encouraged to donate ahead to get a tree wrapped in honour of a special person who is either a cancer survivor or is fighting the battle, or perhaps someone who they have lost to cancer.

“We invite anyone, no matter what team you are supporting on the day, to get behind this incredible initiative.

“Join us in activating generosity by donating a once-off amount (minimum is R350) to wrap a tree now or before Friday 10th November.

“We will be selling pink caps leading up to the match, as well as on the day, and all proceeds will go to this campaign.”

Kath Boast, the mother of Hilton College captain, Ross Boast, organised the event last year, when Hilton hosted the game. She said the Hilton-Michaelhouse rivalry is not all-consuming for the boys who play in the match.

“It’s very close to the boys’ hearts. My son, for instance, his aunt has breast cancer, and is putting up an amazing fight, and I think for the boys to play for something other than just the result of the cricket match, and to really have their hearts in it, is something very special,” she said.

“A lot of them write messages on their socks, and they wear all the pink ribbon. It’s a really special day. We get the trees sponsored. It is an amazing campaign.”

It’s the third year that the PinkDrive game is being held, but the first time that it is being held at Michaelhouse. That’s why, from the House side, Jo Baker, the mother of Michaelhouse captain, Murray, is organising things, along with the school’s Director of Sport, Ryan Strudwick.

It’s possible the boys see it a little differently – for matriculants like Murray Baker, it’s their last home game – but Joe echoed Kath Boast when she said: “It’s about the cricket, but it’s not about the cricket. The focus is about mixing the cricket with a fundraiser, trying to raise awareness for the PinkDrive campaign.”

The online link, she said, has been shared with parents and the staff of both schools.

“Both schools are very traditional, and we have played each other for many years, and there is always a big rivalry. Hopefully, they will remember why they’re playing the match. Both sides will give it their best shot, I am sure,” Jo said.

While the results are important, the PinkDrive is also an occasion for both sets of parents to enjoy the day, focus on something even more important than a result, that being life, and to enjoy one another’s company.

Jo Baker explained: “There’s great camaraderie between the parents. We are hosting them for lunch. We’re doing a burger braai lunch, with a gin bar, which will be great.”

For some of the players, there’s also the not so small matter of a matric maths exam on Monday to consider. Jo Baker said she advised her son, Murray, who has enjoyed a spectacular run with the bat this term: “Take a deep breath and remember what the day is about. It is your last home game, and just try and manage your time, structure it, and do the best you can do.”

When it comes to traditional rivalries, it is, for the most part, pointless trying to pick a potential winner. Those rivalries tend to turn traditional metrics on their head. One senses, though, that there is a real sense of excitement in the air, not just about the showdown, but about the occasion of the PinkDrive. The aim is that it, at the very least, will be the winner on the day.

The Western Province U19 team will go into this year’s Water Polo Inter-provincial Tournament (IPT) as the favourites to win the title when the showpiece commences next month at Grey High School in Gqeberha.

Their fierce rivals, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, have also named strong sides for the spectacle, raising excitement about the forthcoming matchups which will bring together the most exciting talent in the school ranks in South Africa.

South African College High School (SACS) from Cape Town dominates the Western Province A-Team. They have six players in the line-up whose superb form helped SACS capture a hat-trick of prestigious titles in the latter part of the season.

Much will be expected of one of their standard-setters, Nicholas Fall, who has been a terror in front of goal for the Cape Town school.

He picked up the Forward of the Tournament accolade in last month’s St Stithians Water Polo Invitational, after leading his side to a 7-6 win over St John’s College in the final.

The rest of the SACS representatives are Noah Bigara, Thomas Wiltshire, Zack Cicero, Richard Skeeles, and Conor Melling-Williams.

Paul Roos, the second-best team in the Western Cape, with a legitimate claim to being number two in South Africa, also, have four players – Adam October, Maximilian Mossop, Johannes Reyneke, and Arkin Marais – who will make the trip to Gqeberha.

Twice during the end of year action, they were edged out by SACS for big titles. At the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, SACS won the final 7-6, and then, at the Hussar Grill SACS Water Polo Tournament, the hosts claimed a 6-3 win to secure the silverware.

Rondebosch Boys’ High contributes three players to the squad – David van Zyl, Ethan Klerck and Ben Reiback – while the remaining place goes to goalkeeper Jordan De Sousa of Bishops, who was named in the Team of the Tournament at the Saints Water Polo Invitational.

