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Saterdag se eindstryd in die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Plaat-afdeling bied vir Hoërskool Transvalia hul derde en ook belangrikste geleentheid om die Rooi Bulle vanjaar te probeer troef.

Beleef al die Noordvaal Plaat-aksie regstreeks op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Plaat-afdeling sal Saterdagmiddag ‘n nuwe kampioen kroon na afloop van die stryd wat wag tussen Valia en Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg.

Die span van Vanderbijlpark het reeds twee keer vanjaar, met 19-20 en 24-49, sy rieme teen die Rooi Bulle styfgeloop.

Dit is die eerste keer, sedert die ontstaan van die Plaat-afdeling in 2018, dat hierdie twee spanne in die eindstryd verskyn.

Die Ligbloues het laas ‘n Noordvaal-titel verower in 2013 toe hulle vir Hoërskool Ermelo in die destydse grootskole-liga van die Beeldtrofee met 16-12 verslaan het.

Die Rooi Bulle moes aansienlik langer wag met hul laaste titel wat sover terug strek as 1991, toe hulle vir Hoërskool Menlopark in die Direkteurstrofee-eindstryd met 18-10 geklop het. Hulle het wel vier jaar later die titel gedeel met ‘n gelykopuitslag van 24-24 teen die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool.

“Alles wat tot op hede gebeur het is irrelevant,” het AJ le Roux, Valia se hoofafrigter gesê. “Ons sien uit daarna om vir een laaste keer in ons Ligblou alles op die veld te los.

“Vir ons om ‘n eindstryd te kan aanbied is fantasties vir die gemeenskap en dit gee die jong seuns van die omgewing die geleentheid om groot te droom.”

Valia het deur die loop van die seisoen gewys dat hy ‘n uiters moeilike span is om tuis te klop en die ervare losskakel, Dylan Steyman, het ‘n groot aandeel hieraan gehad.

Nie alleen het hy vir besoekers met die stewel gelooi nie, maar hy beskik oor uitstekende visie om sy agterlyn op die voorvoet te plaas. Dit bied aan die Cravenweek-senterpaar, Brandonlee Smit en Tshepo Molakeng, die geleentheid om amok agterlangs te saai.

Voorlangs kan die skare in Vanderbijl uitsien na ‘n enorme tweestryd tussen Valia se Daniel Kazambu en die Rooi Bulle se Sam Ndwandwe. Kazambu, wat in die latere stadium van die seisoen na slot geskuif het, se fisieke spel is een van die Ligbloues se grootste wapens, terwyl Ndwandwe, een van die onbesonge helde in die Rooi Bul-span, se hoë werkverrigting vir oulaas hoog op prys gestel sal word.

Die Rooi Bulle moet egter sonder hul grootste staatmaker in die agterhoede, senter, Johnny dos Santos, klaarkom. Dos Santos se leemte word wel gevul met die terugkeer van Luhan Graaff, wat ‘n groot gedeelte van die seisoen weens beserings misgeloop het en oorgehaal sal wees om sy stempel in die eindstryd af te druk.

Skrumskakel, Reece Botha, vervang vir Theunis Anthony, wat in verlede week se halfeindstryd in die nr. 9-trui diens gedoen het, terwyl die Middelburgers se flank en kaptein, Toy Engelbrecht, weer ‘n handvol behoort te wees.

Die spanne: 

Hoërskool Transvalia t. Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg om 12:15 in Vanderbijlpark

Transvalia: 15 Siyabonga Khambule, 14 Dihan Crause, 13 Tshepo Molakeng, 12 Brandonlee Smit, 11 Tumi Moloi, 10 Dylan Steynman, 9 Anro Nagel, 8 Wynand Stolz, 7 JP Fourie, 6 Juan Bishoff, 5 Breyton Kruger, 4 Daniel Kazambu, 3 Ferreire Bekker, 2 Jayden McPearson, 1 Timothy Matthews.

HTS Middelburg: 15 WJ Enslin, 14 Alex Pretorius, 13 Luhan Graaff, 12 Anthoni Smuts, 11 CJ Muller, 10 Gerry Gendall, 9 Reece Botha, 8 Tertius Bezuidenhout, 7 Eathan Kock, 6 Toy Engelbrecht, 5 Sam Ndwandwe, 4 Janco Aucamp, 3 Kagiso Gumbi, 2 Hanru Terblanche, 1 Dirk du Plooy.

Skeidsregter: Francois van Staden (Luiperds)

Ander spanne:

o.16

11:00 – Hoërskool Kempton Park t. Zwartkop

o.15

09:20 – Transvalia t. Hoërskool Middelburg

o.14

08:00 – Transvalia t. Oos-Moot

The action heats up on Friday and Saturday as the High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, hosts its second KwaZulu-Natal event of the season, the Durban High School (DHS) Sevens.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Some of the top contenders – including DHS, Northwood, Glenwood and Maritzburg College – contested an event for the first time this season two weeks ago at the Glenwood Sevens and made their presence felt. Now, with a further fortnight of preparations under their belts, they’ll present a greater danger to their opposition.

