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St Andrew’s College, in Makhanda, hosts the St Andrew’s College Football Cup from Friday, 29 August, to Saturday, 31 August, with the event featuring both first teams and u15 sides.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

The lineup includes from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and the Eastern Cape, ensuring a rich diversity and a highly competitive atmosphere while also honouring the spirit and competitiveness of school football.

It’s about both participation and excellence, bringing together schools which wouldn’t often compete on the football field.

Trophies and medals will be on the line for the winners of both tournaments, while every participant will receive a bucket hat and a tournament T-shirt as keepsakes.

At the event’s conclusion, a Best XI, selected by the referees, will be awarded a special edition T-shirt.

The u19 competition includes four teams from outside of the Eastern Cape – Curro Wilgeheuwel, St Benedict’s College, Bishops, and Trinityhouse Glenvista.

St Andrew’s College A and B, Mrwetyana Secondary School, Victoria Park High, Kingswood College, Andrew Moyane School of Excellence, Joza Youth Hub, and Merrifield College will fly the flag for the Eastern Cape.

TEAMS

Group A

St Andrew’s College A, Curro Wilgeheuwel, Mrwetyana Secondary School, St Benedict’s College, Victoria Park High, Kingswood College

Group B

St Andrew’s College B, Andrew Moyane, Bishops Diocesan College, Joza Youth Hub, Trinityhouse Glenvista, Merrifield College

FIXTURES

Friday, 29 August 

Knowling Field 1

Match 1 – 15:00 – St Andrew’s College A vs Victoria Park
Match 2 – 16:00 – Mrwetyana vvs St Benedict’s
Match 3 – 17:00 – Victoria Park vs Curro Wilgeheuwel
Match 4 – 18:00 – Mrwetyana vs Kingswood
Match 5 – 19:00 – St Andrew’s College A vs Curro Wilgeheuwel
Match 6 – 20:00 – St Benedict’s vs Kingswood

Knowling Field 2

Match 1 – 15:00 – St Andrew’s College B vs Andrew Moyane
Match 2 – 16:00 – Joza vs Merrifield
Match 3 – 17:00 – Andrew Moyane vs Bishops
Match 4 – 18:00 – Trinityhouse vs Merrifield
Match 5 – 19:00 – Bishops vs Joza
Match 6 – 20:00 – St Andrew’s College B vs Trinityhouse

Saturday, 30 August 

Knowling Field 1

Match 7 – 08:00 – St Andrew’s College A vs Kingswood
Match 8 – 09:00 – St Benedict’s vs Victoria Park
Match 9 – 10:00 – St Andrew’s College A vs Mrwetyana
Match 10- 11:00 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs Kingswood
Match 11 – 12:00 – Mrwetyana vs Victoria Park
Match 12 – 13:00 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs St Benedict’s
Match 13 – 14:00 – Victoria Park vs Kingswood
Match 14 – 15:00 – Curro Wilgeheuwel vs Mrwetyana
Match 15 – 16:00 – St Andrew’s College A vs St Benedict’s
Match 16 – 17:00 – Group A Second vs Group B Second

Knowling Field B

Match 7 – 08:00 – Merrifield vs Bishops
Match 8 – 09:00 – Trinityhouse vs Andrew Moyane
Match 9 – 10:00 – Joza vs St Andrew’s College B
Match 10 – 11:00 – Andrew Moyane vs Merrifield
Match 11 – 12:00 – Bishops vs Trintyhouse
Match 12 – 13:00 – Joza vs Andrew Moyane
Match 13 – 14:00 – Merrifield vs St Andrew’s College B
Match 14 – 15:00 – Joza vs Trinityhouse
Match 15 – 16:00 – St Andrew’s College B vs Bishops
Match 16 – 17:00 – Group A Third vs Group B Third

Sunday, 31 August 

Knowling Field 1

Match 17 – 08:00 – Group A Fifth vs Group B Fifth
Match 18 – 09:00 – Group A Sixth vs Group B Sixth
Match 19 – 10:00 – Group A First vs Group B First

Knowling Field 2

Match 17 – 08:00 – Group A Fourth vs Group B Fourth

The month of August holds particular importance for the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), with Women’s Day falling on 9 August.