Paul Roos dominates the Province B team, with five of their players in the line-up. Rondebosch had four players selected, Bishops and Wynberg Boys High two each, while Mac Lecuona is the only SACS player in the squad.

The tournament splashes into action on the 9th of December and concludes with the final on Wednesday, the 13th of December.

The Teams

u19A

David Van Zyl (Rondebosch), Noah Bigara (SACS), Thomas Wiltshire (SACS), Adam October (Paul Roos), Nicholas Fall (SACS), Zack Cicero (SACS), Maximilian Mossop (Paul Roos), Ethan Klerck (Rondebosch), Johannes Reyneke (Paul Roos), Ben Reiback (Rondebosch) Richard Skeeles (SACS), Arkin Marais (Paul Roos), Jordan De Sousa (Bishops), Conor Melling-Williams (SACS)

Head coach: Jabulani Sibiya

Team Manager: Travis Theron

u19B

Pierre du Plessis (Rondebosch), Matthew de Villiers, (Rondebosch), Bradley Warneke (Rondebosch), Liyam Middleton (Wynberg Boys) Sebastiaan White (Rondebosch) Salahuddin Khan (Paul Roos), Aden da Costa (Wynberg Boys) Thomas Truter (Bishops) Mac Lecuona (SACS), Ross Stewart (Bishops), Cosmo Enthoven (Paul Roos), Juan-Paul Germishuis (Paul Roos), Nicholas Ward (Paul Roos), Paul Enthoven (Paul Roos).

Head coach: Dylan Riddle

Manager: Travis Theron

It couldn’t have been much fun for teams facing any KES cricket B team that included David Teeger.

As an orthodox Jew, Teeger’s beliefs prevented him from travelling by anything but foot on Saturdays to matches. That meant, in his younger days, that he would often turn out for B teams at home while the KES A side played away.

The thing is Teeger wasn’t simply an A team player at one of South Africa’s leading cricket factories, he was one of the best players of his age in South Africa.

Earlier this year, in fact, he captained the South Africa under-19 team in Bangladesh.

Throughout his playing days at KES, which ended this year – he’s currently busy with his matric final exams – the school did its best to accommodate him, Teeger said, with appreciation: “Our Head of Sports (Eugene Marx] put in a good word, so we didn’t end up playing too many away games for the A team. Then, when we were away, I played for the B team.

“The opposition were not too pleased to be on the receiving end. Luckily, in those weeks when I did play B team cricket, we often played an A team of another school. I don’t think it was fully fair, but…”

A huge honour

Teeger said representing a cricketing institution like KES is a huge honour: “The names of the players that have come out of the school go on and on and on. With that, people can say that there is pressure to perform at King Edward. But I think it’s more of an expectation.

“When you’re a King Edward cricketer, there’s a certain level of expectation, especially when you’re playing for the 1st team, and it’s not arrogance, but you play and own that you are playing in the 1st side of one of the best cricketing schools in the country.

“I always viewed that as a privilege to occupy one of the 11 spots in the school with one of the greatest cricketing heritages in the country. Embrace that and enjoy it and live through that heritage.”

Mentor

Even before Teeger attended King Edward VII, the home of the Jimmy Cook Cricket Academy, the former Protea opener made his mark on the young prodigy, and he continues to do so today, at the age of 70.

“He’s meant probably the most out of anyone to my cricket career,” Teeger said, the enthusiasm in his voice spiking as he discussed someone who clearly means a lot to him.

“I’ve been with Mr Cook since I was seven, and he is probably the reason I went to King Edward VII. I went to a religious Jewish day school in primary school, and I didn’t think it was a reality [that I might attend King Edward VII], or at least I didn’t think it was, and it was only because of Mr Cook… I went to his clinics every Sunday.

“I still go to him for private lessons. He moved down to Cape Town at the end of last year, but we still find time to have sessions together. It’s not just his coaching expertise, his interpersonal skills are also a huge asset, and I think that’s often under-rated in coaching.

Describing what Cook has brought and continues to bring to his game, Teeger elaborated: “He instils this confidence in you, in almost any cricketer, that I have never seen. You get guys who are not that naturally gifted playing ridiculously well because they go to Mr Cook. I think he is an incredible man. He’s been instrumental in my cricketing career, but also in shaping me as a person.”

Listening to the stories of a man who was a key part of the all-conquering “Transvaal Mean Machine”, who in a three-year spell with Somerset dominated county cricket, scoring over 7 500 runs, is hugely inspiring, Teeger added: “I think Mr Cook’s story-telling ability is probably among the best I have ever heard. The way he tells the story, and then you reflect on those stories and realise he’s talking about Sachin Tendulkar, or he’s talking about when he was coaching AB de Villiers.