The u17 event also features a couple of teams which were in action at the Pionier Sevens, including the hosts, Hoërskool Pionier, and Vryheid Landbou, who finished as runners-up last weekend, and who won the Shield at the Glenwood Sevens.

The hosts, DHS, made the u17 final on Dixon’s Field, but were beaten by Westville Boys’ High, who secured their third title of the season after victories in the Clifton Sevens and Saints Sevens. Northwood, meanwhile, won against Glenwood in the final of the u15 tournament.

As any opposition knows, winning against DHS on Van Heerden Field is a difficult task, and the Horseflies will be defending the title they won at home last year when Adriano Jackson crossed for a sudden death try to help his side to victory over Michaelhouse.

The action will build up in intensity on Friday, and the first hour on Saturday morning will see many crucial matches kicking off, including Michaelhouse vs Maritzburg College, Glenwood vs St Charles, Westville vs Northwood, and DHS vs Kearsney.

Northwood are the defending u15 champions after beating Maritzburg College 21-14 in the 2023 title-decider.

At a glance, one of the u15 pools leaps off the page as being “the pool of death”; Pool B features DHS, Maritzburg College, and Michaelhouse. A good team is set to miss out on the Cup quarterfinals.

Northwood appears to have received a favourable draw, with Esikhawini and Pionier their opposition in Pool A.

U17

Pools

Pool A: Westville, Northwood, Esikhawini, Pinetown Boys
Pool B: DHS, Kearsney, Hilton, Sharks Tier 2 B
Pool C: Glenwood, St Charles, Vryheid Landbou, Sharks Tier 2 A
Pool D: Michaelhouse, Maritzburg College, Northwood 2, Pionier

Fixtures

Friday, 23 August

Game 1 – 14:30 – Michaelhouse vs Pionier
Game 2 – 14:50 – Maritzburg College vs Northwood 2
Game 3 – 15:10 – Glenwood vs Sharks Tier 2 A
Game 4 – 15:30 – St Charles vs Vryheid Landbou
Game 5 – 15:50 – DHS vs Sharks Tier 2 B
Game 6 – 16:10 – Kearsney vs Hilton
Game 7 – 16:30 – Northwood vs Esikhawini
Game 8 – 16:50 – Westville vs Pinetown Boys
Game 9 – 17:10 – Michaelhouse vs Northwood 2
Game 10 – 17:30 – Maritzburg College vs Pionier
Game 11 – 17:50 – Glenwood vs Vryheid Landbou
Game 12 – 18:10 – St Charles vs Sharks Tier 2 A
Game 13 – 18:30 – DHS vs Hilton
Game 14 – 18:50 – Kearsney vs Sharks Tier 2 B
Game 15 – 19:10 – Northwood vs Pinetown Boys
Game 16 – 19:30 – Westville vs Esikhawini

Saturday, 24 August

Game 17 – 08:00 – Michaelhouse vs Maritzburg College (Pitch 1)
Game 18 – 08:00 – Northwood 2 vs Pionier (Pitch 2)
Game 19 – 08:20 – Glenwood vs St Charles (Pitch 1)
Game 20 – 08:20 – Vryheid Landbou vs Sharks Tier 2 A (Pitch 2)
Game 21 – 08:40 – Westville vs Northwood (Pitch 1)
Game 22 – 08:40 – Hilton vs Sharks Tier 2 B (Pitch 2)
Game 23 – 09:00 – Esikhawini vs Pinetown Boys (Pitch 1)
Game 24 – 09:20 – DHS vs Kearsney (Pitch 1)

Field A

Game 25 – 10:00 – Pool A 3rd vs Pool D 4th
Game 26 – 10:20 – Pool A 4th vs Pool D 3rd
Game 27 – 10:40 – Pool B 3rd vs Pool C 4th
Game 28 – 11:00 – Pool B 4th vs Pool C 3rd
Game 29 – 11:20 – Winner Pool A vs Runner-up Pool D
Game 30 – 11:40 – Runner-up Pool A vs Winner Pool D
Game 31 – 12:00 – Winner Pool B vs Runner-up Pool C
Game 32 – 12:20 – Runner-up Pool B vs Winner Pool C
Game 33 – 12:40 – Loser 25 vs Loser 26 (Playoff)
Game 34 – 13:00 – Loser 27 vs Loser 28 (Playoff)

Plate semi-finals

Game 35 – 13:20 – Winner 25 vs Winner 26
Game 36 – 13:40 – Winner 27 vs Winner 28

Game 37 – 14:00 – Loser 29 v Loser 30 (Playoff)
Game 38 – 14:20 – Loser 31 vs Loser 32 (Playoff)