To celebrate it, the league hosts the GWDL Women’s Day Festival, which honours women’s contributions to football and celebrates the future of young stars in the game.

Ahead of the latest round of GWDL fixtures on Sunday, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Mondli Dube, the Administrator of the GWDL League and SAFA Gauteng, about the GWDL’s special month.

Commenting on the Women’s Day Festival, he said the event, hosted at Curro Hazeldean, in Pretoria, by Refilwe FC, was a resounding success. All teams were in action, including this season’s newcomers – Hellenic Falcons FC, Dinoko Rondebult, and SAFA Academy.

Dube said a high level of competitiveness and fair play was exhibited, while families, supporters, and community members attended in large numbers. The players, also, gained experience, confidence, and visibility through the live broadcast provided by SuperSport Schools.

Dube said the GWDL continues to gradually expand, and he praised the teams for their dedication to advancing women’s football.

The results are evident. One of the big success stories has been Katlego Malebana, who plays for the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies first team and has been included in the team for the ongoing Cosafa CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, in Johannesburg.

Players like Malebana, despite being only 16 years of age, are a testament to the growth and success of the GWDL. She is not a lone shining star, though. Other players from the GWDL have also participated in development Cosafa tournaments and the CAF African Schools Football Championship, which South Africa won in 2024, when Malebana captained the side.

Striker Leonay Kock, for example, plays for SAFA Academy and is a member of the u17 South African National Team.

“One thing that I took from the GWDL Women’s Day Festival was that the talent in women’s football is growing stronger, and with the right support these players can go very far,” Dube said.

To maintain the momentum beyond August, Dube said the GWDL would continue to concentrate on creating opportunities for young women footballers. He said the league would aim to create additional pathways for exceptional players to join academies and advance to higher leagues.

He mentioned the necessity of enhancing media coverage, which is generally lacking in women’s football within the country, by creating player spotlights and collaborating with media outlets to share the talent present in the GWDL.

Furthermore, Dube emphasised the importance of developing players off the pitch by providing and establishing platforms for life skills training and mentorship programmes.

The GWDL also tracks players’ progress through reports and feedback from teams to ensure continuous improvement.

While he expressed confidence that the league is on the right track, Dube said there is still room for improvement and a need for greater consistency.

“One day, we will triumph in the women’s FIFA World Cup,” he reckoned. “It is easy to lose sight of the journey while fixating on the destination. The future of women’s football is promising, and we are at the forefront on this continent.”

Meanwhile, the battle for the GWDL title has developed into a two-horse race between Mamelodi Sundowns and SAFA Academy. Currently, the Brazilians are four points clear of SAFA Academy, but their chasers have some games in hand.

There are tight battles being fought between the other teams to finish high up the league table and Dube has commended all teams for their unity, discipline, passion, hunger, determination, and resilience, which have stood out.

Players have not only developed their skills on the field, he said, but they have also grown as leaders.

In conclusion, Dube said he was pleased to witness a wide diversity of playing styles, which has enriched and enlivened the league.

He said every team possesses untapped potential that can be realised with the appropriate support.

FIXTURES
Sunday, 31 August

Curro Hazeldean 

11:30 – Refilwe FC vs SAFA Academy

Panorama FC

11:30 – Panorama FC vs RESA

University of Pretoria 

11:30 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks

Bonaero Park 

11:30 – Kempton Park vs Dinoko Rondebult

Jeppe Quondam 

11:30 – JVW vs Edenvale FC

Balfour Park

11:30 – Highlands Park vs Hellenic Falcons

Coach Justin Collins and the Northwood hockey first team have reason to look back on their 2025 season with pride. The Knights returned an impressive 63 percent win rate, recording 17 victories, four draws, and only six defeats.

Reflecting on his players’ efforts, Collins told SuperSport Schools Plus: “I was happy with the boys’ performances. I thought we played some good hockey. They showed some good progression and stepped up when needed.”

Northwood, though, began their season on the back foot, when they stumbled in their season-opener. They put up a fight, clawing their way from 2-5 down to lose 4-5 to Michaelhouse, one of the most improved teams of the 2025 season.

