Divan de Villiers and JP Botha combined for a massive partnership of 177 from 205 deliveries to power Affies to a seven-wicket victory over the visiting Grey College on Saturday.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to put up a strong total to defend.
They played well, with the batting lineup making consistent contributions throughout. Adem Niewoudt and Henru de Wet combined for an opening partnership of 58 off 67 deliveries, before Nicolai Bester’s bowling and Divan de Villiers‘ safe hands drew first blood for Affies with the removal of Niewoudt.
Ruben Maree continued the good work for Grey, getting to 41 before he was run out by his Affies’ namesake, Ruben Groenewald.
Casper Troskie, batting at eight, bolstered the Bloemfontein side’s challenge, top-scoring with 54 at a run-a-ball. His 86-run partnership with Kamo Mokeona, who scored an unbeaten 33 as Grey’s last batsman, was a big boost for the visitors, as they set Affies 256 for victory.
It started out well in the field for Grey, with Sicelo Matayi taking two wickets in the third over to remove two huge threats from the locals’ lineup for a combined total of eight runs, with Adem Niewoudt pouching both catches.
Grey had Affies on the ropes at 10/2, but the locals dug deep and De Villiers and Botha turned the game for Affies, as they went after the Grey bowling.
Botha batted at a steady pace, playing the anchor role, to reach 77 from 103, which allowed De Villiers to launch an all-out attack. He blasted a massive 129 from 131 to drive Affies over the line with seven wickets in hand and 39 deliveries to spare.
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:
Grey College 256 (Casper Troskie 54, Ruben Maree 41, Kamo Mokoena 33*, Adem Niewoudt 31, Henru de Wet 30, Jaco Prinsloo 27, Extras 23; SF Vermeulen 2/27, Petrus Rautenbach 2/32, Divan de Villiers 2/54); Affies 257/3 (Divan de Villiers 129*, JP Botha 77, Extras 26; Sicelo Matayi 2/43). Affies won by seven wickets.
Kearsney College ran out comfortable four-wicket winners over a young Durban High School (DHS) 1st XI at home, in Botha’s Hill, on Saturday
In a strange twist, the scorecard mirrored the Horseflies’ win over Maritzburg College the previous weekend, except that DHS was on the wrong end of the result on this occasion.
They were bowled out for 158, which is what College posted against them a week earlier. And Kearsney then reached the required target, tallying 159 for 6, which was the DHS total when they passed College on Van Heerden Field on the previous Saturday.
Batting first, DHS were dismissed just shy of their 50 overs, with Semal Pillay‘s 50, leading the way. He spent 75 balls out in the middle and struck four fours.
Unfortunately for DHS, he was the second of their top order batsmen to be run out. After laying into a cover drive, he thought he had beaten the inner ring. But the AH Smith Oval’s outfield is lush, and the rolling ball quickly lost momentum, resulting in Pillay being caught well shy of his ground.
Earlier, opener Ethan Cooper, whose 20 ended up as the third highest score of the DHS innings, also lost his wicket to a run out.
Eduan van der Heever (feature photo), who recently made the move to DHS from Saint Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein), came in at eight and immediately took the attack to the Kearsney bowlers. It worked.
It wasn’t an easy surface to score on, but Van den Heever sent four deliveries to the boundary and made 28 from the 26 balls he faced.
Kearsney captain Hayden Bishop removed the left-hander and added another two victims to lead the home team’s attack, finishing with a fine return of 3 for 24 from his 10 overs.
Opening bowler Ryan Browning bowled a challenging line and length and was rewarded with 2 for 12 from his seven, while Dylan Wiggett picked up 2 for 34 from 7.2.
Wiggett then played a vital knock at the top of the Kearsney order. His 76-ball stay produced 54 runs, including four fours, and was the key to their successful run chase.
Michael de Beer, with 25, was the only other batsman to make it into the twenties, but four other batsmen made contributions in the teens, and that was enough for Kearsney, chasing a low total, to claim victory in the 35th over.
Jared Haverman made the hosts’ batsmen work hard, capturing 3 for 27 from his 10 overs, but Kearsney got over the line with 93 balls to spare.