Cup semi-finals

Game 39 – 14:40 – Winner 29 vs Winner 30
Game 40 – 15:00 – Winner 31 vs Winner 32

Plate final

Game 41 – 15:20 – Winner 35 vs Winner 36

u15 Cup final

15:40 – Winner Cup semi 1 vs Winner Cup semi 2

Cup final

Game 42 – 16:00 – Winner 39 vs Winner 40

u15

Pools 

Pool A: Northwood, Esikhawini, Pionier
Pool B: DHS, Maritzburg College, Michaelhouse
Pool C: Glenwood, St Charles, Northwood 2
Pool D: Westville, Ferrum, Kearsney

Fixtures

Friday, 23 August

Pitch 2

14:30 – Ferrum (D2) vs Kearsney (D3)
14:50 – St Charles (C2) vs Northwood 2 (C3)
15:10 – Maritzburg College (B2) vs Michaelhouse (B3)
15:30 – Esikhawini (A2) vs Pionier (A3)
15:50 – Glenwood (C1) vs Northwood 2 (C3)
16:10 – Westville (D1) vs Kearsney (D3)
16:30 – Northwood (A1) vs Pionier (A3)
16:50 – DHS (B1) vs Michaelhouse (B3)

Saturday, 24 August

09:00 – DHS (B1) vs Maritzburg College (B2)
09:20 – Northwood (A1) vs Esikhawini (A2)
09:40 – Westville (D1) vs Ferrum (D2)
10:00 – Glenwood (C1) vs St Charles (C2)

Cup quarterfinals

10:40 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B
11:00 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A
11:20 – 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool D
11:40 – 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool C

Bowl semi-finals

12:00 – 3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B
12:20 – 3rd Pool C vs 3rd Pool D

Plate semi-finals

12:40 – Loser Cup quarter 1 vs Loser Cup quarter 2
13:00 – Loser Cup quarter 3 vs Loser Cup quarter 4

Cup semi-finals

13:20 – Winner Cup quarter 1 vs Winner Cup quarter 2
13:40 – Winner Cup quarter 3 vs Winner Cup quarter 4

Shield final

14:00 – Loser Bowl semi 1 vs Loser Bowl semi 2

Bowl final

14:20 – Winner Bowl semi 1 vis Winner Bowl semi 2

7th/8th playoff

14:40 – Loser Plate semi 1 vs Loser Plate semi 2

Plate final

15:00 – Winner Plate semi 1 vs Winner Plate semi 2

3rd/4th Playoff

15:20 – Loser Cup semi 1 vs Loser Cup semi 2

Pitch 1

Cup Final

15:40 Winner Cup semi 1 vs Winner Cup semi 2

St Mary’s DSG Kloof was the epitome of consistency and excellence during the 2024 hockey season. The girls from KwaZulu-Natal’s coastal region won two trophies and came close to a third title when they reached the final of the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament.

Carla Ann Mackay’s charges enjoyed a brilliant season in which they scored 202 goals and conceded a paltry 25 for an astounding goal difference of 177 in 65 matches.

Their 51 wins from 65 encounters left them with an elite win percentage of close to 80% (78.5). They lost only eight matches and recorded six draws. Two of those eight losses came during a pre-season of The Netherlands.

On that tour, St Mary’s won five of their eight fixtures and drew another one. The sojourn provided the Georgia Pollock-captained side with two highlights.

“Making a final in the HDM Easter Tournament so early in the year was incredible, and we learned so much about ourselves as a team and as individuals. The girls also were lucky enough to get a few training sessions with Dayaan and Mustapha Cassiem, which was invaluable,” coach Mackay shared.

The first assignment for Saints after their trip to The Netherlands was at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival, which they played without the influential Pollock, their SA Schools’ midfielder, who had sustained an injury abroad. They finished sixth in the tournament.

It was a shaky start, but they turned things around barely a week later when they won twice in as many days. They trounced Maris Stella 6-0 and followed that up with a 2-0 victory over Voortrekker Bethlehem. That 2-0 win was significant. It transformed their season.

“Looking back, that was the moment we gained proper momentum and came together as a team. We usually shy away from physicality, but that game showed us we could come up against any team, any brand of hockey, and overcome it and get a result,” Mackay explained. “That game made us realise that we really could contend for any silverware in the season.”

From that point forward, St Mary’s barely lost. They were a juggernaut that decimated the opposition. That’s not to imply that they were not tested in their victories. They crossed swords with top sides, like Durban Girls’ College, Oranje, Paarl Gim and Eunice, who tested their mettle. They always pulled through, though, thanks to the consistency of players like Anna Birt, Sibabalwe Mfazwe, Elizabeth Anderson, Jamie da Silva, Georgia Pollock and Alex Bowyer.

