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The opening day of the u20 Women’s Cosafa Championship saw an impressive total of 13 goals scored as eye-catching action lit up the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Soweto Campus Stadium on Tuesday.

The tournament favourites, South Africa and Zambia, demonstrated their prowess, with both winning comfortably, to affirm their status as the leading contenders for the trophy.

The hosts, South Africa, opened their account with a 4-0 win over Mozambique in the second match of the opening day.

From the moment the match kicked off, both teams showed positive intent. As South Africa gained confidence, they began to connect passes effectively, and they won most of the duels.

The home side came close to taking an early lead after captain Mmabatho Mogale earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Sikelelwa Mhlanga fired off a shot at goal, but it hit the crossbar and Mozambique breathed a sigh of relief. They appeared somewhat disorganised in the early going and also came close to conceding an own goal.

Mozambique was living a charmed life as South Africa dialled up the pressure. Tanna Hollis had a golden opportunity inside the box to put the hosts ahead, but goalkeeper Graca Machengo pulled off a fine save to deny her.

South Africa’s breakthrough came after an exceptional run from the player of the match, Nobahle Mdelwa, who set up Adrielle Mibe for the first of her three goals. Mozambique responded well, showing strong resolve as they sought an equaliser.

Before the break, both teams squandered key opportunities, particularly South Africa, who should have extended their lead.

The home team suffered a setback when Tanna Hollis, who had enjoyed a strong first half, was unable to return to the field after half-time due to an injury. Hollis is a key player in the team, so the local side will hope she heals quickly.

Hollis was replaced by Thato Mofolo, who went on to score the fourth and final goal of the contest, which highlighted the depth and strength of South Africa’s squad.

Their resilience and depth will be tested on Wednesday when they face a formidable Zambian side.

Zambia grabbed the spotlight on the opening day, overwhelming Lesotho 9-0 in a match that they dominated from the first whistle to the last. That final score accurately represented the flow of the game.

The Zambians quickly established their dominance, with Lubasi Pumulo striking twice within the space of a minute.

Before long, Saliya Mwanza, who was later named the player of the match, extended the lead to 3-0.

Further goals were netted by Bwayla Chileshe, who struck twice, Ruth Muwowo, who also scored a brace, and Zangose Zulu and Mary Mbewe.

South Africa and Zambia do battle on Wednesday. An exhilarating and engaging match is expected. Both teams showed strength and composure, with a shared preference for maintaining ball control in their openers. Their showdown is likely to thrill spectators.

Botswana faces Mozambique at midday on Wednesday. The South Africa versus Zambia match follows at 15:00.

Victor Sehata, Kamogelo Morema, and Enock Morima will all return for a second stint in the Limpopo Impalas squad at the annual Khaya Majola Week, which will be held from 16-20 December in Cape Town’s southern suburbs.

Follow all the action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Sehata and Morema, both from the Mohodi Cricket Hub, made their bow at last year’s tournament after a historic year for the Mohodi side, which became the first Hub team in South Africa to claim a schools’ league title.

It was, unfortunately, a difficult week for the men from Limpopo, who managed only one victory from their five matches.

Since then, the pair has gone from strength to strength. Sehata was the leading runs scorer in the Limpopo Super 8 League this year, scoring 257 runs at an average of 51.40, including three fifties.

Morema was among the leading wicket-takers in the league, finishing in the top five after snapping up 13 wickets in six appearances. Mahlodi Sekuba earned a call-up, too, giving Mohodi three players in the team.

The Limpopo Champions, Hoërskool Pietersburg, deservedly, also has three representatives, with their most noteworthy inclusion being that of Hanno van Zyl. The all-rounder was in the mix to go to the Khaya Majola Week in Makhanda last year but opted to represent the province at the National Sevens tournament instead. This year, he takes his place in the Limpopo lineup alongside his fellow Pieties’ all-rounder, Nicholas Oerlemans, and opening batsman Philip Weterman.

The Impalas, also, boast the service of the province’s leading wicket-taker and left-arm spinner, Timothy Baker. Baker, Merensky Landbou Akademie‘s mainstay in 2024, racked up an outstanding 18 wickets in just six league games. Just like the man from Tzaneen, Luca van der Merwe, from Hoërskool Nylstroom, is the sole representative of his school.

