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Edendale Technical High, led by coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo, is set to represent the South African girls’ team at the CAF African Schools Football Championship in Tanzania from 21-24 May.

In July 2023, Edendale and the Ubuntu Football Academy won the girls’ and boys’ titles at the 2023 Winter National Schools Sport Championship in Benoni, which secured them a place in the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) final in Harare, Zimbabwe, in December.

The South African sides, which were allowed to also include players from other schools, under the guidance of the South African Football Association (Safa) and through the Confederation of Africa Football (Caf) regulations, were both victorious, thus securing places at the CAF finals, which will be hosted in Tanzania from 21-24 May.

Edendale beat Botswana 3-1 in their final, with a double from Khwezi Khoza and a third goal from Rethabile Molefe confirming their progress to the continental showpiece. Khoza finished the qualifiers as the event’s top goal scorer, netting 11 times.

Last year, in the CAF Finals, Edendale was eliminated in the early rounds after stumbling against Morocco and Senegal at the King Zwelethini Stadium in Umlazi, just outside Durban.

The team to challenge for the title in Tanzania has been bolstered by a number of talented players, including Katlego Malebane, of Mamelodi Sundowns, and the 13-year-old Akhona Simamane, of Lindelani Ladies FC.

Malebane joined Sundowns at just eight years of age and has proudly worn the yellow, blue and green jersey ever since.

She left spectators mesmerised during the Kapstad Cup in 2022 and was one of the top players during the inaugural season of the Gauteng Women’s Development League in 2023, which the Brazilians won under the guidance of coach Rhoda Mulaudzi. Malebane has also represented the South African u17 national team.

At just 13 years of age, Akhona Simamane appeared in the Hollywoodbets Super League, the top flight of women’s football in South Africa. Now she’ll be afforded an opportunity to make her mark beyond the country’s borders.

Her club Lindelani Ladies FC trumpeted Simamane’s selection on their social media channels, and her achievement was widely praised, with Lindelani also being lauded for providing a platform for young girls to showcase their talents.

u15 South African Girls Team 

Jersey	First Names	Surname	Position	SCHOOL
4	Asanda	Ziqubu	CB	Edendale Technical High
3	Andiswa	Zuma	LB	Edendale Technical High
16	Thando	Mokgabudi	GK	IFA Secondary
1	Siphumelele	Zibula	GK	Edendale Technical High
2	Alwande	Mbatha	CB	Edendale Technical High
9	Lethuthando	Mthembu	CF	Villiersdorp Secondary
5	Akhona	Simamane	RB	Isivananda High
11	Nzuza	Nomfundo	RW	Edendale Technical HighHigh
15	Londiwe	Zikalala	CDM	Inhlakanipho High
10	Katlego	Malebana	RW	Boksburg High School
12	Rethabile	Molefe	LW	M.O.M Seboni Secondary
7	Khwezi	Khoza	CAM	Inhlakanipho High School
6	Okuhle	Sithole	RW	Kwamakhutha Comprehensive
8	Dineo	Makoala	CF	Thetha Secondary School
17	Mazibuko	Mpumelelo	CAM	Edendale Technical High

Technical Team

1. Coach: Ntombifuthi Khumalo
2. Manager: Sihle Basi
3. Female Safeguarding Officer: Nokuthula Gumede
4. Technical Department: Keneilwe Mathibela
5. Physiotherapist: Anita Masolo Baloi

A Pretoria derby will capture the spotlight this weekend when Hoërskool Zwartkop plays host to Hoërskool Eldoraigne in their annual FNB Classic Clash at the Zwartkop Astroturf on Friday night.

The opening push-back happens at 18:20, and you can catch all the hockey action on SuperSport Schools.

Eldoraigne heads into the contest chasing a second straight win against the hosts.

In last year’s encounter, coach Stefan Coertzen’s side was victorious, claiming a 2-0 victory. In 2022, it ended 1-1, while Zwartkop scored a narrow 1-0 win in 2021.

“The Classic Clash is always an exceptional occasion between the two schools,” Coertzen told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the game.

“It is always a very competitive match, with both sides having to adapt to the roaring crowds and festivities around the Astro.

“We will have to stay humble and not let the game get too big, keep believing in ourselves. We need to stick to our principles and be adaptable to every situation.”

The teams have had contrasting starts to the season, with Zwartkop finding the going tough, while their opponents, despite a slow pre-season, have hit their stride.