The Knights showed their mettle next time out, travelling to Maritzburg College, where they registered a thrilling 4-3 win on Pape’s Astro.

“The boys showed massive fight and character to come back from being 2-0 down in the first 10 minutes and scored four unanswered goals on Pape’s,” Collins said.

That victory was the first positive result in a 14-match unbeaten streak, which included 10 wins, including over Queen’s College, Dale College, Affies, Westville Boys’ High, Waterkloof, Pearson, Helpmekaar, Selborne, and a Queensmead XI. They drew with Rondebosch Boys’ High, Paarl Gimnasium, King Edward VII (KES), and Kearsney College.

Their unbeaten run was halted by coach Siya Sityana‘s Jeppe, who would go on to compile an outstanding undefeated season. That loss came just before a second trip to Michaelhouse.

Visiting Balgowan again, the Knights had only one thing on their mind: they wanted to exact revenge on coach Nick Bérichon’s charges. They were successful, claiming a hard-fought 3-2 victory with a typically gritty, never-say-die performance.

“That win, after trailing for most of the game, was wonderful. To come back in front of their home crowd and win that game in the dying moments was massive,” Collins recalled.

The Knights followed that triumph with their biggest victory of the season when they steamrolled Glenwood 8-1. However, their best performance was still to come. It arrived late in the season when they hosted coach Keegan Hezlett‘s Durban High School (DHS).

In recent seasons, matches between the two Durban schools have been intensely competitive, with little to separate them. On this occasion, Northwood gave their home fans plenty to cheer, scoring a 2-1 victory. Again, it was a reversal of an earlier loss to the same opposition.

“This was the first time the matric boys had beaten a strong DHS team since they joined as Grade 8 boys. This showed the boys’ progression at Northwood over the years,” Collins shared.

Unfortunately for the Knights, that was one of only two wins for them in their last five fixtures of the season. The other was the aforementioned success against Glenwood.

They completed their season with a Western Cape tour and came out on the wrong end against SACS, Wynberg Boys’ High, and Paul Roos – admittedly some of the best teams around.

The Knights had several matrics in their side, and their skills and experience will be missed in 2026. That said, they have maintained a strong core around which to construct next year’s team.

“We have six guys staying behind, but we’ve got an exciting group of coming through in grade 10 to bolster our team for next year,” Collins said.

That’s good reason to hope for, and to expect, another strong season from the Northwood Knights.

Durban High School‘s (DHS) top order batsmen lit up the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club ground to help their team to a 23-run win over Westville Boys’ High in the Eston One Insurance T20 Night League on Monday.

Last week, the openers, Ismaeel Omar and Ethan Cooper, powered the Blue Typhoon to a 10-wicket win over the three-time defending champion, St Charles College. On Monday night, they convincingly beat the Griffin, whom they had also defeated in the final of the Clifton T20 Tournament to go back-to-back as champions.

Westville skipper Seth Simpson opted to field after winning the toss, but it didn’t pay off as Omar and Cooper posted 67 runs for the first wicket in nine overs. Omar was the first to fall, LBW to Tristan Delvin for 33 from 27 deliveries, with three fours. Unfortunately for Westville, that brought Josh van Biljon to the crease.

He and Ethan Cooper added 27 in just over four overs. Then, Cooper perished, caught by captain Simpson off the spin of Ewan du Toit for 44 from 41, having struck three sixes and a four.

Not even that dismissal slowed DHS down. In fact, with Taine Havermann joining Josh van Biljon in the middle, the run rate rocketed, and together they added 80 in only 6.2 overs.

Havermann’s stay lasted only 15 balls, but they included two sixes and two fours and brought him 29 runs before he fell to a combination of Jamie Hasselbach and left-arm seamer Lwandile Bulose.

Lazlo Jooste was in for just three deliveries, but he chipped in with five runs, while Josh van Biljon remained unbeaten at the end with the main contribution of the innings, 60 from 34 balls, which included eight fours.

Tristan Delvin, with 1/25 from four overs, did well under pressure, while Lwandile Bulose did his job well, too, picking up 1/22 from three.