The experienced Enock Morima will be joined by his Phalaborwa Hub teammate, Bradley Rickotso, while the Hoërskool Piet Potgieter’s fast bowler Du Preez Coetzee and batting all-rounder, Muhammed Muaaz will fly Mokopane’s flag high in Cape Town.

LIMPOPO IMPALAS SQUAD

Victor Sehata (Mohodi Hub), Kamogelo Morema (Mohodi Hub), Mahlodi Sekuba (Mohodi Hub), Ntshuxeko Sebata (Giyani Hub), Muhammed Muaaz (Piet Potgieter), Du Preez Coetzee (Piet Potgieter), Lucas van der Merwe (Nylstroom), Timothy Baker (Merensky), Enock Morima (Phalaborwa Hub), Bradley Rickotso (Phalaborwa Hub), Phillip Weterman (Pietersburg), Hanno van Zyl (Pietersburg), Nicholaas Oerlemans (Pietersburg).

Management

Head Coach: Ben Benzien
Assistant Coach: TK Kepekepe
Manager: Thato Jidde

The champions of the third edition of the Gauteng  Women’s Soccer League (GWSL) have been crowned, with Mamelodi Sundowns lifting the title on Sunday at the Rovers Football Club in Alberton.

Banyana Ba Style lost their first match of the tournament, going down 1-2 to the inaugural champions of the GWSL, Diepkloof Ladies FC.

After that, the Sundowns’ Ladies did not look back. They dominated their opponents to reach the gold match of the championship. There, they defeated Royal Lions 3-1 in a penalty shootout after regular time had ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Mamelodi Sundowns also exhibited their class in a 3-1 win over Electrical Ladies FC in the semi-finals. Royal Lions were made to work hard for their place in the final by Hallelujah Zebra Force, with Lions claiming a narrow 4-3 victory in a tightly-contested clash.

The final of the GWSL was also graced by many South African football personalities, including Fran Hilton-Smith, who is recognised as one of the pioneers of women’s football in South Africa. Lauren Duncan, the Banyana Banyana team manager, and Janine van Wyk, the former captain of Banyana Banyana, were also present.

After the conclusion of the GWSL, SuperSport Schools Plus sat down with Mondli Dube, the director of the tournament. He reflected on a successful event that had taken place over three weeks and showcased women’s football at Rovers Football Club.

Dube expressed his admiration for the outstanding display of skill and strategy demonstrated by the teams, noting that the sides executed accurate passes, implemented insightful tactics, and engaged in innovative approaches, which highlighted the players’  commitment and comprehension of the sport.

Additionally, Dube spoke about the importance of communication, remarking on how players collaborated and supported one another. He appreciated the diverse styles exhibited by the teams, said Dube, as well as their resilience and determination.

However, he particularly valued the sportsmanship displayed, stating that “the mutual respect between players and coaches, regardless of whether they experienced victory or defeat, often leaves a lasting impression.”

“The GWSL serves to empower young girls by showcasing their skills and talents. This league helps girls to build confidence and inspire others to pursue sports and their dreams,” Dube said.

It also fosters inclusivity by providing avenues for engagement and celebration, thus confronting stereotypes associated with gender roles in sports, he added.

Dube’s hope and vision for the tournament’s future 

Looking towards the future, Dube expressed his desire to broaden the GWSL and to encourage greater interest from additional teams, whom he believes are missing out on opportunities. He also hopes to add more age groups, Dube shared, and he would like to further enhance community involvement by collaborating with local schools, youth organisations, and businesses, to promote the event effectively.

One of the ways he hopes to achieve those goals is by making use of technology, including live streaming, to reach a wider audience and to provide families who are unable to attend events with a means to follow the action. Dube said he, also, envisions the development of an app to manage team schedules, track statistics, and provide field maps, thus ensuring accurate documenting of the tournament.

To enhance the economic impact, Dube plans to offer vendors opportunities by inviting local food trucks, merchandise sellers, and activity booths to be a part of the event, thereby fostering a festive environment.

Naturally, corporate sponsorships would go a long way towards making those goals a reality.

To promote inclusivity and representation, Dube is proposing the organisation of special clinics, such as coaching workshops led by professional players, to inspire the next generation. Additionally, he intends to establish scholarship programmes to create opportunities for underprivileged teams or players to participate in the tournament.