“You look at these players and you idolise them. They’re like Gods in other countries, and Mr Cook is chatting to you about them like he’s their coach, and you know he’s their mate.”

The lessons he has learned from Cook go way beyond cricket, Teeger explained: “It’s also the person he is, not just the cricketer and the cricket coach. Mr Cook, in every facet of his life, is a wonderful role model, and he is probably the biggest role model in my life.”

Role models

There are others who have served as role models for David Teeger. His father, James, for example, was a fine cricketer himself, who played for Transvaal between 1991 and 1993. And, one year ahead of him at KES, Dean Bacher, who was captain of the 1^st XI in 2022. Bacher meant more to Teeger than simply being a cricket captain. The similarities the two shared, including their religion, helped Teeger to plot his path to success.

“Especially when you’re going through those tough times, he’s a guy I lean on, and I ask him for advice. What would he do in a situation? Because we have lived similar experiences.

“Our home life, our background, our religious upbringing, all of that is similar, and we were probably the two most similar people at the school, maybe even in the country. I don’t think you get two 1st team cricketers, both captains, and both come from a religious upbringing. Our friendship really did grow from that.

“It definitely helped,” he added. “For example, when you’re unsure how to deal with a player/coach matter, or strategy on the field, all the small things, that helps. On the field, the friendship that you form over the years helps in trusting a guy’s decision-making. When I don’t fully know what to do and Dean tells me, I am going to trust him because of the friendship we formed over the years.”

“The most special moment”

Teeger’s last match for KES was rained out, but that didn’t prevent it from being memorable, he said, calling it “probably the most special moment of my life.”

Observing his faith, he would walk to his team’s matches on a Saturday, but when that last game arrived, his team was waiting for him, joining him for one last walk to a match.

He said: ” When the guys showed up, it was a total surprise. I remember my dad rushing me to get going at 06:30. I said we always leave at 06:45. He was rushing me to get down the driveway, and then at the bottom of the driveway the team was waiting there. That was a really special moment.

“It shows that I served the school. But I think it is testament to the team culture that we built and the ethos of KES. You know that they are willing to walk 45 minutes on a Saturday morning, wake up an hour-and-a-half earlier as a team, and do that special thing.

“It’s not a once-off occurrence. We do that special stuff like that all the time. That was one of the special things that went into the public eye, but I think that is really testament to the team culture of the King Edward 1st team, which was definitely built by Dean, and hopefully I followed on in those footsteps. Lastly, it’s about the ethos of the school.”

Finding words for what he felt at that time is tough, Teeger said. It left him desperate to score a century to thank his teammates, but some dreams are simply never meant to be. The memory, though, will remain with him always.

“It’s testament to what the team built,” he said. “Especially with juniors coming in, we struggled initially when Dean’s year left, and just to see them grow into the position of being a King Edward first team cricketer, buy into the team’s culture and serve the whole team was very rewarding.”

SA Emerging

Apart from leading the SA under-19 team in Bangladesh, Teeger has also been in action for the SA Emerging Team in Division Two of the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge. It has been a fantastic experience, he enthused.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to represent your country at any level, playing any sport. Within the emerging space, it’s massive, because you are playing with guys who have played professional cricket for a number of years, guys who played in the SA20, so you feed off of that experience and that knowledge, and I really did try to tap into that.

A student of the game, with a voracious appetite for knowledge, Teeger said he used the experience to learn from others: “I was asking fast bowlers for advice. I am never going to bowl 120 km/h. I bowl off-spin. But it’s about tapping into the knowledge and getting to know the people, as well. That was tremendous. I learned much within that emerging space.”

In the final of the competition, up against the ITEC Knights, who were a perfect seven from seven in their previous matches, Teeger was at his best, leading his team to an eye-opening eight-wicket victory with 105 balls to spare, or in more common terms, 17.3 overs.

“The final was a special effort from the team. The Knights were 220 for 4, they hadn’t lost a game all season, and they were on par for 380. We really pulled it back [restricting them to 276],” Teeger said.

Amidst the run chase and the thrill of the game, he continued to file away knowledge, he explained: “It was about seeing older guys, how they react in certain situations, especially when I was captaining them, because you see how they’re thinking. It develops your cricketing mind and ability.

“Obviously, I played a very good innings, and I am proud of myself for that, but the start we got with the bat was unbelievable, 92 without loss after 10 overs. That set the platform and then I went in and tried to maintain the momentum that we had built.”