Unlike DHS’s strong start, Westville’s response stuttered early on. Pace man Bayanda Majola had Kyle McGough caught by Suliman Jadwat for a duck, and Jamie Hasselbach, the other opener, fell to left-arm spinner, Dhilan Naraidu, for four, which left Westville on 6/2 after two overs.

Captain Seth Simpson set about repairing the damage as best he could, delivering an outstanding innings reminiscent of the magnificent knock which powered Westville to victory over DHS in the W100 Series final, at Kingsmead, in February. However, he needed better support than he received.

Misbah Nair did his bit, weighing in with 24 from 26. Apart from that, Aarin Rasmussen, with 11 not out, and Tristan Delvin, with 10, were the next best contributors. That wasn’t enough, despite Simpson’s superb knock.

The Westville skipper faced 59 balls, smashed six of them for six, another four for four, and finished with 83. Still, his team came up 23 runs short of the DHS total.

That had plenty to do with Bayanda Majola, who knocked over 3/11 in four overs, adding the wickets of Misbah Nair and Aiden Baudach to his dismissal of the dangerous Kyle McGough.

Dhilan Naraidu was his usual efficient self with the new ball, claiming 1/24 in four, and Bonga Maphanga took 1/19 in three, claiming the crucial wicket of Seth Simpson.

Scores

Durban High School 178/3 (Josh van Biljon 60*, Ethan Cooper 44, Ismaeel Omar 33, Lwandile Bulose 1/22, Tristan Delvin 1/25, Ewan du Toit 1/35); Westville Boys’ High 155/6 (Seth Simpson 83*, Misbah Nair 24, Bayanda Majola 3/11, Bonga Maphanga 1/19, Dhilan Naraidu 1/24).

Durban High School won by 23 runs.

Stellenberg High School first-team hockey captain, Helen de Kock, declared herself proud to have captained her side to their second straight Western Province Premier League title over the weekend.

The Bellville-based outfit drew 2-2 with St Cyprian’s School on Friday night on home turf, and the point they picked up from the draw was enough to seal the title.

“Honestly, it feels amazing and unreal at the same time,” she told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“I’m so incredibly proud of every single girl and the amount of work they’ve put in since mid-January.

“Leading this team has been very special, and being able to win the league again this year shows each girl’s determination and love for the team.”

The Western Province Premier League is a hotly contested competition, which sees the best hockey-playing schools in the region locking horns every week, and Stellenberg went unbeaten, playing nine, winning six, and drawing three.

They were followed in the standings by St Cyprian’s, Herschel Girls School, Fairmont High, Reddam House Constantia, Springfield Convent School, Hoërskool Durbanville, Rustenburg Girls’ High, Hoërskool DF Malan, and Wynberg Girls’ High.

De Kock said a second successive title was evidence of how strong the Stellies‘ hockey programme has become.

“We know the level of competition in the Western Cape is very high, so for us to prove ourselves against all those schools and come out on top truly means a lot, both for us as a team and for Stellenberg,” she said.

“Our team is a family. We love each other and always push for one another. Our coaches push us hard, but it’s because they believe in us and know we can do it.”

De Kock used the word “determined” to describe her teammates. They certainly reflected that in the 2025 season.

“Our main goal this season was to grow together as a team and to play our hearts out for each other,” she explained.

“At the start of the season, we had two [other] goals in mind: to win the league and Interschools against Durbanville. I’m happy to say we achieved both.

“My highlight would definitely be the tough matches where we were tired and sore but still kept fighting for each other right until the final whistle.”

Stellenberg’s final league match was also a special occasion for goalkeeper Mari Klopper and striker Bea van den Berg, who received their 100th caps for the side.

Stellies’ hockey also bade farewell to skipper De Kock, who played her final game for the school, along with her fellow grade 12 learners Minke Lourens (vc), Stephanie Lloyd, Ilke van der Merwe and Lenae Wessels.

The third term’s football season is heating up, with some teams having made big leaps forward from the form they displayed in the second term.

Big credit to Northwood School. They’re a team that has turned their season around in impressive style.