In their last three outings, Zwartkop lost 1-3 to Menlopark and 0-2 against Pietersburg in the 3^rd/4^th NWU Prestige Competition playoff, but they won 2-0 win against Sutherland High School.

Their opponents, on the flip side, have been scoring with ease in recent weeks. They thumped Oos-Moot 11-0 and Transvalia 5-0 earlier in the season, but Affies stopped the side from Centurion, handing them a 0-2 defeat.

In their most recent matches, Eldoraigne cruised to a 6-0 victory over Sutherland and edged out Montana 3-2. Based on past results, they should be considered the favourites ahead of Saturday’s big game.

Earlier in the season, Eldoraigne was in action at the KES Easter Festival. Coertzen believes those matches helped his team’s development.

⁠”Taking part in the KES Easter Festival accelerated the growth of the team,” he said. “The results might have not gone our way, but the way we managed to compete with some of the top hockey schools in South Africa shows that the boys improved very quickly for the pre-season period.”

The hosts know they will need to show character and grit in front of their home supporters. It’s going to be a stern test of their skills.

They will be able to draw inspiration from some of their more impressive showing this season, including a 5-0 win over Marais Viljoen.

They will look to Douw Nel, who is in grade 10 and made the provincial side, to help steer their challenge.

Rochè Oberholzer, who was selected for the Northerns’ men’s indoor B team, is an experienced player who will be key, as their general, in the middle of the park.

The visitors will look to their leadership group to step up in a hostile environment. Skipper Kade Poonasamy alongside the team’s three vice-captains – Markus Zeelie, Ewan van der Walt, and Christian Ruytenberg – are some of the players to keep an eye on.

TEAMS

Zwartkop: Jaden Hefer, Marnu Mulder, Douw Nel, Jordan Cooks, Roché Oberholzer, Handré Coetzee, Divan Coertze, Gerhard Scheepers, Luan de Jager, Edrich Grobler, Gareth Jooste, Handru Dickinson (c), Henko Zaayman, Juan Dempers, Emile Rossouw, MJ van der Nest

Eldoraigne: Aiden Troskie, Christian Ruytenberg, Daniël Fourie, Duncan Eloff, Ewan van der Walt, Hanco Nel, Iwan Thompson, Daniel Beneke, Kade Poonasamy (c), Leon Wiesemann, Markus Zeelie, Nathan van Zyl, Nico Jansen van Rensburg, Ruan van den Berg, Sean Jones, Stefan Malan, Jordaan Otto, Tyron Bouwer

NOORDVAAL FIXTURES

Friday, 17 May

17:30 – Garsfontein vs Cornwall
18:20 – Zwartkop vs Eldoraigne
17:50 – Menlopark vs Waterkloof

There’s a busy programme awaiting the Eastern Cape’s top girls’ hockey teams this weekend, with sides seeking to further hone their skills ahead of the annual SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament, which rolls around in less than a month.

This weekend will see, among others, Westering High School, Pearson, Woodridge College, and Cambridge High in action, all eager to add a tick to the win column.

The two stand-out matches will be late-morning Saturday showdowns, when Diocesan School for Girls Makhanda (DSG) hosts Collegiate Girls’ High in a clash which is expected to produce fireworks. Meanwhile, in Qonce, Kingsridge (KHS) takes on Clarendon.

The visitors, from East London, will be favoured to win. Almost a month ago, coach Luaan Sedras’s charges claimed gold at the Spar Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge, defeating Hudson Park 2-1 on penalties after the final had finished deadlocked at 0-0.

Soon after, they were humbled by Eunice Girls High, who hit on all cylinders in a shocking 10-0 thrashing of Clarendon.

After a bye weekend, however, Clarendon returned to action on Wednesday and put on a show against Ooskus Gimnasium (formally known as Grens), scoring nine unanswered goals.

Their record against the Qonce side is solid. Last season, it was one-way traffic as they rocketed to a 15-0 victory.

There will be a lot on the line in the match between DSG and Collegiate in Makhanda. They, together with Pearson, are arguably the most dangerous teams in the province, which has been borne out in their results when they’ve competed elsewhere in the country.

Earlier this month, Collegiate participated in the National All Girls Festival in Potchefstroom and finished in an impressive seventh spot.

Last weekend, during their 150^th reunion, they took on Pearson. There was nothing to separate the teams as they shared a goalless draw.