That innings he mentioned was an unbeaten 95 from only 70 balls, with 10 fours. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Richard Seletswane, both of St Stithians, contributed 76 and 35 not out respectively, while Ethan-John Cunningham, formerly the captain of Rondebosch, weighed in with 55 at the top of the order.

Teeger shared his thoughts on playing with the two Saints’ stars, who were also joined by their schoolmate Kwena Mphaka in the side: “It’s fascinating, because at school when we play KES vs Saints, it’s an arch-rivalry. It’s quite funny. You can imagine the tuning in the field and the chirping. I play more with those guys than I probably do with anyone else, especially Lhu-andre, because I play at Old Edwardians with him.

“It’s quite an interesting dynamic when they’re on my team versus when they’re not. The friendships we have formed over the years have been special, and I think it definitely helps when you’re batting together. You understand their game and see what they need to do. You can see them getting agitated and tell them to relax a bit. You know their scoring areas, but I think over the years the more games you play with these guys, the more time you spend with them, it helps on and off the field.”

Looking into the not-to-distant future, Teeger said he wants to take his cricket to a higher level: “My ambition is to try and play professional cricket, and then, one day, hopefully play for the Proteas. That would be the greatest honour.

“I would like to break into a professional team, but I do want to study. Academics are a crucial grounding for anyone. It’s also a back-up. Sport is unpredictable with injuries and all of that sort of stuff. I definitely want to enter the business world as an accountant. I’ll be looking to try and play professional cricket, but I would also like to get an accounting degree.”

One last question was posed: Does he have any role models in the game? His answer, perhaps because it wasn’t a South African, surprised, but it should be clear by now that David Teeger tries to learn as much from the game as possible, and that means not being bound by geographical boundaries. And the aforementioned Richard Seletswane played a role, he said.

“It’s quite funny, because it originally developed from Richard Seletswane, and I have kind of embraced it. He used to call me Sir Kane when I played the KES versus Saints games.

“Over the years, I have developed an admiration for Kane Williamson. People say we are quite similar. I’ll take that. That’s a huge privilege to be compared to a player like him, the way he captains, the way he bats. His temperament stands out for me.

“I try to be myself, but I try to model my game on Kane Williamson.”

 

Amanzimtoti’s Seshnie Naidu has been making waves in the cricket world, receiving calls-ups to the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, the SA under-19 Women, and SA Emerging teams, all before the age of 18.

This past weekend, Naidu attended the inaugural SA20 under-19 women’s camp at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane.

Her love for the game was born on the fields of Athlone Park Primary School through the KFC Mini-Cricket programme. It quickly became apparent, however, that her skill transcended gender norms, which resulted in her joining the school’s boys’ team.

“Growing up in Amanzimtoti and attending Athlone Park Primary, this is where my passion for cricket started. I started playing with the boys’ team and eventually was the first girl to captain the school’s first team,” she revealed.

Every step of the way along her cricket journey, she has enjoyed the unwavering backing of her family.

“I am the youngest of three siblings and I live with my parents. My parents have always been to every training session since primary school and continue to do so,” Naidu said, highlighting the remarkable support she enjoys.

Defining moment

A defining moment in her development came at the age of nine when, under the guidance of SA u19 and Women’s National Academy Head Coach Dinesha Devnarain, the prodigy’s bowling style was transformed.

Naidu explained: “When I was nine years’ old, Coach Dinesha changed my bowling action from pace to leg-spin. She informed me that I finished my action off as a leg-spinner. We had a discussion about this, and she started working with me.

“I was inspired by Dinesha’s coaching methods and the way she played,” Naidu said about the former Proteas’ all-rounder, whom she named as her cricketing inspiration.

After making her mark with KZN’s junior teams, in the KZN senior women’s team, and while playing club cricket for Chatsworth Sporting Club, Naidu was introduced into the CSA youth development pipeline before earning a call-up to the SA Emerging and SA u19 teams in 2022.

U19 Women’s T20 World Cup

The current J.R. Education Centre matriculant was subsequently named in South Africa’s squad for the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which was hosted by South Africa in January 2023. In her second World Cup match, Naidu claimed the best figures of two for 11 as the junior Proteas beat Scotland at Willowmoore Park.

Reflecting on the event, Naidu said: “I enjoyed the experience of playing against ladies from different countries and making new friends. I was kind of nervous at first after seeing the media presence and being on the international stage.