During the second term’s Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA), Coastal A-League, the Knights endured one of their most challenging campaigns in recent years and came close to being relegated to the Coastal B-League. However, they avoided the slide by defeating Pinetown Boys’ High 3-0 in their final round-robin match.

Since the start of the third term, Northwood has come out with renewed determination and that fresh hunger has lifted them to many wins. Recently, they finished as the runner-up in the Primo Big 10, at Hilton College. Then, last week, they qualified for the quarterfinals of the Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup following a 4-0 victory over St Nicholas Diocesan School.

On Saturday, Northwood continued their positive momentum by securing a narrow 2-1 home victory over the KZNHSFA Coastal A-League champions, Westville Boys’ High.

It wasn’t a good week for Westville, with the Griffin also exiting the Cowie Cup at the hands of Pietermaritzburg’s Alexandra High School, who scored a 2-1 win.

In another surprising turn of events in the Cowie Cup, Brettonwood surprised Glenwood High, who have been inconsistent this season after two outstanding seasons, which included winning the Coastal A-League in successive years, and the Primo Big 10 last year. After their clash had ended 1-1, Brettonwood triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

In a Pietermaritzburg derby, St Charles College secured a 1-0 home victory over Maritzburg College.

The Red, Black, and White team dominated the opening 15 minutes of the game but struggled to penetrate the hard-working Saints‘ midfield.

Once St Charles began to gain the upper hand in the middle of the park, their confidence grew, with Connor Green and captain Shaun Sithole leading the way.

It was goalless at halftime, but Saints raised their intensity after the break and found space down the flanks.

They scored, though, from a free kick, with dead-ball expert Covhan Baatjies laying on an inviting ball to the near post for Gubhuza Mlambo, who dived at full stretch to head it into the back of the net, leaving Maritzburg College’s goalkeeper and captain, CJ Sukraj with no chance of pulling off a save.

St Charles had a chance to extend their lead when Mlambo successfully evaded the offside trap, but Sukraj executed a fine save.

Carter High added another win to their record on Saturday, handing Kloof High School a 2-0 defeat.

In the East London High Schools Football League, the reigning champions, Stutterheim High, and Selborne College are engaged in a tight tussle for the title. Currently, Selborne tops the standings, on 34 points, with Stutterheim only one point adrift, on 33.

On Wednesday, Stutterheim claimed a 2-1 win over Cathcart High, while Selborne downed West Bank High 3-1 on Thursday. On the same day, Merrifield College picked up a 2-0 win over George Randell High.

On Friday, Selborne returned to the pitch but were held to a 1-1 draw by Hudson Park.

Dale College wasn’t involved in any league matches, but they met their arch-rivals, Queen’s College, in a derby clash in Komani. They shared the spoils, with the clash ending 2-2.

In Gauteng, Jeppe High School for Boys continued to build on a strong season with a 4-1 win over Parktown Boys’ High on Saturday. King Edward VII School (KES) also delivered a good performance, edging out Pretoria Boys High 1-0.

In the Western Cape, in an entertaining clash, Wynberg Boys’ High picked up a 4-2 victory over Rondebosch Boys’ High.

RESULTS

Mancosa KZNHSFA Cowie Cup: Last 16

Northwood 4-0 St Nicholas
Alexandra High 2-1 Westville Boys’ High
Brettonwood (4) 1-1 (3) Glenwood

B Block BWFLA High Schools League/East London High Schools League

Wednesday 

Stutterheim High 2-1 Cathcart

Thursday 

Selborne College 3-1 West Bank
Merrifield College 2-0 George Randell High

Friday 

Selborne College 1-1 Hudson Park

Queen’s vs Dale Derby

Thursday 

Dale College 2-2 Queen’s College

KwaZulu-Natal 

St Charles College 1-0 Maritzburg College
Northwood 2-1 Westville Boys’ High
Carter High 2-0 Kloof High

Gauteng 

KES 1-0 Pretoria Boys High School
Jeppe 4-1 Parktown

Western Cape 

Wynberg Boys’ High 4-2 Rondebosch Boys’ High

Hoërskool Rustenburg se Henri Kemp het vir Potchefstroom Volkskool bykans eiehandig omgedop in die Rusties se eerste wedstryd as deel van die Noordwes-premierliga.