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:
DHS 158/10 (Semal Pillay 50, Eduan van den Heever 28, Hayden Bishop 3/24, Ryan Browning 2/12, Dylan Wiggett 2/34); Kearsney 159/6 (Dylan Wiggett 54, Michael de Beer 25, Jared Haverman 3/27)
Paarl Boys’ High showed their class against Boland Lanbdou on Saturday, beating their fierce rivals by a telling margin of 143 runs.
After winning the toss, Boishaai sent the home team out to field first.
Janco Visagie led the attack for Boland, taking three wickets for 28, but steady batting by the visitors saw them to a solid 228, with Francois van der Merwe‘s 68 leading the way.
The Paarl bowlers then cut Boland’s run chase short, with Aden Batt and Christiaan Wege each taking four wickets, as they dismissed their opponents for a meagre 85 to secure an emphatic victory.
Stellenberg also recorded a big win, overpowering Curro Durbanville, with Kyle van Santen scoring an unbeaten 102 runs,
Their bowlers then tore through their opponents’ batting lineup, preventing any of the Curro batsmen from reaching double figures. JJ Rothman was outstanding, capturing 4/15, while Gerrad Kamalie snapped up two sticks while conceding only six runs.
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 scorecards:
Paarl Boys’ High 228 (Francois van der Merwe 68, Extras 39, JJ van der Sandt 38, Christian van Zuydam 25; Janco Visagie 3/28, Stefan Conradie 2/32, Francois Prins 2/46, Markus Groenewald 2/53); Boland Landbou 85 (Jan-Albert van Niekerk 30, Stefan Conradie 22; Aden Batt 4/18, Christiaan Wege 4/20). Paarl Boys’ High won by 143 runs.
Stellenberg 203/4 (Kyle van Santen 102*, Ryan Jones 35*, Extras 24; Abner Paul 1/18); Curro Durbanville 42 (Reece Bald 8; JJ Rothman 4/15, Gerrad Kamalie 2/6). Stellenberg won by 161 runs.
Durbanville XI 188 (Pierre du Toit 44, Tobias Roelofse 43, Jan Kriel 39, Henry Venter 23; Christiaan Oosthuizen 3/14, Ruald Coetzee 3/23); Bellville XI 189/8 (Jano Jonas 36*, Owen Kretschmer 36, Chris Roets 31, Extras 25, Adrian van der Westhuizen 21; Xander van Aarde 2/16). Bellville XI won by two wickets.
Paul Roos Gimnasium flexed their muscles as they comprehensively outplayed Parel Vallei in their 50-over match on Saturday.
Leading the charge for Paul Roos was Luca Plekker, who played a pivotal role in their triumph, with 88 runs to his name.
Adding to Plekker’s batting masterclass, Cornel Swart and Beor van Reenen notched up well-deserved half-centuries. Swart’s gritty 77, after facing 98 deliveries, stood out, while van Reenen’s 57 not out towards the end of the innings further bolstered their score to an imposing 312/6.
Despite PRG’s big total, Joshua Smit enjoyed a good outing with the ball, picking up three crucial wickets, while Christopher Hughes bowled with precision to keep the run scoring in check.
Heading out to the middle, the Parel Vallei batsmen faced an uphill battle, needing to bat at 6.26 per over, if they were able to make use of their entire allotment of 50 overs.
Up against the Stellenbosch school’s formidable bowling attack, the visitors struggled. Dian Winkel was their chief tormentor, snaring five wickets for a mere 26 runs.
Neil Barnard also impressed, capturing three wickets for a miserly five runs in his four-over spell, which helped secure an emphatic 233-run victory for Paul Roos.
In Somerset West, the Taberer Oval witnessed some remarkable batting in the clash between Somerset College and De Villiers Graaf.
Waylin Frank, opening for De Villiers Graaf, delivered a memorable innings, notching up an impressive 101 runs. His knock stood out all the more when it was contrasted with the struggles faced by the rest of his team’s batsmen.
Nicholas Rieth spearheaded the home attack, taking three wickets, as they dismissed the visitors for 189, with Thomas Parsons producing the delivery that finally got rid of Frank.