DSG, meanwhile, has put together a nice run of victories. Over the past weekend, they thumped Cambridge High 7-1. The week before that, Stirling High was handed a 7-0 loss, and Hudson Park was beaten 2-1 late last month.

DSG will also be brimming with confidence after claiming top honours in the Spar Hockey Challenge last Sunday, where they beat Kingswood 3-1 in the final.

Both teams have players who have been selected to represent Eastern Province at the annual SASHOC IPT in Bloemfontein. Collegiate’s Alulutho Adams, Tiara Finnis, and Gemma Bouwer feature in the U18A lineup, while DSG has Kayleigh Clayton, Hannah Lowe, Abigail Holderness, and Mike Holder in the same EP squad.

In last year’s meeting, it was the side from Gqeberha that claimed a tight 1-0 win at home.

The eagerly awaited clash will, also, present coaches Geowynne Gamiet and Michael Abrahams with an opportunity to assess where their teams stand in the provincial pecking order ahead of the mid-season break.

FIXTURES

Friday, 17 May

17:20 – York High vs Pearson High
17:30 – Alexander Road vs Westering High School

Saturday, 18 May
10:00 – Outeniqua vs Pearson High
10:30 – Woodridge College vs Union High School
10:50 – Stirling High vs Cambridge High
11:00 – Kingsridge Girls High vs Clarendon High School for Girls
13:15 – DSG Makhanda vs Collegiate Girls’ High

 

Eight of the country’s top hockey-playing girls’ schools will converge on St Anne’s Diocesan College to do battle for the inaugural St Anne’s Cup, starting on Friday morning.

Eunice, St Mary’s DSG (Kloof), Durban Girls’ College (DGC), Waterkloof, St Anne’s, Menlopark, Beaulieu College and St John’s DSG will be aiming to make history by becoming the winners of the inaugural event.

“St Anne’s [has] always had a vision to create a platform for young female athletes to showcase their skills and engage in friendly competition. We recognised a gap in the calendar for a full-chukka tournament, and we knew it was time to make it happen,” the host’s coach Morné Odendaal said.

Odendaal and the rest of the St Anne’s team are aiming to turn the tournament into a highlight on the school sports calendar. They appear to be halfway towards that goal even before the first edition has kicked off. Earlier this year, DGC’s coach Chardinay Penniston, and Carla Ann Mackay, the St Mary’s coach, shared that winning the St Anne’s Cup was one of their goals for the season.

Both teams have been in good form and will be in contention for the title. Most recently, St Mary’s thumped Thomas More College 8-0 on Tuesday. It’s the latest in a sequence of wins that they have strung together since a 2-3 loss to DGC in April.

Reflecting on her team’s performance against Thomas More, Mackay said: “The girls played a good brand of attacking hockey, so I’m hoping we can just continue this good form over a very exciting weekend of hard hockey.”

DGC, meanwhile, has maintained an unbeaten run that dates back to the St Mary’s Festival in Johannesburg. In their last three matches, Penniston’s charges have produced emphatic results, defeating their opponents 5-0, 5-1, and 5-0. If they maintain that kind of form, a second title in less than three months could be on the cards.

While St Mary’s and DGC appear to be the favourites on paper, they will be wary of the challenge posed by the other competitors, in particular, Eunice.

Nika Coertzen’s team has sailed in choppy waters in their past few games. They lost to Oranje in their Free State derby last week and will be keen to show that they are over that defeat. They made the final at the St Mary’s Festival, and their goal at the St Anne’s Cup will be to go one better.

Odendaal explained the hosts’ goals for the tournament: “Our aim is to foster a competitive atmosphere where teams can test themselves and grow, all while having fun and demonstrating good sportsmanship. We believe that strong competition brings out the best in players and coaches, leading to lasting memories and valuable experiences.”

To help create those lasting memories, St Anne’s has ensured that all teams will be accommodated on the Hilton school’s campus.

“This unique arrangement encourages participants to spend more time together, promoting camaraderie and allowing for friendships that extend beyond the hockey field,” Odendaal said.

“The St Anne’s Cup is more than just a tournament. It’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.

“Our goal is for these relationships to endure long after the tournament ends.”