“Being part of the SA uU19s and SA Emerging has helped me grow as a cricketer, on and off the field. It has also made me mentally stronger when facing difficult situations. The coaches and the ladies have been supportive towards me throughout this journey.”

Representing the SA Emerging team in a 50-over game against New Zealand on their recent tour of South Africa was a further boost to her aspirations, Naidu said: “Playing against New Zealand inspired me to up my game, and I know I am ready for international cricket. Bowling 10 overs and having an economy of five, has inspired me even further.”

Future goals

Since achieving her goal of wearing the Dolphins’ jersey at the age of 13, an honour she cherishes until today, Naidu has set her sights on becoming one of the world’s best players as she eyes a Proteas’ women’s shirt in the future. An invitation to recent senior camps with coach Hilton Moreeng‘s charges has been a source of inspiration.

“Being part of the Proteas’ training camp has been such an honour for me,” she said. “Meeting my hero Laura Wolvaardt was an incredible experience. I had so much to tell her, but I was lost for words when I saw her.

“All the ladies were incredible and very welcoming to the camp.

“My goal for the Dolphins and the Proteas is to be one of the best leg-spinners in the world. My batting is also good, and I just need to work a lot harder on going up the order.

“I’ve got my Dolphins’ shirt, and I can’t wait to don my Proteas’ shirt.”

Coach Devnarain said she remembers when she first set eyes on Naidu: “I was working for KZN Cricket at the time, as a Hub coach, and her dad brought her in for a session. She was actually a pace bowler and, after just having a couple of sessions with her, I made the suggestion that she should be a leg-spinner. That’s how we first started, and that was in 2015.

“The way she goes about her game and being a leg-spinner is very exciting. What she possesses that can help her play for the Proteas would be her natural ability to control her leg-spin at a young age. She definitely offers something with the bat, and she is quite agile in the field.

“She’s got a great character and a good head on her shoulders to make a go of it all the way, but based on her skill and what she offers, she is a fantastic prospect for the future.”

David Botes was recently honoured with Parel Vallei’s “Bulldog Award” as the matriculant who embodied the school’s values the best in his final year. He also received the Elrine Prinsloo Trophy, for his positive impact.

As his remarkable school sports career nears its end, we spoke to Botes to gain more insight into his time at Parel Vallei, and to find out about his plans for the future.

Botes played down his recent achievements, saying the award was something he hadn’t been focussed on, and he hadn’t expected to win it. “I think it’s just that whenever I do something I try to do it to the best of my abilities, whether it’s sport or studying, I don’t like doing anything half-heartedly,” he said.

This is a mantra he has lived since a young age, captaining teams in different sporting codes throughout his time at the school, while earning more than 50 first-team caps in both hockey and cricket.

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Born in Somerset West, Botes developed his love for sport at De Hoop Primary School, where he played cricket and hockey, but also excelled as a skilled baseball player. He was part of the Western Province u11 and u12 teams and was also selected to represent South Africa at the World Cup in Taiwan.

His cricket abilities were evident from early on. In grade 8 at Parel Vallei, he captained the A-team but found himself on the field with the first team doing pre-season preparation by the end of the year.

He also played squash for the A team in grades eight and nine but gave that up as it began to clash with some of the many other sports he excelled in.

In grade 10, Botes was a reserve for the first team hockey while captaining the under-16 A team. This year, he took on the role of vice-captain as Parel Vallei’s hockey team broke into the top 30 ranked teams in the country.

“Hockey taught me a lot, not just about the sport itself, but our first-team coach, Mr. Michael Van Rensburg, also taught me a lot about the mental aspect of sports, which I could then apply to my cricket.”

In 2018 and 2019, he earned provincial colours for hockey, but he said cricket has always been his primary focus.

“I feel like you have to practice a lot more for cricket, while with other sports, you might only need to train once or twice a week and you’ll be able to play on the weekend.

His love for the technical aspects of the game and his drive for perfection become evident when he talks about his current obsession. “Golf is probably my favourite sport at the moment,” Botes reckoned.

“I’ve only been playing for a year, but I really enjoy it. I like the fact that you can play with anyone. It’s very challenging, but that makes it even more enjoyable as you get better.”

After scoring more than 1 600 runs for the 1st XI, there are many memories that he treasures. He recalled his two centuries for Parel Vallei last year, one against Bishops and one at the Pearson tournament, as some of his highlights in the first team, but his innings of 121 against Curro Durbanville this year stands out, along with an historic victory over their local rivals, Somerset College.