Somerset College then turned to the dependable Chad Ayford to lead their run chase. He delivered, matching Frank’s 101 without losing his wicket, which helped Somerset West to a comfortable nine-wicket victory. Nicholas Rieth did his bit, scoring an impressive unbeaten 67.
In a thrilling contest on their home turf, Charlie Hofmeyr were in a difficult position after being bowled out for a modest total of 86.
However, they managed to clinch a nail-biting victory against Strand, edging out their opponents by just a single run.
The hosts’ hero of the day was undoubtedly Driaan Louw, whose exceptional bowling performance saw him claim four wickets.
Louw’s superb return proved crucial in cutting short the visitors’ innings at only 85 runs. It secured a dramatic win for Charlie Hofmeyr, but they made it a much harder fight than it needed to be by conceding an astonishing 47 extras.
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 scorecards:
Paul Roos Gimnasium 312/6 (Luca Plekker 88, Cornel Swart 77, Beor van Reenen 57*, Josh Jordaan 34; Joshua Smit 3/49, Jamiel Ismail 2/56); Parel Vallei 79 (Joshua Pretorius 28; Dian Winkel 5/26, Neil Barnard 3/5, Joshua Zietsman 2/23). Paul Roos Gimnasium won by 233 runs.
De Villiers Graaf 189 (Waylin Frank 101, Extras 24; Nicholas Rieth 3/44, Dion Claassens 2/32, Thando Prusent 2/38); Somerset College XI 190/1 (Chad Ayford 101*, Nicholas Rieth 67*; Joshua Damon 1/66). Somerset College XI won by nine wickets.
Charlie Hofmeyr 86 (Heinrich Fourie 29, Marnus van der Westhuizen 25*; Bevan 4/17, Aleric van der Merwe 3/27, Matthew 2/10); Strand XI 85 (Extras 47, Joshua 10; Driaan Louw 4/13, Marnus van der Westhuizen 3/9). Charlie Hofmeyr won by one run.
Pinelands High School XI 216/7 (Jared Paulse 59, Matthew Langs 42, Extras 28, Herman Bosman 24, Thaaqib Fakier 22, Liam Patterson 20; Sirgeo Veary 3/44); Fairbairn College XI 49 (Extras 18, Abraaz Sonday 12; Ethan Whittaker 3/9, Matthew Wise 3/16, Imraan Razak 2/12). Pinelands High School XI won by 167 runs.
Experienced coach Relton Booysen has taken time away from his busy schedule to lead the u19 Spartans in the Cape Basketball Cup this weekend.
The much-anticipated festival will see some of the biggest names in the Cape Town basketball community in action. The addition of Booysen to the event delivers the knowledge and leadership of a highly respected coach to an intriguing competition.
Booysen told SuperSport Schools he has been preparing his team diligently for the tournament, focussing on both physical conditioning and basketball fundamentals.
All the games will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools – Register now
“We’ve been working on our shooting, defence, and teamwork extensively. What you can expect from us is a group of dedicated young athletes who will give their all on the court. We aim to play our best, support each other, and show our commitment to the sport,” he explained.
Booysen said basketball is a popular sport in South Africa, but its growth remains on a pleasing upward trajectory.
“Youth tournaments like this one (the Cape Basketball Cup) are incredibly important as they provide a platform for young talent to showcase their skills. These events inspire the next generation of players and contribute to the growth of basketball in the country,” he said.
SuperSport Schools is excited to announce the launch of “The Class of ’23“, a two-hour special to premier at 7pm on the 16th of December, featuring the 500 school and youth athletes who truly lit up the stage this year, as well as our announcement of the 30 boys and girls who will make up our inaugural “Class of ’23”.
This special will have numerous repeats, as well as be backed by a significant on-air and social/digital promotional media campaign.
We invite you to be 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.
Sports can serve as powerful tools for positive changes in communities. Booysen listed discipline, teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle as some of the benefits of basketball.
In areas like Hout Bay and Athlone, where there are many socio-economic challenges, basketball provides an escape, a means to build self-esteem and, crucially, it offers a sense of belonging. It presents opportunities and role models for young people to aspire to, Booysen said.
To get the community involved, individuals such as coach Booysen engage in outreach programmes, host local events, involve schools, and encourage youth participation. They want the community to see and share in the positive impact of the sport.