When she came back from her hand injury, Pollock slotted seamlessly into the side and led it with a level head, elevating the standard of play of her team-mates. However, Mackay added, while it is easy to point out the most consistent players, the rest of the side produced moments of brilliance when the team needed it most.

“I don’t want to sound biased, but when you have a side of 16 talented players who play for each other and were always good humans first, on top of being some of the most talented schoolgirl hockey players in the country, it just feels wrong to point out a handful of players. For instance, Cassandra Forbes was incredible when she was in form, and often stood out as a strong leader and really steadied the ship for us,” Mackay said.

The St Mary’s coach also pointed to Jenna-Leigh Freese; a player who was not selected as much as she would have liked.

“She has grown so much this season as an individual player, and as the season went on, despite some setbacks and disappointments, she really showed her worth and added so much value to the team,” MacKay said.

Freese was not alone. There were a few others who did not play as much as St Mary’s leading players. However, they stepped up when they were called upon to do a job for the team. That mindset speaks to the culture of a team that does not rely on individual talent but is a sum of its parts.

“While our big names stood out, the fact that these other girls were also showing up is why we won big games. They allowed us to play our best structure, the best brand of hockey, and because of that everything clicked.

“Connections were effortless, out-letting was flawless, execution of set pieces clinical,” Mackay reckoned.

That culture is the reason Saints won the St Anne’s Cup and the SPAR Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge title in a space of two months and then reached the final of the Fairtree Super 12, where they lost to Rhenish in a penalty shootout. They won their other six matches against the country’s elite at the tournament in Bloemfontein, which was unmatched.

St Mary’s would have loved to close the season on a high, but they are not letting that narrow defeat in the final eclipse the great season they enjoyed. When it began, their goals were to qualify for the SPAR tournament and the Super 12. They outdid both of those.

“I am really proud of the girls. They achieved a lot this season. They played great hockey. I am thankful that I had the privilege to coach such an incredible group of girls,” Mackay said.

“Looking forward to next season, we are integrating new youngsters coming through into the squad. We lose seven matrics, so we need to select players that will fill the spaces and add value to the team.

“But we carry on moving forward as a school and look to continuously elevate our hockey programme and showcase this incredible school and the brand of hockey that will become synonymous with St Mary’s Kloof,” Mackay ended on an optimistic note.

When a team that carries standards as high as those of the Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns suddenly and swiftly slips down the Gauteng Development League (GDL) log standings, concerns arise within the footballing fraternity.

There are whispers in the stands and questions asked. Could it be complacency that has seen them dominate the first half of the league only to slip at the business end of the competition?

However, those with an eye for detail would have noticed that Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach, Surprise Moriri, has been fielding a team that looks entirely different to the one that took to the field at the beginning of the year.

In an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Moriri opened up about his team and the reason behind the new personnel in the starting lineup.

“If you look at the team from the beginning of the season until the June-to-July period, it was doing very well. I’m not necessarily talking in terms of the position on the log but in terms of the product on the field,” Moriri said.

“As a coach, that’s what you want to see players do. The way that we defended was superb, conceding few goals and scoring a lot of goals. All of that contributed to us being consistent, and I must say that the boys have been working very hard.

“We have about eight or 10 players who are training with the iDiski Challenge team as they try to see whether they can come up with a team that can represent us in the iDiski Challenge. That’s why you see now in our GDL team we have only a few remaining out-and-out u19 players, with a blend of u17 players making up the team,” he explained.

Despite seeing his side slip to third in the table, Moriri emphasised that he is still content with the efforts of his players.

The coach insisted that his main job as a development coach is to produce players for the senior teams and that’s where his focus remains.

“As a development coach, you always want to see your players going to the next level. When I see most of our u19 players going into the iDiski team since the main iDiski players have been called up to the senior team, this is something that we want to see,” he said.

“For me, I’m content with how things are going so far. As a coach, if you start moaning about not having players for the GDL because players are at iDiski then you are the wrong path because that would be about you as a coach wanting to win the GDL.

“You cannot prioritise the GDL at the expense of these young players. These players want to go to the next level and that’s what we want to help them achieve,” he added.

This week, Moriri and his troops will be involved in one of the country’s fiercest rivalries, the Tshwane Derby, when they take on SuperSport United at Eskom Megawatt Park on Sunday.

Moriri says ‘Downs are not underestimating SuperSport United despite having beaten them in the first round of fixtures.

“We don’t take them lightly because it’s going to be a very interesting game. Remember, in the first leg we beat them at home, so they will also be looking to get revenge,” he said.

“We need to make sure that we assemble a team that will compete. It’s a derby and there’s bragging rights on the line,” he concluded.