POOLS

Pool A

St Anne’s, Durban Girls’ College, Waterkloof, Beaulieu College

Pool B

St Mary’s DSG, Eunice, Menlopark, St John’s DSG

FIXTURES

Friday

08:00 – St Anne’s vs Beaulieu, 08:00 – Waterkloof vs DGC, 09:15 – Eunice vs St John’s, 10:30 – St Mary’s vs Menlopark, 11:45 – DGC vs Beaulieu, 13:00 – St Anne’s vs Waterkloof, 14:15 – St Mary’s vs Eunice, 15:30 – St John’s vs Menlopark.

Saturday

08:00 – St John’s vs St Mary’s, 08:00 – Menlopark vs Eunice, 09:15 – St Anne’s vs DGC, 09:15 – Waterkloof vs Beaulieu, 13:00 – A3 vs B4, 13:00 – A4 vs B3, 14:15 – A2 vs B1, 15:00 – A1 vs B2.

Sunday

08:00 – 5th & 6th, 08:00 – 7th & 8th, 09:15 – 3rd & 4th, 10:30 – Final.

Selborne College prides itself on producing not only outstanding hockey players but, also, leaders and characters who will go above and beyond for the school badge on the AstroTurf.

Their 2024 captain Tre’ Gilbert fits that description.

He’s a born leader, a character in the changing room, and a player many others look up to.

Aged 18, Gilbert is humble but confident and his excellence on the Astro has captivated hockey enthusiasts within the Amathole region and elsewhere around the country.

Ahead of his side’s showdown with Dale College in Qonce on Friday, Gilbert sat down with SuperSport Schools Plus hockey writer Avuyile Sawula for an exclusive interview.

In it, he spoke about where his love for hockey began, his achievements on the turf, and his team’s objectives for the 2024 season.

Love for the game

Gilbert was introduced to hockey from a young age. Growing up in East London, he attended Selborne Primary from five years of age. In the winter, he opted for a hockey stick. In the summer, he chose a cricket bat.

At home, both sports were encouraged, but he invested more time and practice towards honing his hockey skills. The inspiration to take the sport seriously also came from his father, Baden Gilbert.

“I played hockey from a young age, for as long as I can remember,” Gilbert said. “It was one of the sports I loved.

“My dad played a massive role in me liking it because he was at Maritzburg College and played pretty much his whole life. It’s something he and I have always bonded well over.

“That’s why it was pretty special for me to get my 50^th cap at Maritzburg College against College, and my dad was there to witness it, so that was special,” he shared.

On the turf

He’s a versatile player, able to operate effectively in multiple positions, and in recent years Gilbert’s game has progressed to increasingly higher levels.

Before joining the College, he made his mark representing the Amathole side at under-13 level, when he was in grade six and seven.

When he moved to the high school in 2020, it was at the height of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, that meant, just like every other schoolboy hockey player in the country, he missed out on a season to sharpen up his game.

In 2022, he debuted for the Selborne College first team, while in grade 10, in a match against St Stithians College at the Hibbert Shield. He also ran out for Amathole at the annual Sashoc IPT.

When questioned about his favourite positions to play, Gilbert said: “In terms of positions, I have played centre-back from primary to high school. I played centre-back for the first team in grade 10, and last year.

“I, also, occasionally play centre-link, provincially and nationally, as I’ve been earmarked as a versatile player. I can slot in wherever needed.

“I must say, though, I probably prefer playing push-up centre-back, where I push up into the mid-field, as an extra player.”

Representing South Africa

In 2023, the Selborne skipper was included in a strong 18-player squad to represent South Africa at the Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia.

The u17 lineup featured the top talent from across the country, including, among others, Paul Roos Gimnasium’s Reuben Sendzul, who led the side, SACS’s Reece Theunis and Litha Kraai, Durban High School’s Lumi Matwele, and Bishops’ playmaker, James Grieve.

In Malaysia, Gilbert and his peers excelled, capturing the silver medal after losing 3-4 against India in the final.

The experience was one he cherished, Gilbert said, because it helped him to shape his game, and it also allowed him an opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the country.

“It was a real eye-opener, just to see the level of intensity and commitment those guys train with,” he commented.

“I saw a culture of hard work, and I wanted to bring that back to the Border region, and to Selborne hockey, and I think that can be seen through our results.

“I learned a lot about the professionalism of the game, as well.

“The tour made a massive difference. I took a lot from my coaches and my peers, and that’s probably my biggest learning curve. It’s helped tremendously to get me to where I am today, in terms of my hockey.”