To keep his team motivated, Booysen sets achievable goals for the Spartans, and he encourages them to celebrate small victories.
“Huge emphasis [is placed] on the importance of teamwork and the role each player plays in our success. We also create a positive and supportive environment where players feel valued and encouraged,” he said.
“Ultimately, it’s about reminding them of their love for the game and the joy of improvement.”
Every basketball coach, player, and organiser will inevitably face tests. At the development level, coach Booysen said: “We encounter challenges, like limited access to facilities and resources, which can hinder player growth.
“We also face the need for more coaching and mentorship programs to nurture talent.
“Additionally, raising awareness about basketball and competing with other popular sports for attention and funding is a constant challenge.
“Despite these hurdles, we’re committed to overcoming them and growing the sport in South Africa.”
Coach Relton Booysen: Career Highlights
His career goes back to the early 1990s when Booysen turned out for the Outlanders Basketball Club’s 1st team. He also played for the Stellenbosch Basketball team and the Heideveld Rookies 1st team.
In 2008, he became the Head Coach of Heideveld Rookies. Since then, he hasn’t looked back. He has elevated his career as a coach, taking charge of, among others, the Western Cape, Gugulethu Basketball Club and Northern Cape Zebras.
Booysen also served as head coach of the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Over a period of three years with the Tigers, he led the side to a Cape Town Championship in 2021, the Coastal Championship, the SA National Championship, the Basketball Africa League top 8, and third place in the BAL Conference.
Currently, he serves as SID Basketball’s Head Coach and General Manager. In 2018, he led the club to a Cape Classic Championship. In 2021, they finished top of the log in the CTBA.
Booysen’s experience will be a huge benefit to the young Spartans as they chase the honours in the Cape Basketball Cup this weekend.
The Bochum Boys side from the Bochum HUB situated on the outskirts of Polokwane, the capital of Limpopo, made history by coming out on top in a tightly contested Limpopo Premier League Final against Pietersburg Hoerskool on 14 October.
By claiming the title, the side from Bochum became the first ever HUB to be crowned the champions of a regional league in South Africa.
With only one boundary being the difference between the sides, they managed to sneak over the finishing line. Their winning margin was only three runs, but the impact of their victory was seismic. And they did it by remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.
Cricket HUBS are Effective Cricketing Centres servicing a community within an area of jurisdiction of a CSA Affiliate or Associate. Their objective is to develop and maintain effective cricketing structures from grassroots right through to senior cricket.
The desired outcomes of a HUB programme are to increase and sustain participation, with improved performances through playing more quality matches, and to develop and identify talent while advancing the knowledge and skills of coaches, administrators, scorers and umpires.
Many of them operate in formerly disadvantaged areas.
Masilo Morema was the shining light for the victors in their momentous victory. After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Bochum found themselves in serious trouble as the stalwart from the Pieties, Nicholaas Oerlemans, tore through the visitors’ top order. He bagged a very impressive 5/30 in his final spell of the season.
SuperSport Schools is excited to announce the launch of “The Class of ’23“, a two-hour special to premier at 7pm on the 16th of December, featuring the 500 school and youth athletes who truly lit up the stage this year, as well as our announcement of the 30 boys and girls who will make up our inaugural “Class of ’23”.
This special will have numerous repeats, as well as be backed by a significant on-air and social/digital promotional media campaign.
We invite you to be 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.
However, Morema kept his composure as he knuckled down and compiled a crucial 49 from 60 deliveries. The reliable Victor Sehata gritted his teeth amidst the chaos at the top of the order and weighed in with an equally important 32.
The pair’s contributions meant that Bochum was able to tally 158 before being bowled out. They were confident they could defend it after bundling the same Pietersburg side out for less than 100 in their round-robin clash.
Like, Bochum, the Pieties didn’t get off to a good start, losing opener Philip Weterman on only the fifth ball of the innings. However, a 63-run partnership from the reliable duo of Oerlemans (41, 27b) and Michael Nel (20, 36b) heaped the pressure back onto Bochum.
Morema, backing up his vital 49 earlier with the bat, showed his class with the ball, to claim 2/28. Meanwhile, Mashalane Mpontsheng got on top of the Pieties’ batsmen, delivering an excellent spell of 2/18.