FIXTURES

Saturday, 24 August

East Rand Athletic Club vs Remember Elite Sports Academy (Tsakane Stadium)
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School vs Randburg AFC (RSMSS)
School of Excellence vs Panorama FC (Elandsfontein)
Sevens Academy vs NWU Vaal (Woodlands International College)
TS Galaxy vs Kathorus Hyper (Marks Park)
TUKS vs Kaizer Chiefs (TUKS Sports Fields)
Wits Junior vs Jomo Cosmos (Marks Park)
Highlands Park vs Joburg City (Balfour Park)

Sunday, 25 August

SuperSport United vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Eskom Megawatt Park)

Hilton College will be a hive of football activity on the weekend as it plays host to the Jody Momple Cup, formerly the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands FA Cup, bringing together 24 teams with designs on the prestigious title.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Maritzburg College will be defending the title they won 3-2 last year in a memorable final against Carter High School, which could have gone either way. It was, arguably, the game of the year in the KZN region.

This time around, both of last year’s finalists will again be among the frontrunners for the honours. Carter is aiming for a hattrick of titles in 2024, having already won the KZN Inland League’s 2nd term competition and the inaugural Carter High Super Cup.

They beat Maritzburg College 1-0 in the group stage of the Inland Championship and repeated that scoreline in the final. In their most recent meeting, though, on 20 July, College beat Carter 2-1. The point is, there is next to nothing to separate the teams.

Of course, there are other challengers who should not be discounted, and the exciting thing about the FA Cup is that it is wide open.

Michaelhouse, with a semi-final spot at the Primo Big 10, which came courtesy of a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Hilton, showed they’re a team to be reckoned with, and the hosts, too, will bear watching.

Meanwhile, sides like Ixopo and Edendale Technical could spring a surprise. Ixopo enjoyed an excellent first season in the Inland league, while Edendale, although they debuted in the B League, showed they’re a solid unit, and the outstanding achievements of their girls’ team, the best in South Africa, suggests the coaching at Edendale is top notch.

GROUPS

Group A: Hilton College, Howick High School, Riverwood College
Group B: Alexandra High School, Grace College, St Nicholas Diocesan School
Group C: Michaelhouse, Weston Agricultural College, ML Sultan Secondary School
Group D: St Charles College, Maritzburg Christian School, Heritage Academy
Group E: Carter High School, Greytown High School, Newton School
Group F: Ixopo High School, Etham High School, Haythorne Secondary School
Group G: Edendale Technical High, Wartburg Kirchdorf, Linpark High School
Group H: Maritzburg College, Treverton College, Umvuzo Secondary School

FIXTURES

Group Stage Matches, Saturday, 24 August

Group A – Zungu

08:00 – Hilton vs Howick
09:30 – Howick vs Riverwood
11:00 – Hilton vs Riverwood

Group B – Etheridge

08:00 – Alexandra vs Grace
09:30 – Grace vs St Nicholas
11:00 – St Nicholas vs Alex

Group C – New Field

08:00 – Michaelhouse vs Weston
09:30 – Weston vs ML Sultan
11:00 – ML Sultan vs Michaelhouse

Group D – Lombard

08:00 – St Charles vs Maritzburg Christian School
09:30 – Maritzburg Christian School vs Heritage
11:00 – Heritage vs St Charles

Group E – Lombard

13:00 – Carter vs Greytown
14:30 – Greytown vs Newton
16:00 – Newton vs Carter

Group F – New Field

13:00 – Ixopo vs Etham
14:30 – Etham vs Haythorne
16:00 – Haythorne vs Ixopo

Group G – Etheridge

13:00 – Edendale vs Wartburg
14:30 – Wartburg vs Linpark
16:00 – Linpark vs Edendale

Group H – Zungu

13:00 – Maritzburg College vs Treverton
14:30 – Treverton vs Umvuzo
16:00 – Umvuzo vs Maritzburg College

Knockout Stage, Sunday, 25 August

Bowl Quarterfinals

BQF 1 – 08:00 – A3 vs B3, Zungu
BQF 2 – 08:00 – C3 vs D3, Etheridge
BQF 3 – 08:00 – E3 vs F3, New Field
BQF 4 – 08:00 – G3 vs H3, Lombard

Plate Quarterfinals

PQF 1 – 09:30 – A2 vs B2, Zungu
PQF 2 – 09:30 – C2 vs D2, Etheridge
PQF 3 – 09:30 – E2 vs F2, New Field
PQF 4 – 09:30 – G2 vs H2, Lombard

Cup Quarterfinals

CQF 1 – 11:00 – A1 vs B1, Zungu
CQF 2 – 11:00 – C1 vs D1, Etheridge
CQF 3 – 11:00 – E1 vs F1, New Field
CQF 4 – 11:00 – G1 vs H1, Lombard

Bowl Semi-finals

BSF 1 – 12:30 – Winner A3/B3 vs Winner C3/D3, New Field
BSF 2 – 12:30 – Winner E3/F3 vs Winner G3/h3, Lombard