In conclusion, Dube said he envisions the tournament as a vibrant festival, featuring off-field entertainment, including live music, skills competitions, and family-oriented activities, to attract more attendees. He also emphasised the importance of cultural exchanges by hosting events or ceremonies that celebrate the diversity of the participating teams.

RESULTS

16 November

Quarterfinals

Hallelujah Zebra Force 4-0 Rand Central LFA
Electrical Ladies FC (4) 1-1 (1) Future Stars
Royal Lions 2-0 Kempton Park Stars
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Spring Home Sweepers

17 November

Semi-finals 

Royal Lions 4-3 Hallelujah Zebra Force
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Electrical Ladies FC

Final 

Mamelodi Sundowns (3) 1-1 (1) Royal Lions

Tré Gilbert will lead an experienced 13-member Eastern Cape Iinyathi u19 side at the 2024 edition of the Khaya Majola Coke Week to be contested in Cape Town from 16-20 December.

The Selborne College captain is one of 10 players who were present at the 2023 Khaya Majola Week. Jacques van der Merwe, Chulumanco Macozoma, Ryan Denston, Bevaneo Maytham, Lithemba Nomoyi, Chad Clark-Evans, Adam Rogers, Waeden Plaatjies, and Hlumelo Ntola are the other nine. Gilbert and Denston also featured at the showpiece in 2022.

Aaron Senekal and Inga Mafanga played at the 2023 u16 Week, while Canton Hartnick is making his maiden appearance on the national stage.

Despite the vast experience in the side, Simon Sakhele, the Iinyathi head coach, is not taking any chances with preparations. The next 26 days will be packed with activities for the team.

Iinyathi has team-building activities, will play against the Eastern Cape Iinyathi Colts on 28 and 29 November, and will also play against the u16 team. Sakhele’s side will set a target in their first outing against the Colts and chase in their second.

“The match against the u16 side is not a glorified net session. We want the boys to score as many runs as possible in match conditions. It is also part of our preparations for the 2025 Khaya Majola Week. Some of those boys will have moved up to u19,” he explained.

The Iinyathi team will also have a three-day camp just before they leave for Cape Town.

“We will use all these activities to assess players’ strengths and weaknesses. That will help us upskill the boys as they head into the tournament,” Sakhele said.

The coach has a lot of talent at his disposal. He has an outstanding contingent that is not limited to his solid top-order batsmen, Van der Merwe, Gilbert, Maytham, and Rogers.

Van der Merwe, a left-arm spinner, participated in the Cubs Week last year and is also a member of the Iinyathi’s 2024 T20 team. Like Van der Merwe, Gilbert featured for the Cubs team last year, and he also turned out for the Iinyathi Colts team.

Murray Spence, Selborne College’s Master of Cricket, described the Iinyathi captain as a fine player who understands when to be aggressive and when to manipulate the field. One of Gilbert’s strengths is his excellence against spin bowling.

“Adam Rogers is a brilliant opening batsman. He likes to manipulate the field and does so really well,” Spence shared. “He is also a good right-arm off-spin bowler and a gun fielder.”

Iinyathi has, in Ryan Denston and Aaron Senekal, two gifted all-rounders. Both are explosive with the bat. Denston is a leg-spinner, while Senekal, who captained the 2023 Iinyathi u16 team, is a medium-pace bowler with good variations in his arsenal.

Sakhele said one of his goals is to get the best out of his top and middle order during their Khaya Majola campaign. “Our plan is for the boys to play fearless cricket. They can only do that if they have a full understanding of what is required of them,” he explained.

The coach’s preparation is not limited to on-field activities. The Iinyathi coaching staff is also working to mentally prepare the boys for the tournament.

“We need to equip them with the tools to deal with pressure. Also, some of these players have never been out of the province. It can be daunting to be out of your comfort zone,” the coach shared.

Eastern Cape Iinyathi u19 Squad

Jacques van der Merwe (Selborne College), Chulumanco Macozoma (Hudson Park), Tré Gilbert (Selborne College), Ryan Denston (Queen’s College), Bevaneo Maytham (Queen’s College), Lithemba Nomoyi (Hudson Park), Chad Clark-Evans (Stirling High), Adam Rogers (Selborne College), Waeden Plaatjies (Selborne College), Hlumelo Ntola (Dale College), Inga Mafanga (Dale College), Aaron Senekal (Selborne College), Canton Hartnick (Buffalo Flats Hub).

