Luan Bornman was in action for Paarl Boys’ High at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament. Photo: Enhanced Sports Media (ES MEDIA)
The 2025 hockey season has been a positive one for the Paarl Boys’ High first team.
Under the tutelage of head coach Rowan McLachlan, Boishaai has played some enterprising hockey, troubled some of the top guns, and made spectators stand up and take notice.
They’ve been fearless in their approach. They’ve attacked with vigour and been defensively sound. If this season has revealed anything, it’s that Paarl Boys’ High is no pushover. They mean business.
A handful of players have been influential in helping the school to turn around its fortunes on the AstroTurf, after a tough 2024, and one of them is Luan Bornman.
The trusted goalkeeper made his 100th appearance for the side at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament, where Boys’ High finished in third place, behind Reddam House Constantia and South African College High School (SACS).
Bornman – humble, well-spoken, and respectful – became the second player in the school’s history to achieve the feat, following Elmar Liebenberg in 1991.
“It was a special moment,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus. “I felt very blessed, but at the end of the day, it was just another game.
“I have the same mindset going into each game, and I always tell myself that I can’t be overexcited or do anything out of character.
“With that said, though, I’ve learnt a lot in the past 100 games. Some lessons include not placing too many expectations on myself and keeping calm and composed in goal. These have helped me throughout the years.”
Luan Bornman had an impressive outing in his side’s meeting with Grey College in Paarl this season. Photo: EJ Langner
Bornman started playing hockey in grade five and joined Boishaai at a young age.
He recalled some of his earliest experiences and explained why he opted to be a goalkeeper.
“I became a goalie in grade five when my family and I moved from Gauteng to the Western Cape.
“I was exposed to hockey for the first time. I quickly saw that I wouldn’t be able to compete against the other players who had all the skills in the field, and I saw two ‘keepers, and I was interested.
“I told myself it can’t be hard, and that’s when I took it on and kept building on it until now.”
The shot-stopper also highlighted the positive influence of his parents and coaches during his journey.
Now, he looks forward to his final match for the school against Paarl Gimnasium in the famous interschools clash, which takes place on Saturday at 10:30.
“I’m very excited for interschools,” he shared, “and I think this year it’s more excitement than nerves.
“In previous years, I was nervous, but I’m now more comfortable and used to the tempo of the game. When you are young, you tend to let the occasion get the better of you, but I’ve grown with time.
“It will be a good match. I trust our matrics and the whole team fully. We have skilful players and great leaders, and I think they will handle the pressure well.”
Bornman is one of six grade 12 learners in the team. On Saturday, he’ll turn out for Boys’ High on the Astro for the last time alongside his teammates AJ Fourie, skipper AJ Mostert, Gideon du Toit, Joel Martini, Nicholas Swanepoel, and Tiaan Liebenberg.
Jeppe fared well in the battle for territory, but DHS scored three of their four tries from long-range to score a 24-10 win on Collard Field. Photo: Jeppe High School for Boys on Facebook.
In 2023, Durban High School (DHS) lost a nailbiter on the Collard Field, in Johannesburg, going down 36-39 to Jeppe High School for Boys. In 2024, on Van Heerden’s Field, in Durban, they beat Jeppe 24-20. On Saturday, the Horsefliesreturned to Johannesburg and claimed a 24-10 victory.
With the win, DHS improved their record in 2025 to 13 wins and only two defeats, both against unbeaten teams, Paarl Gimnasium and Westville Boys’ High.
Very quietly, Schoolhas produced a superb follow-up to their outstanding 2024 season, which, interestingly, concluded with the same 13 wins and two losses record. Their 2025 season is not yet done, however. They visit Northwood on Saturday.
When the teams met in Durban last year, Jeppe entered the game averaging 33 points a match while DHS had surrendered only eight a contest. It finished in the middle ground in favour of coach Peter Engeldow‘s boys. On Saturday, Jeppe repeated their 24-point output, but halved Jeppe’s output.
The visitors made a fine start to their quest for back-to-back wins over the Zebras, with their first points coming from a typically well-practiced and well-executed move. From a lineout five metres out, they hit the ball up through their forwards before feeding their bowling ball inside centre, Zingce Simka, with a flat, long pass.
Jeppe knew what was coming, but not even three tacklers were able to keep the powerhouse midfielder out. It wasn’t a difficult conversion, but Jordan van Wyk pinged his kick off the left upright, leaving the score at 5-0.