Plate Semi-finals

PSF 1 – 12:30 – Winner A2/B2 vs Winner C2/D2, Zungu
PSF 2 – 12:30 – Winner E2/F2 vs Winner G2/H2, Etheridge

Cup Semi-finals

CSF 1 – 14:00 – Winner A1/B1 vs Winner C1/D1, Zungu
CSF 2 – 14:00 – Winner E1/F1 vs Winner G1/H1, Etheridge

Bowl Final

BF – 15:00 – Winner BSF 1 vs Winner BSF 2, New Field

Plate Final

PF – 15:00 – Winner PSF 1 vs Winner PSF 2, Etheridge

Cup Final

CF – 16:00 – Winner CSF 1 vs Winner CSF 2, Zungu

In a pleasing display of the country’s depth at age-group level, South Africa’s two teams that participated in the recent Under-18 International Series, the SA u18 and the SA u18 ‘A’ sides, delivered impressive performances to finish the annual series unbeaten.

The SA u18s only played two matches because of the withdrawal of France, following the tragic incident prior to the start of the tournament when one of their players was swept out to see at Cape Point, while the SA u18 ‘A’ side’s involvement was reduced to one game to allow the three remaining international participants the opportunity to still play their three planned matches.

Both South African teams gave outstanding performances against quality opposition, which augurs well for the future of the Junior Springboks, the next step in SA Rugby’s player development pathway.

The SA u18 ‘A’ outfit overcame a gritty Georgia 20-3 in their encounter at Stellenberg High School in Cape Town, while the SA U18s defeated Ireland 38-26 at Paarl Gimnasium, and followed that up by beating England 39-14 at Paarl Boys’ High.

James Winstanley, the SA U18 coach, also used the two matches to implement a proper rotation system so that every player in the squad had an opportunity to play. Despite making wholesale changes for their final match, the young South Africans comfortably gave their best performance as they dismantled England, who traditionally are one the powerhouses of age-group rugby.

Winstanley was full of praise for the team after their winning performance on against England on Tuesday. The SA U18’s had their opponents under pressure throughout the game, displaying controlled aggression upfront and skilful handling and running amongst the backs.

“Our series concluded with a dominant performance against England as we addressed the shortfalls from our previous game against Ireland,” said Winstanley.

“I am pleased with the set pieces which allowed us to apply pressure with and without the ball, and control both the gain line and flow of the game.

“We achieved our goals of pressure through the kicking game but not at the expense of identifying space and opportunities, ensuring that we were strong in all areas.”

Winstanley was especially pleased with the amount of talent in the squad and praised the hard work behind the scenes by the coaching and management staff.

“We are blessed to have a strong leadership group which was complimented by a depth of talent within the squad,” he said. “Our outcome goals, as team management, was to create a gold standard experience for the boys and I would like to thank the coaches and support team for making this happen.

“The overarching aim of exposing the players to international rugby with a view to preparing them for the Junior Bok pathway was also successful. SA Rugby has really supported us and given us every resource needed to succeed and I would like to thank them for making a special series possible.”

Lively speedster Cheswill Jooste scored two tries against England on Tuesday to boost his overall tally to three in two games. SA U18 flyhalf Vusi Moyo contributed on 13 points from three penalty goals and two conversions.

Amongst the SA U18 forwards, Sethu Mnebelele (hooker) led from the front, while lock Riley Norton with loose forwards Reuben Kruger and Josh Neill also made telling contributions on the field, along with backs Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf), Markus Muller, Pieter van der Merwe (midfielders), Khuti Rasivhaga, Zekhethelo Siyaya and Akha Boqwana (outside backs).

South Africa finished the Under-18 International Series on a high and undefeated note when they beat England 39-14 at Paarl Boys’ High School on Monday afternoon, adding to their impressive victory over Ireland last Friday at Paarl Gimnasium.

Last Monday, the SA u18 ‘A’ team beat Georgia at Stellenberg High School, meaning the South Africans were unbeaten during the three-match series.

On Tuesday, the SA u18s led 17-7 at half-time, and despite playing against a strong breeze in the second half, kicked on to outplay England convincingly in front of an appreciative crowd in Paarl. In the end, South Africa scored five tries, four conversions and two penalty goals, while England could only reply with two converted tries.

The hosts used the generous breeze to good effect in the first half, pinning the visitors deep in their own half with an accurate kicking game. However, they were guilty of committing too many transgressions, leading to several penalties, and as a result, they struggled at times to get out of their half.

With some impactful replacements in the second stanza, South Africa were able to pull away from England by crossing the tryline three times to finish the game strongly and securing a second win.

SA flanker Josh Neill had a good come on the side of the scrum, while Riley Norton (lock) continued with his industrious form as he also took over the captaincy later in the game from Sethu Mnebelele. Amongst the backs, Vusi Moyo (flyhalf) and Akha Boqwana (fullback) delivered solid performances in the green and gold.