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Rustenburg het die loot gewen en besluit om sy kolwers in te stuur om tuisveldvoordeel te benut.

Dinge het egter nie heeltemal volgens plan verloop nie en hy kon slegs 182 aanteken voor die laaste paaltjie gekantel het. Tristan van der Linde was die tuisspan se topkolwer op die dag met 32 lopies.

Henlo van Rooyen (27) en Ander Wenhold (26) het elk ook die 20-merk oorgesteek, maar het nie veel meer antwoorde op die vrae van Volkies se Andries Venter gehad nie. Venter het drie paaltjies vir slegs 26 lopies in sy skof van 10 beurte laat kantel. Sihle Duma (2/7) en Schalk Pienaar (2/29) het netjiese bystand gebied.

Kemp het egter die gunstige boultoestande op die dag die beste benut. Die Rustie-draaier het 9.2 beurte afgestuur wat 48 lopies gekos het. Dit was egter sy vermoë om die besoekers een na die ander kleedkamer toe te stuur wat die kollig gesteel het.

Kemp het nie minder nie as ses paaltjies laat spat, terwyl aanvangsbouler, Thian Labuschagne, ook drie opgepik het.

Dié fel boulaanslag het die druk vierkantig op die Volkies geplaas en alles het ná Louis van Wyk se 30 lopies in duie gestort. Die span van Potchefstroom kon uiteindelik net 135 vermag voordat Kemp die laaste paaltjie geneem het, 48 lopies kort van ‘n wentotaal.

Beknopte telkaart: 

Hoërskool Rustenburg 182 (Tristan van der Linde 32, Extras 29, Henlo van Rooyen 27, Xander Wenhold 26; Andries Venter 3/26, Sihle Duma 2/7, Schalk Pienaar 2/29); Potchefstroom Volkskool 135 (Louis van Wyk 30, Ruan Smit 24, Ben Oosthuizen 22; Henri Kemp 6/48, Thian Labuschagne 3/28). Hoërskool Rustenburg wen met 47 lopies. 

Muaaz Mohammed, of Hoërskool Piet Potgieter, in Mokopane, scored the first century of the 2025 Limpopo Super League on Saturday to guide his side to victory over Hoërskool Ben Vorster‘s Black Caps.

Relive all the Schools Cricket action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com) 

Playing at the Black Caps’ Premier Park Oval, Piet Pot, as they are more commonly known, was sent in to bat. At first, it seemed that it was going to be a tough slog for the visitors, with Rivoningo Chauke and Khulani Mnisi doing early damage with the ball.

Chauke was the home team’s most successful bowler, taking 4/38 from his 10 overs, while Mnisi finished with 3/57. Mohammed, who made the provincial team last year, relied on his experience to counteract the Ben Vorster attack.

Taking the fight to them, he struck 12 fours and five sixes, racing to an aggressive 103 from only 83 balls before he was dismissed by Chauke.

Rayaan Malji (53) and Frederik Botes (45) provided strong support, which helped the visitors to an intimidating total of 293 from their 50 overs.

In reply, Sontag Ramatsoma batted well for Ben Vorster. His 63 runs gave the side from Tzaneen hope, while Mnisi, after his solid bowling performance weighed in with 28

The trio of Malji, Botes and Mohammed having caused the Black Caps pain with their bats then hurt them with the ball. Malji knocked over 3/34, Botes 2/38, and Mohammed 2/43 as Ben Vorster was bowled out for 224, 69 runs less than Piet Pot’s tally.

Also in Tzaneen, Merenksy Landbou Akademie crushed Nkowankowa Hub by 189 runs.

Captain Luka Heinlein and star top-order batsman, Rinaldo Bornman, laid a solid foundation as the Plasies, batting first, totalled 248 in their 50 overs. Heinlein top-scored with 56, while Bornman contributed 51.

The day, though, belonged to left-arm spinner, Timothy Baker. Over the past two years, he’s proved himself to be Merensky’s main strike bowler and he showed his prowess once again by spinning a web around the Nkowankowa batsmen.