2024 season

The Selborne College side, for a second season running, is led by head coach KJ Friend, assisted by Luke Ferreira.

The team began the season in the best manner possible, racking up a 15-game winning streak, before losing 2-5 to Grey College, a week before the Hibbert Shield.

In Gqeberha, they started poorly but recovered as the tournament progressed to finish in ninth spot, above Clifton College, St Stithians College, and Pearson High.

“I think, at the start of the season, we came out with a bang and plateaued when we played against Queen’s (1-1), and Grey (2-5), and those were disappointing results for us.

“I feel like we went into Hibbert with those games in the back of our heads. But, as the tournament progressed, I think we started finding our game.

“We defeated St Stithians College (6-1), Pearson (2-0), and Clifton (4-0), and our goalscoring ability came back, so it was a good time to peak again.

“We know we need to keep winning if we want to reach our goal of finishing as one of the country’s top five teams,” he concluded.

Selborne will seek to add another victory to their long list of wins this season when they visit Qonce to take on Dale College.

They head into the contest fully aware that the hosts pulled off an upset victory over Queen’s College at the Queen’s reunion in Komani.

Dale will also be highly motivated to shock the favoured Selborne team as it’s their 163rd reunion. However, previous meetings favour Selborne. Last year, they won both home (6-0) and away (7-1).

Catch all the action LIVE from Qonce on SuperSport Schools.

Other matches

In other Friday fixtures, Kingswood College hosts Victoria Park in Makhanda, while Stirling High School, and Cambridge reignite their rivalry in East London, and Westering plays Alexander Road.

Grey High, after thumping Queen’s College 6-0 last weekend, will host their Gqeberha rivals, Pearson High, and Woodridge College locks horns with Union High.

FIXTURES

Friday, 17 May

16:00 – Dale College vs Selborne College
17:00 – Kingswood College vs Victoria Park
18:00 – Stirling High School vs Cambridge High
18:30 – Westering vs Alexandre Road
19:00 – Grey High vs Pearson

Bishops Diocesan College, after bouncing back impressively from a few missteps at the Hibbert Shield, will be aiming for two wins in succession when they host a struggling Paarl Boys’ High side on Friday night at the Woodlands Astroturf.

The boys from the southern suburbs were back in action last weekend after finishing in joint fifth position, alongside Durban High School (DHS), at the Hibbert Shield the week before.

Before heading into their game this past weekend, they faced South African College High School (SACS) in a mid-week match.

In that clash, both sides gave it a good go, but the defences were solid.

Bishops created several goal-scoring opportunities but were left to rue wasteful finishing when SACS opened the scoring in the third chukka through Litha Kraai.

However, just as they’ve done in many of their matches where they’ve trailed, coach Ryan Julius‘s side fought back to level the scores, with a David Handley goal earning them a 1-1 draw.

On Friday night, away at Fairmont, Bishops upped their game, delivering a mature performance to boss their opponents and claim a solid 5-0 win.

The goals were spread around, with Thomas Ludlam, Harry Morgan, vice-captain Andrew Raubenheimer, Joshua Mettler, and captain Robert Veldtman all scoring.

“We are in a good position. We are riding a good wave at the moment, and we need to enjoy it for as long as we can,” Julius told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“As a group, our culture and ability to grind out pressure moments is one thing I am incredibly impressed with. I look forward to another opportunity to build on this against Paarl Boys’.”

Before the match against Fairmont, Julius stressed the need for his side to capitalise on the opportunities they create. They need to “bury their chances” or they could find themselves in trouble against top teams, he said.

Julius has echoed the same sentiment this week, emphasising how important finishing from his forwards will be against Boishaai.

“If I can be overly critical, our finishing needs to be more clinical, and our forwards know this,” he said. “So, building on that theme from last week is going to be important for me.

“It’s my job as a coach to come up with a plan that I think would work, but they need to execute it, and I trust them to be able to implement that, come Friday.”

In Paarl Boys’ High, Bishops comes up against a side that has been struggling for form in recent weeks.

Last weekend, they were in Bloemfontein to take on Grey College. The hosts won that match 3-0.

Before that, Boishaai went down to Somerset College, Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Wynberg Boys’ High, scoring four times while conceding 15, admittedly against three quality opponents.

Winning at Woodlands would be an unexpected upset for the Paarl side, against another high-quality outfit, but stranger things have happened.