Moyo opened the scoring when he landed a long-range penalty goal from the middle of the field, and 10 minutes later South Africa had their first try on the board through right-wing Khuthadzo Rasivhaga. Moyo converted to take the lead to 10-0.

But just two minutes later, England replied with their only try of the half via scrumhalf George Newman, who dotted down over next to poles, and with flyhalf James Linegar slotting the extras, the score was 10-7 halfway through the first half.

The SA U18s continued to apply pressure through their hard-working forwards, and it was no surprise when No 8 Reuben Kruger barged over for their second try. Moyo was again on target with the angled conversion to stretch the halftime advantage to 17-7.

After the resumption, Moyo maintained the scoreboard pressure by slotting his second penalty goal of the afternoon to hand the hosts a comfortable 20-7 lead with more than a half hour of play remaining.

SA U18 coach James Winstanley then sent on a fresh midfield combination of Markus Muller and Pieter van der Merwe with 20 minutes remaining, adding more firepower to the attack against a fading English defence.

Fleetfooted Cheswill Jooste went over for SA’s third try with just over 10 minutes remaining when he collected a pinpoint grubber kick from replacement flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed, increasing the lead to a solid 25-7.

However, England gathered some momentum when their No 8 and captain, Connor Treacey, went over under the sticks for their second converted try to make it 25-14, giving the visitors some hope.

It was not to be though as the SA U18s hit back from the restart when Jooste scored his second try of the day when he showed his dazzling pace out wide to outstrip the English defence after some good handling by the South Africans in the red zone.

Replacement scrumhalf Elgernon Meyer sealed the deal a few minutes later with another good try, from a deft chip kick into space, to put the result beyond England at 39-14.

Scorers:

South Africa 39 (17) – Tries: Cheswill Jooste (2), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Reuben Kruger, Ellie Meyer. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2), Yaqeen Ahmed (2). Penalties: Moyo (2). England 14 (7) – Tries: George Newman, Connor Treacey. Conversions: James Linegar (2).

In IsiXhosa there’s an ancient precept, ‘Ungakhwazi ungekaphumi ehlathini’, which means it is unwise to celebrate prematurely.

Perhaps this saying best describes the type of campaign that the Mamelodi Sundowns u19 team has had in the Gauteng Development League (GDL).

The Tshwane-based unit’s fan base and its players might have celebrated a touch too early when they were sitting pretty at the top of the standings, unbeaten in 17 games and with only 16 matches left in the season.

Four weeks later, Sundowns lie third after being leapfrogged by Kaizer Chiefs (1st place) and, more recently, by Highlands Park (2nd place).

However, that slide is not all their own doing. A run of postponed fixtures, including last week’s outing against Tuks, and a loss to Sevens Academy, when they last played, has led to a loss of momentum.

While ‘Downs have slipped down the standings, Highlands Park, slowly but surely, have climbed the ladder.

The “Lions of the North” have had a season whose story has been similar to that of Sundowns, except it has happened in reverse. They had a slow and poor start to their campaign but are now peaking at the right time, at the business end of the competition.

On the weekend, Highlands Park beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 away from home to move into second place on the log, only three points behind the Amakhosi and with two games in hand. They’re now well positioned to successfully defend the title they won so impressively in 2023.

In other fixtures, Kathorus Hyper Academy and Panorama FC had to settle for goalless draws against Wits Junior and SuperSport United, respectively.

Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School beat East Rand Athletic Club 2-1, Jomo Cosmos scored a 1-0 win over Joburg City, and Randburg AFC and Sevens Academy tied 2-2.

RESULTS

Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 2-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Kaizer Chiefs 2-3 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 2-2 Sevens Academy
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks postponed
Kathorus Hyper Academy 0-0 Wits Junior
Panorama 0-0 SuperSport United
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 Joburg City
Remember Elite Sports Academy vs School of Excellence postponed
NWU Vaal vs TS Galaxy (Not processed as NWU Vaal failed to produce medics and an ambulance)

Eunice began the 2024 hockey season with more hope than certainty. They had lost several experienced players, the cohort responsible for their outstanding 2023 campaign which saw them finish the year as the best team in the country.

By the end of the 2024 season, coach Nika Coertzen‘s young side was better, smarter, more mature, and ready for 2025.

“I think the rocky start we had to the season showed how much experience we had lost. But that’s life. We had to start somewhere again and build from there,” Coertzen said, as she reflected on a busy year.

However, Eunice’s start to 2024 wasn’t all doom and gloom. They appeared at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival eager to show that while they are not the juggernaut side that dominated 2023, they were also not a side to be underestimated.

In Johannesburg, facing the cream of the crop from across South Africa, Eunice raised their game and beat a disciplined and strong Paarl Gim side 2-1 to reach the final.