Baker’s decisive contribution was 5/29, while Heinlein snared three wickets cheaply, which led to the visitors sliding to just 59 all out.

Summarised scorecards 

Hoërskool Piet Potgieter 293/10 (Muaaz Mohammed 103, Rayaan Malji 53, Frederik Botes 45; Rivoningo Chauke 4/38, Khulani Mnisi 3/57, Njabulo Maseko 2/42); Ben Vorster 224/10 (Sontag Ramatsoma 63, Khulani Mnisi 28; Rayaan Malji 3/34, Frederick Botes 2/38, Muaaz Mohammed 2/43). Hoërskool Piet Potgieter won by 69 runs. 

Merensky Landbou Akademie 248/10 (Luka Heinlein 56, Rinaldo Bornman 51, Cashan Jacobsz 29*, Xander Schoeman 26, Extras 24; Prosperity Machabe 2/48, Allen Shivuri 2/50, Vinani Mkhawani 2/62); Nkowankowa Hub 59/10 (Javulike Chavala 19; Timothy Baker 5/29, Luka Heinlein 3/13). Merensky Landbou Akademie won by 189 runs. 

The 2025 season will go down as one of the finest for Hoërskool Zwartkop’s u19A hockey side, which made huge strides.

Coach Connor Flowers’ charges made their presence felt with their desire to play an entertain and exciting brand of hockey, and it brought them many successes.

From the start, the focus was on the process and not the results, but looking after the process led to good results.

Flowers said the season wasn’t about chasing silverware but about developing a unique identity, one that celebrated skill, confidence, and community.

“We aimed to harness the talent offered by a humble group and to give it back to the community through displays of confident performances,” he explained.

“As the team progressed in its technical and tactical ability, we gained momentum and confidence in our ability to sustain high-level performance. Furthermore, we developed a healthy hunger for winning.

“It became clear that our primary goal for intrinsic satisfaction could be expanded to longitudinal success. We identified that qualification and subsequently competing in the Noordvaal A tournament would be our secondary goal.” he said.

As the season unfolded, Zwartkop’s growth was evident. Their progress, fuelled by hunger and resilience, showed itself in almost every match. Then, what had started as a mission of growth and enjoyment evolved into something greater, a pursuit of historical achievement.

The team’s consistency in the local league paid off when they clinched a second-place qualification spot for the prestigious Noordvaal A competition, which marked the first time in the school’s history that Zwartkop had qualifed for the A section playoffs.

“This was already a success in itself,” Flowers said. “To qualify was a blessing, and every minute on the field from then on was a privilege.”

The Noordvaal tournament, held from August 7 to 9, proved to be a true test of character and Zwartkop showed they weren’t there to merely make up the numbers.

They overcame successive slow starts to win both of their pool matches, which left them top of the group and propelled them into the quarterfinals. Another win earned Zwarries a shot at playing for a place in the final.

They faced the hosts, Hoërskool Pietersburg, in the semi-finals. It was a nerve-wracking contest that ended goalless, but Zwartkop kept their composure to triumph in a penalty shootout, which guaranteed them a medal in their very first shot at the Noordvaal A-League competition.

In the title game, they took on the defending champion, Hoërskool Monument. At last, their groundbreaking journey was halted, with Monnas comfortably defending their crown with a 3-0 victory. Zwarries, though, had done themselves proud and had shown they could mix it up with the best teams in the region.

Beyond the successes of the team, some of the players also celebrated memorable milestones, including captain Handré Coetzee and vice-captain Roche Oberholzer, who both received their 100th caps for the first team during the season.

“This is a huge testimony to their commitment, love for the game, and perseverance,” Flowers remarked.

Summarising how his squad had played, Flowers spoke of “tremendous growth, heart, and passion”.

Apart from Coetzee and Oberholzer, he added: “Other players were also able to showcase their ability and talent, achieving other personal triumphs that did not go unrecognised.”

Directing a message at the team, he said: “To the players, I cannot thank you enough for the time, the commitment, and the love you shared with me. I am proud of you, and I ask only that you be proud of yourselves.