Western Cape Fixtures

Friday, 17 May 

16:00 – Worcester Gimnasium vs Strand
18:25 – Fairmont High vs Reddam House
18:30 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Bishops Diocesan College
19:00 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Durbanville
19:15 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Curro Durbanville
19:30 – Parel Vallei vs Somerset College
19:45 – Paarl Gim vs Paul Roos
20:00 – Stellenberg vs SACS

Saturday, 18 May 

10:00 – Belville High vs Langa hockey club
10:00 – Rondebosch 2^nd vs Brackenfell High

Northwood claimed their second win of the 2024 KZN High Schools Football League‘s Coastal A League competition on Tuesday, defeating Durban High School (DHS) 3-2 at Queensburgh High.

The Knights have had a challenging start to their 2024 campaign and went into Tuesday’s clash at the bottom of the Coastal A league table after recording one win, a draw and three losses in their first five matches. Against DHS, though, they were convincing winners, and the victory has revitalised their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition.

Rhys Millar grabbed the spotlight with a double, while Sphesihle Gigaba was also on target, as Northwood claimed a much-needed win.

With the victory, the school from the north of Durban is up to fifth in the standings and Port Shepstone, last season’s beaten finalists, falls below Northwood, with six points from six games.

Sheppie suffered a heavy defeat, going down 1-4 to the table-topping Westville Boys’ High. Ntando Ngcobo struck twice for the Griffin, while Bande Gumede, and Bayanda Dlamini also found the back of the net. Saneliso Madlala netted a consolation goal for Port Shepstone.

Monday’s results showed how closely contested the Coastal A League is, with the outcome of one game able to significantly change the standings.

Currently, Glenwood and Westville lead the pack, with 13 points each. Both teams secured victories in week six, with Glenwood triumphing 3-0 over Bechet. The Sydenham school has performed impressively this season, but Tuesday’s setback leaves them three points adrift of the leaders.

Pinetown High, after a goalless draw with Hillcrest High, is just one point behind Bechet, while Hillcrest occupies seventh position, just above DHS.

FIXTURES 

u19 Inland A, 15 May

Maritzburg College

16:45, Field 1 – Maritzburg College A vs Linpark

16 May

Maritzburg College

15:00, Field 1 – Maritzburg College B vs Carter

Alexandra High School

15:00, Field 1 – Haythorne vs Newton
16:00, Field 2 – Alex vs Ixopo

u19 Coastal B, 17 May

Queensburgh High School

15:10, Field 1 – Empangeni vs Grosvenor
15:10, Field 2 – Ashton Ballito vs Queensburgh
16:10, Field 1 – Amanzimtoti vs Redwood
16:10, Field 2 – New Forest vs Sastri College

u19 Inland B, 17 May

Alexandra High School

15: 00, Field 1 – Heritage vs Edendale
15:00, Field 2 – Alex B vs Maritzburg College B
16:00, Field 1 – ML Sultan vs Thornhill
16:00, Field 2 – Riverwood vs Northbury

The Fairmont High School girls’ hockey team will take a trip to Stellenbosch, intent on causing a major upset when they take on Rhenish Girls’ High School in one of the big matches in the Western Cape this weekend.

The first push-back on Rhenish’s main Astroturf is at 19:00 on Friday evening.

Catch all the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Despite producing mixed results in recent weeks, Fairmont has impressed hockey enthusiasts with an attractive brand of hockey this season.

The side, coached by Jarryd Curran, has punched above its weight, accruing a number of upset wins on its way to establishing itself as a serious threat to some of the big guns.

They began their season at the York Easter Festival, where they thumped East London’s Cambridge High 4-0, before slotting a whopping nine goals against St Dominic’s.

Their impressive run in George also included a 1-0 win over Outeniqua, a 2-2 draw with York High, and an emphatic 8-1 victory over Victoria Park in their last outing.

“We had a very good pre-season with the group – loads of preseason fixtures and tournaments – and the girls started finding their feet but, all in all, it was good,” Curran told SuperSport Schools, ahead of his side’s showdown with Rhenish.

“We haven’t had the best start to the season in terms of the league. We’ve been unfortunate with two big injuries recently, which might slow down the progress of the team, but we have to look forward and just make sure we get better each game.”

Curran’s side also participated in the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey tournament and, after an unbeaten run in the pool stages, they finished as the winners of the Plate.

“Yes, using tournaments as preparation was really good,” he said.