Easterns have certainly had the pick of the litter for this year’s Khaya Majola Cricket Week, which takes place from 16-20 December in the southern suburbs of Cape Town.

Follow all the action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

With sides like Hoërskool Kempton Park, Marais Viljoen, and Hans Moore punching far above their weight and producing outstanding cricket talent throughout the 2024 season, it will be interesting to see how Easterns, one of the smaller unions, fares against some of the bigger names at the week.

The side from Eastern Gauteng’s leadership core will feature returning players, Aldre Huyzers, last year’s hattrick and seven-wicket-haul hero, Parth Patel, and Sabelo Mabanga.

Huyzers is joined by a couple of his Marais Viljoen teammates, including the talented wicketkeeper/batsman, Jaden Govender, who has graduated from the region’s junior structures. Alongside Govender, Cayden Ramage and top order batsman, Tian Kühn, will also make their way down south with the team.

Kempies, the Easterns’ School SA20 champions, have two representatives in the talented JJ Havenga and all-rounder, Wian Pieters, who, also, led Kempton Park to the quarterfinals of the Fain Noordvaal competition.

Xavier Coetzee is Hans Moore’s only representative. He played a pivotal batting role in the school’s historic season, which ended with them winning the Noordvaal competition for the first time in Hans Moore’s history.

Mabanga, in his second stint, will be joined by another Actonville Hub representative, Tshegofatso Nthare. Nkosibonile Sibisi is the Dudaza Hub’s sole representative, while Tlotlo Nchabaleng, from Christian Brothers College, and Ahmed Imraan, from Benoni High School, will aim to fly the flag high as the only representatives of their schools.

EASTERNS SQUAD

Sabelo Mabanga (Actionville Hub), Xavier Coetzee (Hans Moore), Aldre Huyzers (Marais Viljoen), JJ Havenga (Kempton Park), Jaden Govender (Marais Viljoen), Nkosibonile Sibisi (Dudaza Hub), Tlotlo Nchabaleng (Christian Brothers College), Cayden Ramage (Marais Viljoen), Wian Pieters (Kempton Park), Parth Patel (St Benedict’s College), Tian Kühn (Marais Viljoen), Tshegofatso Nthare (Actionville Hub), Ahmed Imraan (Benoni High School).

Management

Head Coach: Onke Mtsiba
Assistant Coach: Seun Beya
Manager: Andrew Smith

Preparations for the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament are well underway, with just two weeks remaining before the u19 event kicks off at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pools in East London.

The annual competition, which features boys and girls competing in the u13, u14, u15, u16, and u19 age groups, takes place from 7-11 December and brings together the top provinces from across South Africa, plus the Aussie Crocs, a team from Queensland, who will be competing in the u19 IPT for the first time.

Western Province won the boys’ title in Gqeberha last year. They will have to wiggle their way past tough opposition if they are to go back-to-back under coach Jabulani Sibiya.

It’s an open race, with KwaZulu-Natal, Central Gauteng, and Buffalo City among the strong challengers vying for spots on the podium.

A team that wants to include themselves in that conversation is Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). The boys from Gqeberha will enter the tournament seeking to improve on their seventh-place finish in 2023, which was followed by fifth place at the Currie Cup, in March.

Coach Daniel Ward is the man entrusted to lead the team after taking over the reins from Seth Harty.

In his team, Ward has named five players from St Andrew’s College: Adam Nurse, Coel Trollip, Joshua Hinks, vice-captain Calum Emslie, and soccer sensation Asante Chivere.

From Pearson High, he has selected captain Daylan van Niekerk, along with Rolan Swanevelder, Zandre Botha, Jacques De Koker, and Josh Groener.

Two players from Grey High – Spencer Adshade and Blake Peinke – have been included in the lineup, while Oliver Martin, from Woodridge College, completes the squad.

“The team selection for the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) u19 boys came from me and a strong group of coaches on the selection panel at trials,” Ward told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“There are exciting combinations from St Andrew’s College and Pearson High School. Fortunately, most of the boys played together last year at the u16 IPT.”