“The girls were so disciplined in executing a game plan and we got rewarded for it. Paarl Gim is such a well-coached team, and we have a lot of respect for them on and off the field,” Coertzen said.

Four months later, Eunice had played 55 games. Despite a demanding schedule, which pitted them against many of the country’s top sides, they won 32, lost 16, and drew seven, scoring 165 goals while conceding 77.

Two of their players earned national recognition – Bianca Rees-Gibbs was selected for the SA u18A team and Georgia Kambanis made the SA u17A side.

They were not the only players to enjoy outstanding seasons. Their senior players, captain Trusten Barnard, vice-captain Zandri Wiid, and Gretha Zietsman, kept level heads and held the team together, helping it to navigate tough periods. Their goalkeeper Christene Fouchè showed great improvement and bailed Eunice out in several tough encounters.

“These players were very visible and easy to point out, but they couldn’t have done it without the help of their teammates,” Coertzen said. “A lot of youngsters have grown. They stepped up and I am extremely excited about what else they have to offer. But it is difficult to single out players as teamwork makes the dream work.”.

The Eunice coach understands that her side has to deliver on the Astro, but her approach extends beyond that. She strives to maintain a balance of competitiveness, hard work, and fun.

“That is the key to a successful team. You want players to graft hard but also make memories that will last them a lifetime. And, yes, academics is the most important thing, but the life skills learnt on the sports field develop a well-rounded person for life,” she elaborated.

“Besides the hockey, it is about understanding a player and building a relationship with them in order to get the best out of them. That trust between a player and coach, and players with one another, takes time. It is of the utmost importance. As mentioned before, a happy team is a successful team,” Coertzen added.

The results of her approach were evident in the manner in which Eunice ended the season. They were not at their best when they went up against Oranje in their final league game of the season, slumping to 1-5 loss at the hands of their neighbours and rivals.

Two days later, they met Oranje again in the Fairtree Super 12 and, instead of shrinking and allowing Oranje to have their way with them, Eunice took the fight to their opponents and held them to a 1-1 draw before winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

That victory against Oranje was not their only highlight from the tournament. They came back from trailing 0-2 to record a draw against Durban Girls’ College, and they also registered a draw against the champions, Rhenish.

“We played our best hockey as a team at this year’s Top 12. It was like our passing game came together and we played a good brand of hockey. The girls showed character and demonstrated that this team, as a collective, will never give up,” Coertzen said.

The Super 12 campaign showed off the growth of an inexperienced lineup. They were on fire early in the season when they convincingly beat Clarendon, but only one week later they looked like a deer in the headlights as they struggled to string passes together.

“The key is patience and time. Yes, it was very challenging at times, but a special group like this year’s is always willing to learn, and putting in the hard work makes it worth every grey hair I accumulated. They trusted the process and I am exceptionally proud of the way we finished the season,” the coach added.

Coaching is about managing all the qualities brought to the table and making magic with the cards you are dealt, Coertzen reckoned. However, that magic wouldn’t have happened without her management team and coaches, the parents and other supporters, who rooted for the side throughout the season, she said.

“It is genuinely much appreciated and a massive TEAM effort. I am incredibly proud of the team of 2024 and, when I reflect back on the year, I cannot help but have a smile of gratitude.”

However, Coertzen is not content to rest on this year’s highs and hope for a better season next year. She is already planning for the 2025 season.

The South African Football Association (Safa) has named the boys’ and girls’ squads that will represent the country in the 4^th edition of the CAF African Schools Championships, which will be hosted by Namibia from 9-12 September.

The announcement comes after the u15 National Championships were successfully held from 9-10 August at Sturrock Park, in Johannesburg.

Gauteng won both the boys’ and girls’ titles. KwaZulu-Natal dominated the tournament but paid the price for wasteful finishing when the titles were on the line, with Gauteng winning both finals by narrow 1-0 margins.

Safa President Dr Danny Jordaan said he was impressed by the emergence of so many talented players as the organisation continues to develop a stronger base.

“Congratulations to all the players that have made the list. This is always such a proud moment because development is the cornerstone of Safa and Vision 2030,” Jordaan said.

“After the South African u15 girls’ national team returned home with continental silverware in May after winning the CAF African Schools Football Championship in Zanzibar, this is a continuation of that journey. Congratulations.”

Safa Technical Director Walter Steenbok said the tournament produced an overwhelming number of emerging players from across the country, adding that the national body was happy with the progress the provinces were making to develop more talent.

“We have selected a group of players that were born in the year 2010, and most of them have natural talent. They will help the county dominate at youth level over the next few years,” Steenbok said.

“We are looking forward to an exciting tournament in Namibia, and hope that we will not only be able to retain the girls’ trophy for a fourth year in a row but also bring the boys’ championship back to South Africa.”

Full Squads