“At Belgotex, we went unbeaten throughout but, unfortunately, fell short of the Cup semi-finals due to points in our group.

“But we remained focused on our goal and stayed unbeaten and won the Plate Section.”

More recently, Fairmont’s results have been mixed. In their last four matches, they’ve won two, lost one, and played to a goalless draw against DF Malan.

Their wins, against Stellenbosch High and Westerford, were both by emphatic 5-0 margins.

They did, however, go down 0-3 to Somerset College, the winners of the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament, and coach Curran knows exactly what his charges need to work on, if they wish to avoid a similar outcome on Friday.

“It is never easy playing Rhenish, but it’s always good to test ourselves against a well-coached and driven team,” he said.

“It will take a lot of mental strength to beat them. Not only are they physically dominant, but they are also very smart hockey players, so to get into the game we will just have to be smarter than them.

“We will also have to be very disciplined and take our chances, and make sure we are ready for the battle.”

The Stellenbosch side will be tough to beat. They’re enjoying a strong season under the guidance of head coach, Chris Gerber.

Recently, at the National All Girls Festival, they narrowly missed out on Gold, going 2-3 down to Affies Girls in a penalty shootout after regulation time had ended goalless.

Sienna Graser and her Fairmont team will be hard-pressed to stop the confident Rhenish girls in their own backyard. Composure and experience are not lacking in the Fairmont side, however, with several players reaching first team milestones this year.

Camryn Corner, Madison Ackerman and Gabriella Grasso all received their 50th caps for the team earlier in the season.

Tatum O’Brien, Sarah Swanepoel, and Leah Buckley have also joined the 50-club, while Sienna Graser and Kaylin Bastard recorded their 100th caps for the Green Machine.

Other matches

The weekend’s action gets underway at Worcester Gimnasium, who welcome Strand for their final match of the term.

Paarl Girls’ High takes on La Rochelle, while Parel Vallei battles Somerset College in a big derby match.

Rustenburg Girls’ High will host Springfield Convent School, and Herschel Girls School meets Stellenberg High School in a late game.

On Saturday, Melkbosstrand faces Brackenfell, before a big clash between Paarl Gimnasium and HMS Bloemhof.

FIXTURES

Friday, 17 May

15:00 – Worcester Gimnasium vs Strand
17:30 – Paarl Girls’ High vs La Rochelle
18:20 – Parel Vallei vs Somerset College
18:30 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs Springfield Convent School
19:00 – Rhenish Girls’ High vs Fairmont High School
19:05 – Herschel Girls School vs Stellenberg High

Saturday, 18 May 

08:00 – Melkbosstrand vs Brackenfell
10:15 – Paarl Gimnasium vs HMS Bloemhof

Both Paarl Gimnasium and Paul Roos Gimnasium will set their sights on getting back to winning ways when they lock horns in an eagerly awaited Boland Derby in Paarl on Friday night.

The match, to be played on Paarl Gimnasium’s main AstroTurf, kicks off at 19:45.

Catch all the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

Last weekend, both produced results away from home which would have disappointed them.

In their most recent match action, coach Jacques Grobler’s Gim side travelled to Rondebosch Boys’ High for a Friday showdown, seeking a boost after the Hibbert Shield.

At the tournament in Gqeberha, Gim, without a doubt, performed below their expectations, finishing in eighth spot after rather unconvincing performances during the knockout stages.

After placing second in their pool, they lost 2-5 to the same Paul Roos in the quarterfinals. Then, they went down 0-2 to Bishops on penalties, before suffering a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Durban High School (DHS).

As much as they were expected to claim the win against ‘Bosch, the boys from Paarl were met by a resilient team that gave little away defensively, and the clash ended in a 2-2 draw.

Juan Swanepoel opened Gim’s account in the second chukka against Rondebosch, but a strike late in the fourth chukka, from Stefan Wiehahn, was needed to rescue a share of the spoils.

Paul Roos, meanwhile, visited South African College High School (SACS) to reprise their meeting in the final of the Hibbert Shield on the Brewery AstroTurf.

They showed great character and composure to claim the Hibbert Shield 6-5 on penalties, after clawing their way back from a 0-3 deficit to tie up matters 3-3 in regulation time, but they couldn’t replicate that brave showing on Friday evening.

They were dominated and outplayed by a SACS side that was intent on avenging their loss. PRG showed positive signs during the first two chukkas, but poor discipline cost them heavily in the second half, and they went down 2-6.