With Botes captaining the side, Parel Vallei got one over Somerset College in “the Ashes” for the first time in 21 years.

“That was very special for me,” he said. “I was in good form before the match, but I struggled on the day, so I was so proud of how the younger guys stepped up. We won that game as a team, and that’s what makes it so amazing.”

The Ashes is a two-day derby match that most players will experience only once or twice. However, both Davids and his opposing captain, Dion Claassens, played in the game for a fourth time this year.

“When I was in grade nine we were a very young team, and to see how the players have grown over the years, until this year when we finally won it, is truly special.”

As if his schedule was not busy enough, Botes also captained the u17 Helderberg Hawks team to victory in the BPL tournament, and this year he repeated that success when he was awarded man-of-the-match in the final for the u19 Helderberg Wild Cats as they triumphed in the revamped Boland T20 League.

He will continue playing cricket next year, while he studies towards a degree in industrial engineering at the University of Stellenbosch. “I’ve practiced there a couple of times already, so I’ll be joining them again when the season starts next year,” he said.

Whatever he chooses to do in the future, you can be sure that David Botes will be setting the standard, with an untiring work ethic that Parel Vallei acknowledged in the two awards he received this year after a five-year journey filled with exceptional accomplishments.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

The Border team for the 2023 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week has been named, with only three players returning from last year’s group. Thus, it will be a youthful squad representing the region at the prestigious event, which takes place in Makhanda from the 16th to the 20th of December.

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Tré Gilbert and Ben van der Merwe from Selborne College will form the core of the group’s leadership as the most experienced campaigners, along with Queen’s College‘s talisman, Ryan Denston, who was also in the 2022 team.

The trio’s performances at that 2022 week subsequently secured them places at the CSA Cubs Week as part of the Eastern Warriors squad.

Jacques van der Merwe, Adam Rogers and Waeden Plaatjes graduate from the Border u16 team of last year to join the other two Selbornians in the u19 line-up this year, which gives the East London school the largest contingent in the squad.

Hudson Park has four players who cracked the nod, with Chulumanco Macozoma, Osiphesona Mbekwa and Lithemba Nomoyi receiving a call-up.

The exciting prospect from Queen’s College, Bevaneo Maytham, joins Denston as the only other player in the squad from the pride of Queenstown, while Hlumelo Ntola represents Dale College, Amahle Masiko gets the nod out of Sakhisizwe High School and Stirling‘s Chad Evans completes the lineup.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Border u19: Jacques van der Merwe (Selborne College), Chulumanco Macozoma (Hudson Park), Osiphesona Mbekwa (Hudson Park), Ben van der Merwe (Selborne College), Tré Gilbert (Selborne College), Ryan Denston (Queen’s College), Bevaneo Maytham (Queen’s College), Adam Rogers (Selborne College), Chad Evans (Stirling), Waeden Plaatjes (Selborne College), Lithemba Nomoyi (Hudson Park), Hlumelo Ntola (Dale College), Amahle Masiko (Sakhisizwe High).

5 Selborne College | 3 Hudson Park | 2 Queen’s College | 1 Dale College | 1 Stirling | 1 Sakhisizwe High School

Durban High School vs Kearsney College

A superb unbeaten 100 by Semal Pillay wasn’t enough as the Clifton College 1st XI recorded a comfortable eight-wicket victory over DHS on the Theobald Oval on Saturday.

The KZN under-16 star played an outstanding innings in the face of a disciplined performance by the Clifton bowlers. His excellence, however, was counteracted by two superb all-round contributions from Shahzaad Perumal and Tim Saulez.

Perumal shone with an unbeaten 84 and 3 for 32 in 10 overs, while Saulez’s contribution of 68 not out and 3 for 26 was just as effective and important.

DHS had elected to bat first after winning the toss, and while their first four batsmen made it into double figures, they were made to graft by the Clifton bowlers. Only Pillay played with any freedom.

His century came from 121 balls, but the fact that he struck only four fours was testament to a disciplined and accurate effort from the visitors’ attack.

Opening batsman Ismaeel Omar made 28 from 48 balls, while Sfundo Mthembu added some impetus towards the end of the DHS innings, with 28 from 22 balls, which helped the Horseflies to 212/9 after their 50 overs.

Tim Saulez, who earlier this season set a Clifton 1^st XI highest score record with 166 against Volkskool Heidelberg, showed off his all-round talent with an economical three-wicket haul, and Shahzaad Perumal kept up the good work with his left-arm spin.