Another two-wicket contribution from Mahlodi Sekuba (2/49), ensured that Bochum restricted the Pietersburg side to 155 all out and history was made.
Summarised Scorecards:
Bochum Boys 158/10 (Masilo Morema 49, Victor Sehata 32; Nicholaas Oerlemans 5/30, Michael Nel 2/19); Pietersburg Hoerskool 155/10 (Oerlemans 41, Nel 20; Mashalane Mpontsheng 2/18, Masilo Morema 2/28, Mohladi Sekuba 2/49). Bochum Boys won by three runs.
Among the most astonishing achievements by any South African schoolboy in 2023 must be the performances of Kearsney College’s Nathan Foster at two World Cup Triathlon events in Mauritius in September.
There, Nathan contested the under-19 category of the African Triathlon Sprint Championships, despite being just 15 years of age. He finished an eye-opening third behind two French athletes. The truth, he revealed, was that he might have done even better, if not for an error.
“On the run, I ran an extra 100 metres because I wasn’t paying attention to the turning point,” he admitted, “so the person in third passed me. That was pretty much the only error I made.”
A week later, in the north of the island, he participated in the elite men’s category of the Mauritius International Triathlon, which is open to professional athletes, and, again, astounded with his performance.
“I was racing top athletes there. There wasn’t a lot of pressure on me to do very well because, obviously, they were much older than me. But I pushed and I managed to come seventh,” he said.
Nathan Foster, front, on his bike at the South African Triathlon Championships.
It’s important to put his achievements into context. Consider the physical size difference between a 15-year-old rugby player and one in the under-19 age group or think about an athlete running either a middle distance or sprint event with that four-year age gap in place. The former would be disallowed, the latter would surely be a forgone conclusion.
Except, put the disciplines of swimming, cycling and running together, and Nathan Foster is not only competing against elite athletes many years his senior, he is excelling against them. Logically, it shouldn’t be happening, but his remarkable results jump off the page.
Prodigiously talented and very hard-working, he has, in his own mind, a very long way to go. Yet, he is already ranked the number two under-19 triathlete in Africa!
“I realised I have quite a lot of potential in triathlon and, in order to go far, I am going to have to travel far and do races, to get the accolades, and to go overseas. That’s what I am working on, getting stuff behind me, titles and championships, even local, in order to make it overseas.”
Only three years ago, he was in primary school. Today, though, his triathlon ambitions are unambiguous. He wants to push himself to compete at the very highest levels.
“In the next year, I want to go overseas, to America or Germany. Later, when I am in my twenties, I want to go overseas and race. I want to go to the Olympics. That’s one of my big goals. Also, I would like to race Super League overseas. I want to go far.”
Representing KZN, Nathan Foster exits the water at the SA Triathlon Championships.
These words are spoken matter-of-factly, with no false bravado. They’re delivered with confidence, not arrogance. They’re spoken by a driven young man who believes, if he works hard enough, he has the talent which will allow him to compete with the world’s elite. It’s hard to argue that he hasn’t started making a case that he will be up to that challenge.
His entry into triathlon started with swimming. Then, when he realised he was “pretty good” at running, he took on some biathlons. After he took up mountain biking, his parents suggested he give the triathlon a go.
For his first triathlon, he took on the family-oriented Tinman on the Durban Beachfront. From there, Nathan’s progress was rapid. “I did very well in that, and then I just went to the KZN Champs, then SA Champs.”
The fact that triathlon is made up of three disciplines means it is a demanding and time-consuming pursuit, especially when competing at the level that Nathan contests.
On the day we spoke, he had cycled with a group in the morning. Then, after school, he was on his way to a swimming session. “I try to squeeze it in. Also staying for school and everything, it’s quite difficult, so my schedule is very busy. Yeah, I train every day, twice a day, sometimes.”
With the sign for Blue Bay, Mauritius, in the background, Nathan Foster charges towards home on the running leg of the 2023 African Triathlon Sprint Championships.
He added: “This weekend, I am doing the Amashova. Last weekend, I did the Glencairn Trail Run. I swim in galas, as well.”