From the kick-off, it became something of a tactical kicking battle, with Jeppe playing the game down near the DHS 22, but when the home side bobbled a pass Simka picked up the ball and released left-wing Zenkosi Mthiyane. Hitting the afterburners, he raced down the left-hand touchline for a thrilling 70-metre try in the left-hand corner.
Van Wyk was narrowly wide from the touchline, but School could hardly have hoped for a better start, up 10-0 in the 10th minute.
In the absence of SA Schools A prop, André Poulton, Jeppe came ever so close to surrendering another try when they were shoved off their own put-in, just five metres from their try line. They survived, but DHS forwards’ coach Ronnie Uys must have loved what he saw.
To their credit, Jeppe rebounded, worked their way downfield, and put DHS under sustained pressure. The visitors had a narrow escape when an attempted clearance was charged down, but the in-goal area on Collard Field is small and the ball richocheted out of the field of play.
After DHS’s bright start, Jeppe had begun to boss the territorial battle. However, a decision to try a set piece move rather than kick to touch when they won a penalty only 10 metres from the DHS try line appeared peculiar. The end result was the visitors winning a penalty after effectively contesting a ruck.
Then, when DHS spilled a ball inside the Jeppe 22, a searing counterattack by the home side almost finished with a try, but their final pass, flat to a charging 8th-man Mihle Dyakala was forward.
Right before the halftime whistle, Jeppe’s industry and efforts were rewarded when captain, scrumhalf Talent Sithole, wriggled through the slightest of gaps to dive over from close range. Nehemia Hollenbach nailed the conversion, leaving only three points separating the sides after a fascinating first half of thrust and counter-thrust.
Coach Drikus Venter‘s players then carried the momentum they had enjoyed late in the first half into the second stanza and played a lot of rugby in the DHS half without managing to truly penetrate the rugged defence of the Durban boys.
With 17 minutes of the second half played, a massive clearance kick by flyhalf Jordan van Wyk into the Jeppe 22 was kicked into touch, but it put DHS on Jeppe’s halfway line with possession for the lineout. A pinpoint throw-in to the back enabled DHS to get a rolling maul moving. Then, a couple of dummy runners and two accurate long passes played centre Nathan Aneke into an outside gap.
Aneke, the lightning to his midfield partner Zingce Simka’s thunder, received the ball 45 metres out, pinned his ears back and rounded the Jeppe defence for a spectacular score. It was a gut punch for Sithole and company after they had played so much of the second half in the visitors’ half.
Fullback Cilermo Carolus took over the kicking duties and slotted the kick to, once again, open up a 10-point lead at 17-7.
DHS turned to a slow poison approach in the last 10 minutes, taking it to Jeppe with their pack driving the ball up, drawing the hosts’ defenders in to make strength-sapping tackle after strength-sapping tackle. Jeppe struggled to exit their 22. Eventually, though, they won a penalty, but when their kick for touch missed the mark, they were made to pay.
DHS quickly shifted play from the left-hand touchline back infield and to the right flank. It took only two passes, and Richard Gyamfi saw space in front of him. He raced through from 47 metres out for another five-pointer. Carolus, then, rubbed salt in the Jeppe wound by converting from the touchline.
The ability of DHS to strike from long-range was a feature of the clash. The accuracy of the visitors’ cut-out passes, shifting the ball wide at speed, left Jeppe exposed. If that was something that School had identified in the lead-up to the game – and knowing coach Peter Engeldow’s excellence at analysis, it likely was – they executed what they needed to do extremely well.
Jeppe, as always, kept fighting to the final whistle and it brought them the final say in the game when flyhalf Hollenbach snapped over a drop kick in the final minute. The day, though, belonged to DHS.
A pinpoint cross-kick led to Glenwood opening the scoring against Northwood at Reece-Edwards Field on Saturday. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Northwood School hosted Glenwood High on Reece-Edwards Field on Saturday, intent on securing a second successive season’s sweep over their Durban rivals. They did, winning 19-11, but it was far from a comfortable outing for the Knights.
For a long time, it appeared as if the day was going to belong to the Green Machine. They controlled most of the first half, more fluid than Northwood, whose rugged defence was put to the test.
For the early part of the second half, it was also Glenwood in the driving seat, but the hosts eventually found a way to win.
Glenwood started the brighter of the teams and quickly found some rhythm, hitting the ball up effectively around the rucks. Bit by bit, they forced Northwood deeper and deeper into the home side’s 22.