Seven members of the squad featured for NMB at the Currie Cup, so cohesion should not be an issue. An area of concern, however, has been their preparation, with half of the team based in Gqeberha, while others are in Makhanda, over 120km away.

The players have had to stay disciplined and train on their own, as Ward explained: “Preparations for IPTs are never easy when you’re trying to find time between end-of-year exams and getting players from Gqeberha and Makhanda together at the same time.

“The players have been able to keep fit during the week at their schools, but having the whole team together regularly has been difficult.”

The majority of the players were members of the Nelson Mandela Bay u16 side that finished fifth at the IPT in Gqeberha last year. Despite moving up an age group, the coach believes his players can replicate that good showing.

“There is a point to prove,” he said. “We’re going into the tournament with a goal, and we’ll take it one step at a time.

“We know what competition lies ahead of us. Our biggest battle will be our mentality going into the games. The team has great potential, but they can’t lose the game before they get into the pool.

“It would be a great achievement for them to make it into a semifinal,” he concluded.

Nelson Mandela Bay u19 team

Adam Nurse, Asante Chivere, Calum Emslie (vc), Coel Trollip, Joshua Hinks (St Andrews College), Daylan van Niekerk (c), Zandre Botha, Jacques De Koker, Josh Groener, Rolan Swanevelder  (Pearson High), Spencer Adshade, Blake Peinke (Grey High School), Oliver Martin (Woodridge College).

Head coach: Daniel Ward
Manager: Bryce Jennings

The schools rugby season in the Eastern Cape is set for another cracking start next year when the early shots are fired at the annual Graeme College Festival in Makhanda from 20 to 22 March.

A total of 26 first teams will be involved in matches from Thursday to Saturday on the Somerset field, while the age-group teams will also have a chance to showcase their talents on the Marais fields.

An exciting inclusion next year is Johannesburg school St John’s College, who place an emphasis on playing a skilful, smart brand of rugby and will definitely pose a threat to their opponents.

St John’s have been regular participants in the annual Grey High Festival in Gqeberha, but this will be their first visit to the Graeme College event and they are sure to be motivated to make a statement.

Graeme, in fact, will host the Johannesburg outfit in the festival finale on the Saturday afternoon and it should make for an absorbing conclusion to three days of exciting schoolboy rugby.

Another team making a rare appearance in Makhanda will be Woodridge College, based at Thornhill just outside Gqeberha.

Although their smaller numbers mean they battle to match the bigger schools, Woodridge has worked hard at their sport, and it will be interesting for them to face East London opponents Port Rex Technical High.

Woodridge College will be involved in only one match, as will one of Makhanda’s top sides in St Andrew’s. They will be in action only on the Saturday, but it should be a humdinger against Gqeberha team Framesby, who will also play just one game.

Graeme College kicks off their programme on Thursday with a tough opener against Brandwag from Kariega, whose perennially hard-forward play, linked to speedy backs, always makes them a threat.

In addition, the top guns in Eastern Cape rugby will all be in action, with Gqeberha’s Grey High and East London’s Selborne College playing only on the Friday.

Grey have what has become something of a traditional fixture with Hudson Park, whom they don’t play in their annual schools’ programme, and Selborne will be up against the resilient Marlow Agricultural team.

Pearson and Queen’s College from Komani will have a rematch after the Gqeberha side won 19-11 in this year’s festival, which should be one of the highlights of the opening day. It is the main curtain-raiser to the Graeme-Brandwag showdown.

After some strong performances in recent seasons, Kingswood will be looking to lay down a marker when they play Stirling on Thursday and Muir on Saturday.

The scheduled First XV fixtures are:

Thursday | 20 March 2025

09:15 – Port Alfred vs Mary Waters
10:30 – Muir College vs Otto du Plessis
11:45 – Cambridge vs St John’s College
13:00 – Kingswood College vs Stirling
14:15 – Pearson vs Queen’s College
15:30 – Graeme College vs Die Brandwag (Uitenhage)

Friday | 21 March 2025

09:15 – PJ Olivier vs Mzansi Academy
10:30 – Woodridge College vs HTS Port Rex
11:45 – HTS Daniël Pienaar vs Union High
13:00 – Grey High School vs Hudson Park
14:15 – Nico Malan vs Dale College
15:30 – Selborne College vs Marlow Landbou

Saturday | 22 March 2025

09:15 – Cambridge vs Otto du Plessis
10:30 – Stirling vs Pearson
11:45 – Queen’s College vs Die Brandwag (Uitenhage)
13:00 – Kingswood College vs Muir College
14:15 – St Andrew’s College vs Framesby
15:30 – Graeme College vs St John’s College

Highlands Park’s u19 head coach, Sifiso Mnguni, and his team lifted the 2024 Gauteng Development League (GDL) trophy on the weekend, following a 3-0 victory over East Rand Athletic Club.