“To the parents, thank you for providing such a healthy environment. Your time and commitment lay the foundation for these players’ success, not only throughout the hockey season, but also for the well-being and prospects of these young men.

“To Zwartkop and the staff behind the scenes, your effort and willingness to contribute to a successful hockey programme are instrumental in building the blocks required to sustain a healthy environment for the benefit of young athletes and young adults.”

Looking ahead, Flowers said the 2025 first team has set a high bar for future teams to aim at. “Although we are proud and satisfied, this is the new standard we have set for ourselves,” he said. “There is still so much that Hoërskool Zwartkop can offer. We look forward to sharing our love for hockey and competing against the best again next season.”

Morné Koekemoer played a crucial innings of 85 runs to guide Die Hoërskool Menlopark to their first victory of the 2025 Titans Platinum A-League on Saturday.

Read and relive all the 2025 Schools Cricket action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com) 

This season, the Platinum League boasts a cracking lineup of teams and matches. Menlopark, Hoërskool Waterkloof, Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) and Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s Ysbere all possess serious firepower. A four-horse race for the Titans’ honours is not out of the question.

Batting at four for the Parkies, Koekemoer laid the foundation in the middle order, playing the anchor role in his side’s 68-run victory over Prestige College, at the Prestige Oval, in Hammanskraal. His innings, which came off only 70 balls, allowed the rest of the lineup to bat around him.

Firstly, he combined nicely with Luan Barnard (38) in a partnership of 89 runs and then he put on another 27 with young gun Jan-Willem Pienaar (32). Further useful contributions from Jacques de Villiers (28) and James Bronkhorst (24) took the visitors to a healthy 257/9 from their 50 overs.

Ditebogo Chauke, Prestige’s bowling spearhead, found a good rhythm and was rewarded with a return of 3/39 from nine overs. Johan Bosch did the trick for Menlopark, snapping up 4/22 to rip through Prestige College’s top order.

Despite a hard-fought 60 from Omphile Maredi, who also contributed 2/52 with the ball, Menlopark comfortably held the upper hand and eased to a 68-run victory.

In Pretoria, at the André van der Walt Oval, Waterkloof’s AJ de Villiers notched a classy century as the defending champions overpowered Pretoria Boys High. As good opening batsmen do, De Villiers occupied the crease well. He spent 140 deliveries in the middle and struck 15 fours and two sixes in a masterful 124.

‘Kloof captain and hard-hitting middle-order batsman, Riley Miller, made his presence felt, clubbing five sixes in his 75, which helped lift his side to 278/6 from their 50 overs. Eduan Gottfried was the best of Boys High’s bowlers, claiming 3/56 in eight overs.

Unfortunately for Boys High, their batsmen didn’t come close to replicating the efforts of the Waterkloof batsmen, which had plenty to do with Ricardo Crous. He undermined the PBHS innings by knocking over 4/30.

Three wicket hauls from Rivan Booysen (3/10) and Jaco van der Walt (3/21) meant Boys High never got going and they were dismissed for only 100, 178 runs shy of Waterkloof’s total.

Summarised scorecards

Die Hoërskool Menlopark 257/9 (Morné Koekemoer 85, Luan Lombard 38, Jan-Willem Pienaar 32, Jacques de Villiers 28, James Bronkhorst 24; Ditebogo Chauke 3/39, Bongani Sithole 2/35, Omphile Maredi 2/52, Gift Motlhasedi 2/40); Prestige College 189 (Omphile Maredi 60, Lesedi Mabena 24, Mohau Mahlnagu 24; Johan Bosch 4/22, Matt van der Westhuizen 2/33, Jordan van Eck 2/39). Menlopark won by 68 runs. 

Hoërskool Waterkloof 278/6 (AJ de Villiers 124, Riley Miller 75, Johan Feuth 33, Extras 20; Eduan Gottfried 3/56, Jaydon Knott-Craig 2/47); Pretoria Boys High 100 (Pieter Steyn 27, Timothy Gordon 21; Ricardo Crous 4/30, Rivan Booysen 3/10, Jaco van der Walt 3/21). Waterkloof won by 178 runs.