Then, a well-placed cross kick hung invitingly in the air. The Knights’ Savio Stevens leapt high, but Glenwood wing Sthabiso Dube had the advantage of running onto the ball and he hit it in his stride, leaping high and handsome to pluck it out of the air and crash over for a fantastic five-pointer within the first five minutes.
For the remainder of the first half, Northwood was mostly on the back foot, with Glenwood putting together some flowing passages of play, but they were kept at bay by the resilient Knights’ defence. It was 5-0 at the break to the visitors.
With their captain, centre Lizwe Mtetwa, featuring prominently, Glenwood enjoyed the better of the first half. Photo: Brad Morgan.
Early in the second half, Joshua Kopp extended the Glenwood advantage to eight points with an easy penalty kick. Another penalty put the Green Machine 11-0 ahead. They appeared in control and on course for victory.
But the match turned from the kick-off, when the Knights earned a penalty, which gave them possession and an opportunity to kick deep into the corner of the Glenwood 22.
“That’s our game plan. We spend a lot of time on our restarts, kicking to contest, so we can exert pressure, so that those things do happen. We were lucky enough for it to work out that way,” Northwood coach Jacques Deen told SuperSport Schools Plusafterwards.
Defending, the penalties began to pile up as Glenwood clung on, holding Northwood out. It came at a cost, though, as they had a player sinbinned for the deliberate collapse of a rolling maul. Even then, though, Northwood failed to take advantage of the opportunity, missing their next lineout throw-in.
They were, however, playing the match in the right area of the field and they trapped Glenwood behind their try line to force a five-metre scrum.
After being kept off the board for 45 minutes, Northwood, at last, were on the scoreboard through a try from Jed Mun-Gavin. Photo: Brad Morgan.
At last, 15 minutes into the second stanza, Northwood broke through for their first points, with scrumhalf Jed Mun-Gavin slipping through a gap from a ruck on the visitors’ try line to score.
Time continued to tick away, however, with Northwood still trailing 5-11 as the match headed into its last 10 minutes. Glenwood, though, was reduced to 14 players when the referee brandished a red card for a tip-tackle.
With four minutes to go, the Knights struck again. It was reserve scrumhalf, Ludi van der Walt, who did the trick.
Around him, with the game almost up, some of his teammates showed their frustration when he didn’t take a quick tap from a penalty, only five metres from the Glenwood try line. Van der Walt though, stayed calm, kicked to touch, and then crossed for the crucial try from the lineout that followed.
He converted his try, too, eliciting a roar from the home supporters as Northwood led for the first time in the contest, 12-11.
Ludi van der Walt twisted his way over the try line to pull Northwood within a point of Glenwood. Photo: Brad Morgan.
In the final minute, as happened when the teams met at Glenwood, the Knights dotted down, this time through ___. Van der Walt tacked on the extras, the final whistle sounded, and Northwood had won 19-11.
“Good teams find a way to win. Well done to our boys. It wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win,” Northwood coach, Jacques Deen said.
It had been a tough and frustrating slog for his side, who had struggled to put it together after a long holiday break and minimal preparation for Saturday’s match. Acknowledging Glenwood’s performance, Deen said the score should probably have been closer.
The wind was a big factor, and the Green Machine used it more effectively than the Knights for most of the match. Deen reflected: “We said let’s go against the wind in the first half and then use it in the second half, but it didn’t work out that way.”
Hleleni Mpendulo went over in the final minute of the match to secure a season’s sweep over Glenwood for Northwood’s Knights. Photo: Brad Morgan.
At halftime, he said: “I told them to stick to what we need to do, stick to their instructions, stick to our good points, like lineouts. But, today, for some or other reason, we couldn’t get our lineouts right. We didn’t read them.”
In the end, though, the message about sticking to their processes produced the desired results, and Northwood came away with the win.