Heading into the contest, Mnguni and his young troops were under immense pressure given that they were level on points with coach Surprise Moriri‘s Mamelodi Sundowns team.

Ahead of the final round of fixtures, Moriri’s team enjoyed a superior goal difference to Mnguni’s side, which saw the Brazilians enter their final fixture sitting atop the standings.

For the first time since the first half of the season, Sundowns had taken over at the top, with Highlands Park, who had set the pace since then, ceding the position.

It did not help Mnguni and Highlands Park when bad weather and a wet field led to the postponement of the last fixture of their 2024 campaign a week earlier. However, the “Lions of the North” dealt with the high stakes and the nerves that accompanied the postponement comfortably and walked away with the trophy.

After a thrilling end to a hard-fought and entertaining GDL season, the top three ended as they had done in 2023, with Highlands Park crowned the champions, Mamelodi Sundowns finishing in second place, and coach David Mathebula‘s Kaizer Chiefs having to settle for third.

Highlands Park’s title was confirmed when Mamelodi Sundowns met Kaizer Chiefs at Naturena on the weekend, with the teams effectively neutralising one another and sharing a 1-1 draw, which ensured that the title remained in the hands of the defending champions..

In the u17 division, Mamelodi Sundowns was confirmed as the league winner. Coach Selekedi Mogale‘s charges beat Sevens Academy 4-3 on the weekend, courtesy of a brace from Ntokozo Madondo and further goals from Thando Singo and Kagiso Maloka.

2024 GDL League Winners

Highlands Park – u19
Mamelodi Sundowns – u17
Mamelodi Sundowns – u15
Kaizer Chiefs – u13

After five long years of hard work, Hoërskool Eldoraigne‘s first cricket team has finally entered the ring with Pretoria’s biggest names.

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

They’ve worked their way up to join the likes of Waterkloof, Affies, and Garsfontein in the Titans Platinum A-League after convincingly beating Hoërskool Centurion by seven wickets in their promotion/relegation match on 13 November.

Playing a day/night match away from home, the Woeries won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to put some scoreboard pressure on the Eldoraigne side.

Things, however, did not go to plan, as the home team’s sharp fielding and good spells from Reinhardt Haasbroek (3/21) and Matthew Sampson (3/25) set the tone.

Centurion captain, Morné Prinsloo, the younger brother of the talented Charl Prinsloo, who led the side earlier this year, fought back well with an important 47 runs.

Unfortunately for the visitors, apart from opening batsman, Leon Gunter, who battled his way to 35 runs from 75 deliveries, there was little support for Prinsloo’s effort. Still, the Woeries had something to defend after losing their last wicket with the score on 150. The hard-hitting Benyael Morkel did a good job for Eldoraigne, also showcasing his abilities with the ball by snapping up 2/33 in support of Haasbroek and Sampson.

Knowing the conditions well and with momentum on their side, the Eldo openers set things up nicely for the home side’s run chase.

Ryno Mulder got proceedings off to a flyer with a quickfire 23 runs before he was sent back to the pavilion by Centurion’s most successful bowler on the day, Morné Venter, who added further spice to the contest when he got rid of Morkel for a first-ball duck, on his way to a return of 2/25 from six overs.

Kyle de Bruin, however, teamed up well with Ruan Steyn to take the game away from the visitors. De Bruin kept a cool head after three wickets had gone down in quick succession, batting at a brisk pace despite the pressure being exerted by the Centurion attack. His unbeaten 56-ball knock was the key to Eldoraigne’s victory and it included nine fours and a six in an unbeaten 70.

Steyn worked the ball around effectively before going on the attack, which brought him an undefeated 45 and a match-winning partnership of 102 runs with De Bruin, which saw the green wave across the line in only the 24th over.