Shiraz Perumal picked up 2 for 46 in 10, while Huzaifah Badat put DHS under huge pressure, despite not picking up a wicket, with his return of 0 for 35 from 10 overs.

Clifton, needing 213 to win, produced a controlled and effective response, rolling to victory in the 44^th over with only two wickets down.

Batting at three, Shahzaad Perumal made 84 from 103 balls and struck nine fours. Saulez, who joined Perumal with the score on 77 for 2, was 68 not out from 80 deliveries, which included five fours and the only six of the match.

Together, he and Perumal shared an unbroken stand of 136.

Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School

If there is one team in KwaZulu-Natal that is hard to predict, it’s the Glenwood 1^st XI. After powering their way to a big win over a strong Hilton College team two weeks ago, they were well beaten by Westville Boys’ High last week, and then comprehensively outplayed by Maritzburg College on Saturday.

Visiting Pietermaritzburg, the Green Machine put up only 108 all out on Goldstone’s, with none of their batsmen making it to 20. It wasn’t as if one College bowler did the damage either. The wickets were shared around.

Chad Mason led the way for College, snaring 3 for 17 from 8.5 overs. Sphamandla Dzanibe did a stellar job, picking up 2 for 14 in four overs, and James Wiggil was miserly and wicket-taking, capturing 2 for 11 in his four overs.

It was a tough slog for Glenwood, and it took them 40.5 overs to reach their 108. However, when the home team set about their run chase, it looked like a different pitch as the opening pair of Liam Armstrong and Caleb Thomas took the game to the Durban boys.

Thomas was slightly the faster, striking an unbeaten 53 from 50 deliveries, while Armstrong weighed in with an undefeated 43 from 58, to see College to a 10-wicket win after just 17.3 overs.

Northwood School vs Kearsney College

At Northwood, Kearsney College were every bit as dominant against the Knights as College was against the Green Machine.

The home team won the toss and elected to bat, which was surprising given the overcast conditions and a track that was clearly going to offer the bowlers some assistance.

They were in trouble from the start as they folded in front of a clinical performance by Kearsney’s opening bowlers, Ryan Browning and Sandiswa Yeni, who set Northwood back on their heels, with Browning, especially, proving dominant.

He bowled his full complement of 10 overs, three of them maidens, and knocked over 4 for 24. Yeni also got in on the action, claiming 2 for 37 in nine.

They received telling support from Ross Coetzee, who snapped up 3 for 18 from his 10 overs of spin as Northwood were skittled for just 107.

Hayden Bishop and Dylan Wiggett then hit cruise control and steered their team to a 10-wicket win, with Bishop unbeaten on 60 and Wiggett on 32 when the Knights’ total was overhauled.

Summarised scorecards

DHS 212 for 9 (Semal Pillay 100*, Ismaeel Omar 28, Sfundo Mthembu 28, Tim Saulez 3 for 26, Shahzaad Perumal 3 for 32, Shiraz Perumal 2 for 46); Clifton College 213 for 2 (Shahzaad Perumal 84*, Tim Saulez 68*) Clifton won by 8 wickets.

Glenwood 108 all out (Chad Mason 3/17, James Wiggil 2/11, Sphamandla Dzanibe 2/14); Maritzburg College 111/0 (Caleb Thomas 53*, Liam Armstrong 43*) Maritzburg College won by 10 wickets.

Northwood 107 all out (Evan Fouche 28, Ryan Browning 4/24, Ross Coetzee 3/18, Sandiswa Yeni 2/37); Kearsney College 108/0 (Hayden Bishop 60*, Dylan Wiggett 32*) Kearsney College won by 10 wickets.

St David’s Marist Inanda’s Morteza Manack stole the show on Saturday against Northcliff High School, with the opening batsmen scoring a brilliant century at the La Valla Oval. He ended with 148 runs from 126 balls, after having been put in to bat. 

When the opener was out a mere two runs shy of a ton-and-a-half, there were still six overs remaining in his side’s innings. 

Thanks mostly to Manack’s massive contribution, St David’s tallied 315/6 in their 50 overs. It was a difficult challenge for Northcliff, but they made a valiant attempt at the big target, eventually falling 21 runs short in an exciting run chase.

St David’s captain Matthew West scored a patient 50 runs from 98 balls, with only three boundaries, but he played a crucial support role to Manack as the pair shared a 149-run third wicket partnership. 

The pain for the Northcliff bowlers wasn’t over, however, as lower-order batsman Oliver Botha let loose, helping himself to an electric 41 not out from only 14 balls, which included launching four maximums in a row. 