Nathan was part of a group of Kearsney College boys who took on the challenge of the Glencairn Trail Run. They did more than participate, however. They shone. On day one, the distance was eight kilometres. It was 10Ks on day two. Luke Treleaven was first, Nathan second, Andrew James third and Keaton Gaines fifth.
Something he has to watch carefully is when rest is required, Nathan explained: “It is hard to find time for a break, but I enjoy what I do. It’s not as if I don’t want to do it and I am forced to do it. I actually want to do it, and I enjoy it.
“Sometimes, I have to force myself to rest. When I get tired and I’m tired at school, I realise I should take a little bit of a break to get my energy back.”
Questioned about his heroes, he said: “From South Africa, I look up to Henri Schoeman.”
Schoeman’s more than a good role model. He won bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. In 2018, he won Commonwealth Games gold. He has also based himself in Durban.
“He’s someone I look up to in triathlon, racing the shorter distances, Super League and the sprint distances,” Nathan said.
“I’ve seen him a few times. I’ve never raced him. But he’s definitely one of the people I look up to.”
When he speaks about never racing against Schoeman, now 32 years of age, there’s the unspoken part that lingers, the “yet”. Nathan’s not intimidated. He’s eager to take on ever-harder challenges.
By not standing back for any test, he’s not allowing age to be a limitation to his achievements.
Nathan Foster is making waves locally and, increasingly, beyond the boundaries of South Africa. And, yes, we mentioned it before, but…he’s just 15 years of age!
Another fantastic year of the Gauteng Development League nears its end, with the competition having unearthed rising stars, such as Onele Rulwana of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kulumane Ndamane of Kaizer Chiefs.
While it has been an uphill battle for some teams, others are in the middle of the battle for league honours and still gunning for the title, with mere weeks remaining on the fixture schedule.
In the early going, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns swopped first place with regularity, but as the season progressed Highlands Park were systematically demolishing their opponents and becoming a threat to the top two teams. Eventually, they took over at the top of the table. Since reaching the summit, they haven’t relinquished their hold on the position.
Their success has been built upon their dominance at their home ground, Balfour Park, where their record has been outstanding, with barely a blemish to show.
SuperSport Schools is excited to announce the launch of “The Class of ’23“, a two-hour special to premier at 7pm on the 16th of December, featuring the 500 school and youth athletes who truly lit up the stage this year, as well as our announcement of the 30 boys and girls who will make up our inaugural “Class of ’23”.
This special will have numerous repeats, as well as be backed by a significant on-air and social/digital promotiona; media campaign.
We invite you to be 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.
Chiefs, who are currently in second place, just six points behind the log leaders, thumped the School of Excellence on Wednesday. In recent weeks, the Glamour Boys have exerted immense pressure on Highlands Park’s position at the top, and with the season drawing nearer to its conclusion, this has created some suspense and uncertainty.
Highlands Park, however, quite apart from their six-point lead over Chiefs, also have another advantage over the Phefeni Glamour Boys. The Lions of the North have three games left to play, while Kaizer Chiefs have two, which opens up the possibility for Highlands Park to further extend their lead over the chasers.
Furthermore, their schedule includes Kagiso Porto and Joburg City, and both teams are in danger of relegation as they occupy the last two places on the log. Kaizer Chiefs, meanwhile, face Wits Junior, who are 17th in the standings and only one point clear of Joburg City.
There is still plenty to play for at the bottom, with four teams facing possible relegation: Jomo Cosmos, Kagiso Porto Academy, Wits Junior and Joburg City are all in the danger zone. They’ll be fighting with all their might to stay up, so fans can expect some cracking do-or-die football from the lower end of the table as the season winds down.
Full fixtures: 21 October
Joburg City vs Jomo Cosmos
Kagiso Porto Academy vs Highlands Park
Kaizer Chiefs vs Wits Junior
Mamelodi Sundowns vs TS Galaxy
Panorama vs SuperSport United FC
Prestige Football Development Academy vs Siluma 7
Randburg AFC vs School of Excellence
Remember Elite Sports Academy vs Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports Schools
22 October
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports Schools vs Highlands Park
Lhuandre Pretorius (St Stithians College). PHOTO: Theo Garrun
Liam Mudenda and Pranav Raichetti’s excellence with the willow in hand guided St Stithians to a very comfortable seven-wicket victory over Helpmekaar Kollege in their T20 clash on Wednesday.