Summarised scorecard

Hoërskool Centurion 150/10 (Morné Prinsloo 47, Leon Gunter 35; Reinhardt Haasbroek 3/21, Matthew Sampson 3/25, Benyael Morkel 2/33); Eldoraigne 151/3 (Kyle de Bruin 70*, Ruan Steyn 45*, Ryno Mulder 23; Morné Venter 2/25). Eldoraigne won by seven wickets.

Western Province, KwaZulu-Natal, and Central Gauteng lead the pack as the favourites for the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Water Polo Tournament, and rightfully so.

That trio will enter the annual tournament, which takes place in East London from 7-11 December, high in confidence and with a spring in their step after showcasing some of their best water polo in 2024.

In their respective squads, they boast many players who represent some of the top schools’ teams in the country, including some who played for the South African team at the World Aquatics Men’s u18 Water Polo Championships in Argentina in July.

Province are known for their unorthodox approach to tournaments under coach Jabulani Sibiya, while KZN and Central Gauteng are no strangers to the big leagues. Earlier this year, they contested the Currie Cup final, which Gauteng won 8-6.

A team that will have a point to prove, however, is Buffalo City, who will host the inter-provincial u18 tournament at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pools.

The Eastern Cape side is on a mission to reignite water polo in the region by mixing it up with the big guns and forcing their way into the conversation about title contenders.

They finished a solid fifth at last year’s IPT in Gqeberha and followed that up with a fourth-place finish at the Currie Cup earlier this year.

Buffalo City has shown progress, and the forthcoming tournament will provide them with a chance to again prove their competitiveness against the best teams from around the country. And they’ll boosted by their passionate home supporters.

At the helm will be newly appointed head coach Storm Siebert, who has taken over the reins from Khanyisa Mpumlwana.

Siebert is also the first team coach at Selborne College and has enjoyed success with the side in recent seasons. He’s been promoted within the provincial structures after a stint with the u16 team.

The Buffalo City team he’ll lead boasts a mixture of experience and youth and Siebert believes they stand a chance of making an impact despite facing some challenges ahead of the tournament.

“I believe the team that has been chosen is the strongest team possible, and the boys play together regularly at school level,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“The chemistry and synergy will be there at IPT.

“Our preparation has been good so far, with us being able to practice quite often. But I must say, match time is an issue due to where we are situated and not much opposition to play against.”

In the Buffalo City region, only a limited number of schools – Selborne College, Hudson Park, Merrifield College, and Stirling High School – have a fully functioning boys’ water polo programme. The 2024 Buffalo City team is made up entirely of players from Selborne.

Siebert has been forced to deal with the cards that he’s been dealt and, instead of complaining, he has embraced the opportunity and set realistic expectations for his team.

“Being the underdogs is definitely something we will be embracing throughout the tournament. These boys thrive on the underdog label and we will have absolutely nothing to lose,” he said.

“I firmly believe a top-four finish is a realistic goal if everything goes according to plan and the boys show up in those important moments.

“The boys are extremely excited to compete at IPT, and they are a group of boys that will fight for each other until the very last whistle. I can’t wait to see what they produce this year, and I know, regardless of the end result, I’ll be extremely proud of their efforts.”

The team will be captained by Daniel Breetzke and Kairon Roux, who will be playing in their final IPT alongside Sean Audie.

The tournament also marks a milestone in Siebert’s coaching career. It will be the first time he leads a senior team at an IPT, and that’s something he’s excited about.

“I was absolutely stoked with the opportunity to coach the u19 Buffalo City Boys team for the first time,” he admitted.

“It is a big step up from age group level coaching, and I can’t wait to learn and grow as a coach over this IPT.”

Buffalo City u19 team

Eythan Assam, Sean Audie, Matthew Bean, Daniel Breetzke, Thomas Caswell, Liam Hansen, Mitchell Holl, Connor Maree, Rodney Mashaya, Kairon Roux, Dominic Stegmann, Samuel van der Venter (all Selborne College).

Non-travelling reserves

Gino De Ascencao (Stirling High), Michael Oliver (Stirling High), Daniel Stead (Merrifield College), Luke Stegmann (Selborne College).

Head coach: Storm Siebert
Manager: Joshua Carr