To win, away from home, coach Michael Baker’s team will need to tap into the positivity and big match temperament attitude that took them all the way to the title in Gqeberha.

In the last “in-season” meeting between the teams in May last year, it was PRG who came out victorious with a 2-0 win in front of their home supporters.

To be successful again, Paul Roos will need several players in key positions to deliver the goods. They include Barend Geldenhuys, who has been a lively performer this season. Joshua Smit, who played his 50th match for the first team against SACS, and scored, will be another key player.

Callum van Oudsthoorn, Reuben Gouws, and captain Reuben Sendzul, are others who have the ability to cause the hosts problems.

Gim will not be phased by previous results, and they will head into the match knowing that the result depends on which side better capitalises on their chances.

They will bank on their skipper, LD Nel, finding the back of the net. He’s a proven force at penalty corner time, while Juan Swanepoel has been in prolific goalscoring form, too.

Swanepoel won the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament Player of the Tournament accolade and has maintained his strong form ever since then.

His goal glut has continued, and he was a scorer against Rondebosch in his side’s 2-2 draw last week.

Others who could be key performers include Johan van der Merwe and John Coetzee, who have both been included in the Boland u18 A side for this year’s Sashoc u18 Inter-Provincial Tournament.

Fixtures on the main Astroturf

14:30 – Paarl Gimnasium u16C vs Paul Roos u16C
15:30 – Paarl Gimnasium u16B vs Paul Roos u16B
16:30 -Paarl Gimnasium u14A vs Paul Roos u14A
17:30 -Paarl Gimnasium u16A vs Paul Roos u16A
18:45 -Paarl Gimnasium u19B vs Paul Roos u19B
19:45 -Paarl Gimnasium u19A vs Paul Roos u19A

Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA), located in Vereeniging, presents talented young footballers from the Vaal Triangle with opportunities to make their mark, not only on the field of play, but also in the classroom. And it offers them hope for a bright future.

RESA’s facilities are undergoing upgrades and renovations, while residential accommodation is being added to their facility, club chairman Xolani Mathumbo shared with SuperSport Schools Plus recently.

The academy currently accommodates 70 players, which reflects RESA’s dedication to the game and perseverance in the region over the last 25 years. During that time, the academy has established a record of excellence and has produced a number of players who have represented South Africa.

RESA began with dusty fields and rundown facilities, Today, it sports lush green grounds and a nurturing environment for the youth, presenting its young footballers with a favourable opportunity to chase their dreams.

It’s been a source of hope and inspiration in the Vaal Triangle, especially for those with limited resources but exceptional talent.

RESA regularly does battle with teams from the big cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg and excels. That success stems from a strong work ethic and a family-like environment. The goal is to make the academy a second home for its players.

RESA chairman Xolani Mathumbo shared his outlook with SuperSport Schools Plus: “Never allow anyone to limit your aspirations. Strive to soar higher each day.

“These lessons remind us that the world is interconnected. Regardless of race, we all share the same red blood.

“Always bear in mind that life is a continuous journey of growth and improvement.

“Our emblem symbolizes our roots, the path to self-improvement, and the importance of upholding life’s core values.”

Running RESA is a financial challenge, but Mathumbo highlighted the support of Ceramics Industries and TSX, which has stuck with the academy through thick and thin.

RESA’s teams, including u14 and u16 girls’ sides, and u13, u15, u17, and u19 boys’ teams, feature in the Gauteng Development League (GDL).

Through their exposure in the GDL, young talent has been scouted by leading Premier Soccer League clubs, with players signing with SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns, among others, which showcases the impact of RESA’s work.

Those players include Lucky Muthewi, who was scoring goals for RESA in the u17 GDL in 2023, and who made his DStv Premiership debut earlier this year for SuperSport United, and Thando “Shavula” Singo, who joined the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy from RESA in 2023.

Others RESA graduates who have gone on to make an impact in the professional ranks include Calvin Kadi, who played for Bidvest Wits, Orlando Pirates‘ midfielder Thabang Monare, Kaizer Chiefs’ midfielder Mduduzi “Mdu” Mdantsane, Lwandile Mabuya, who plays for Richards Bay, TS Galaxy midfielder Siphiwe Mahlangu, and Nhlanhla Shabala, the general secretary of the South African Football Player’s Union (SAPFU).