The pair’s 41-run partnership was the key to their successful pursuit of the 130 they required for victory.
Mudenda led the charge with an impressive 47 from 35 deliveries. The main feature of the formidable opener’s innings was his stroke-making, which led to him accumulating eight fours.
Raichetti started off slowly but worked the ball all around the wicket in a mature knock of 36 not out.
His aggressive running between the wickets was also a thorn in the side of the Helpies as the pressure on their fielding unit kept mounting. Raichetti then broke loose, sending the ball over the ropes for the maximum.
For the Helpies, Juan Minnaar shone with both bat and ball. When he arrived at the crease, his side was struggling, but Minnaar kept his composure to contribute a sensible 26 not out, which came from 25 balls and included one six.
Opening the bowling, he proved to be the dangerman for the Helpies and was the pick of their attack, capturing an impressive 2/26 from his four overs.
However, Henricus Meyer was the cornerstone of the Helpmekaar innings, giving it a boost with a wonderfully structured and unbeaten 50 from 40 deliveries. His contribution proved pivotal as he and Minnaar combined for a much-needed partnership of 74 in the latter stages of the innings, which helped their side to 129/4 from their 20 overs.
Unfortunately for the Helpies, that effort from the pair wasn’t enough to make up for a stuttering start to their innings. Saints showed class and control to chase down the victory target in the 17th over with plenty of wickets in hand.
Summarised scorecard:
Helpmekaar Kollege 129/4 (Henricus Meyer 50*, Juan Minnaar 26*; Lhuan-dre Pretorius 1/26); St Stithians 132/3 (Liam Mudenda 47, Pranav Raichetti 36; Juan Minnaar 2/26). St Stithians won by seven wickets.
The Cape Town Basketball Association-endorsed Cape Basketball Cup is set to light up the Handberg Sport Centre, located in a community with a rich history in the sport, on 21 and 22 October.
Roscoe Jacobs, the director of the tournament, says the hosts, the Hout Bay Hurricanes, view the sport as a vehicle to positively impact lives and society.
The club, which focuses on junior basketball, has a motto of “Making a difference, one dribble at a time”, he said.
One of the primary goals of the Cape Basketball Cup is to provide a platform for school-going youth to earn sports scholarships through basketball to institutions of higher learning in South Africa.
Jacobs explained: “The partnership with SuperSport Schools enables university coaches from across the country to tune in to see what Cape Town has to offer. It also allows family and friends to support.
“Furthermore, it will also assist ‘ballers with footage to create their own video portfolios for semi-professional and professional opportunities in South Africa and abroad.
“Through the tournament, we hope to popularise the sport and bring more opportunities for young ‘ballers, but also use it as a way of reducing the school dropout rate in our poorer communities across Cape Town.”
It promises to be a non-stop action event. Spectators can expect to witness an entertaining display of high-level and highly competitive basketball, with coast-to-coast action, three-point sharp-shooting and the spectators’ favourite, slam dunks.
Fixtures
21 October 2023
09:00 Hout Bay Hurricanes vs Delft Emoja (game 1)
10:30 Hout Bay Snipers vs Spartans (game 2)
12:00 Spartans vs Hout Bay Hurricanes (game 3)
13:30 Delt Emoja vs Hout Bay Snipers (game 4)
15:00 Hout Bay Hurricanes vs Hout Bay Snipers (game 5)
16:30 Spartans vs Delft Emoja (game 6)
22 October 2023
13:00 Seed 1 vs Seed 4
14:30 Seed 2 vs Seed 3
16:30 Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2
Divan de Villiers and JP Botha combined for a massive partnership of 177 from 205 deliveries to power Affies to a seven-wicket victory over the visiting Grey College on Saturday.
Paul Roos Gimnasium flexed their muscles as they comprehensively outplayed Parel Vallei in their 50-over match on Saturday.
The Bochum Boys side from the Bochum HUB situated on the outskirts of Polokwane, the capital of Limpopo, made history by coming out on top in a tightly contested Limpopo Premier League Final against Pietersburg Hoerskool on 14 October.