With a solid foundation laid by the top-order, the final over of the St David’s innings saw the ball being dispatched to all parts of the ground by Botha, with opening bowler Declan Diesel (2/83), leaking 28 runs in an incredible onslaught.

Going into the lunch break, Northcliff’s players would have needed a serious gee-up from the side’s coaches after that late blitz. One’s mind jumps to Al Pacino’s speech in Any Given Sunday, about the value of inches or, in this case, margins in sport. 

Whatever was said, the Northcliff batting unit set about pursuing the formidable total with determination. Opener Frank Devenish batted at better than a run a ball, scoring a spirited 63 runs from 61 deliveries, before succumbing to the bowling of Joshua Evans in the 21st over. 

Tyron Bedford-Owen, batting at four, looked like he might hijack the spotlight from Manack’s superb show, compiling his own well-crafted century, and eventually finishing with 126. His knock came at just quicker than a run-a-ball, and it included nine fours and five sixes. But it was not quite enough to see his side over the line.

Botha followed up his heroics with the bat, by claiming three scalps, ending with 3/57 from his 10 overs. His haul included the vital wicket of Owen, who was well set. Botha then added two wickets in the last over of the match with some pin-point death bowling.

St David’s Director of Cricket Dave Nosworthy commented: “The batsmen were superb over the weekend, especially Morteza Manack, who dominated in 360-degree fashion.

“We, also, often talk about how batsmen are performing so well these days, which they are, but often we forget just how the bowlers need to develop their skills, tactics, and strategies, especially on mostly batsman-friendly pitches, which we find more often than not around the world these days…” 

The match provided an enthralling display from both side’s batsmen, but it has left the bowlers with some additional homework to do before their next matches.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised scorecard

St David’s Marist 315/6 (Morteza Manack 148, Matthew West 50, Oliver Botha 41*, Extras: 21; Reaäl Hariram 2/53, Declan Diesel 2/84); Northcliff High School 294/7 (Tyron Bedford-Owen 126, Frank Devenish 63, Extras: 22; Oliver Botha 3/57, Joshua Evans 2/61). St David’s Marist won by 21 runs.

Two of KwaZulu-Natal’s leading cricket teams met on Saturday when Michaelhouse made the trip towards the east coast to take on Westville Boys’ High on an overcast day.

It has been a very good term for House, and they continued their strong run of form with a comfortable 42-run win, thanks to a solid batting performance and a disciplined bowling effort. 

After winning the toss, Westville opted to bowl first which, given the overhead conditions, was not too surprising.

Michaelhouse responded well to the challenge, however, putting up a competitive 255/9, led by Nathan Hoatson‘s (in feature photo) unbeaten 65 from 73 balls. The two Murrays – Hall-Jones and Baker – also made significant contributions, with the former making 50 and the latter, who has been in red-hot form, missing out on his half-century by a single run after departing hit-wicket.  

Kaeden McAllister and Heath Stott were the pick of the Westville bowlers, with both picking up two wickets, although they were somewhat expensive, going at over five runs per over each.

Needing to bat at 5.12 runs an over, the Griffins fought valiantly but their victory target of 256 never quite came into sight. They were bowled out in the final over of their innings for 213.

Westville’s opening batsman Bhasker Sewlal was their standout performer, weighing in with an impressive 82 runs from 126 balls, which included four boundaries. He set his team up well, occupying one end and accumulating a significant score along the way.

Tom Mitchell and Michael Thornton, with two wickets apiece, undid Westville’s middle-order, however, with breakthroughs at crucial times during the home side’s innings.

McAllister and Kistna put on 49 for the first wicket but, once McAllister was run out for 33 from 46 balls, Westville’s innings was subject to the regular loss of wickets. 

Ethan Muir captured 3/48 from his 10 overs, and removed the Westville tail, to prevent the Griffins from clawing their way to an unlikely victory late in the day.

Next weekend, there will be plenty on the line when Michaelhouse face their great rivals Hilton College in the annual pink day cricket match. 

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised Scorecard

Michaelhouse 255/9 (Nathan Hoatson 65*, Murray Hall-Jones 50, Murray Baker 49, Extras 24; Kaeden McAllister 2/33, Heath Stott 2/33); Westville Boys’ High 213/10 (Bhasker Sewlal 82, Kaeden McAllister 33, Sean McGough 22; Ethan Muir 3/48, Tom Mitchell 2/20, Michael Thornton 2/29). Michaelhouse won by 42 runs.