Scorers
Northwood 19 (0) – Tries: Jed Mun-Gavin, Ludi van der Walt, Hleleni Mpendulo; Conversions: Ludi van der Walt (2). Glenwood 11 (5) – Try: Sthabiso Dube. Penalties: Joshua Kopp (2)
Results
u19 – Northwood I 19 Glenwood I 11; Northwood II 23 Glenwood II 14; Northwood III 22 Glenwood III 5; Northwood IV 17 Glenwood IV 5; Northwood V 34 Glenwood V 10.
u16 – Northwood A 20 Glenwood A 12; Northwood B 5 Glenwood B 0; Northwood C 24 Glenwood C 12; Northwood D 26 Glenwood D 17.
u15 – Northwood A 10 Glenwood A 11; Northwood B 8 Glenwood B 17; Northwood C 24 Glenwood C 7; Northwood D 17 Glenwood D 12.
u14 – Northwood A 28 Glenwood A 7; Northwood B 22 Glenwood B 10; Northwood C 19 Glenwood C 5; Northwood D 0 Glenwood D 5.
Jaydon Oosthuizen se driekuns aan drieë het vir hope drama en ‘n naelbyteinde aan die stryd tussen Hoërskool Randburg en Merensky Landbou Akademie gesorg.
In ‘n aksiebelaaide stryd van twee helftes het die besoekers van Tzaneen weggestap met gedeelde louere, nadat die tuisspan verbete teruggeveg het vir ‘n gelykopuitslag van 29-29.
Dit was terloops albei spanne se tweede gelykopuitslag, nadat die Plasies voor die skoolvakansie teen Potchefstroom Gimnasium met 41-41 gelykop gespeel het en die Randburgers vroeër in die kompetisie, teen die einste Gimmies, ook met 33-33 ewe goed was.
Dit het soos verwag ‘n uiters fisieke stryd onder die twee agttalle afgegee. Die tuisspan se Curwin Hill het, soos gebruiklik, vurig vertoon voorlangs, terwyl die Plasies se Carel Volschenk en Phuki Mpiti ook die pap dik aangemaak het.
Dit sou egter Oosthuizen en die Plasies se JD Boshoff wees wat die uitslag van die kragmeting bepaal.
Boshoff was uitmuntend vanaf die skopgekel en het met nie minder nie as vyf strafdoele en altwee doelskoppe geslaag, wat grootliks verantwoordelik was vir die Plasies se voorsprong van 23-5 met die omdraaislag.
Daarna het Oosthuizen vir die tuisspan opgedaag. Sy driekuns het die momentum in ‘n oogwink geswaai en die Randburgers terug in die wedstryd gebring.
Shane Serfontein het Hoërskool Eldoraigne se verdediging twee keer onverhoeds betrap in Hoërskool Dinamika se belangrike sege van 29-17 in Centurion. Dié tweekuns was welverdiend ná ‘n indrukwekkende vertoning op die aanval.
Voorlangs her Hendrik Alberts ‘n barshou gespeel in die los. Die kantman van Alberton was regoor die veld te sien en is ook met een van Dinamika se vier drieë beloon.
Bergsig Akademie se Bradley Stonehouse het die Eagles reeds vroeg in hul kragmeting met Hoërskool Ermelo laat voorloop, en voor gehou om uiteindelik met 38-25 koning te kraai. Stonehouse het aan die einde van 70 minute met vier strafdoele en twee doelskoppe gespog.
Vir die besoekers van Mpumalanga het agtsteman, Francois Homan, uitgeblink met ‘n tweekuns aan drieë.
Potchefstroom Volkskool het ietwat verroes voorgekom na die blaaskans, maar het steeds oor genoeg skietgoed beskik om vir Hoërskool Jeugland met 32-18 in Potchefstroom te verslaan. Slot Joshua van der Westhuizen het die pas voorlangs aangegee, wat uiteindelik vir binnesenter, terwyl River Samuel vir die tuisspan in die middeveld op die voorvoet gehou het.
Puntemakers:
Hoërskool Randburg 29 (5) – Drieë: Jayden Oosthuizen (3), Curwin Hill, Victor van Blerk. Doelskoppe: Josh Wiggett (2). Merensky Landbou Akademie 29 (23) – Drieë: Carel Volschenk, Phuki Mpiti. Doelskoppe: JD Boshoff (2). Strafdoele: Boshoff (5).
Dinamika 29 (7) – Drieë: Shane Serfontein (2), Hendrik Alberts, Zavian Mathys. Doelskoppe: Caiden van der Merwe (3). Strafdoel: Van der Merwe. Eldoraigne 17 (5) – Drieë: Kevin Earle, Darren Bruwer, MC Scheepers. Doelskop: Manie Buitendag.
Bergsig Akademie 38(19) – Drieë: Dylan Smith, Thabang Machubene, Paulo Dos Santos, Ryan Nagel. Doelskoppe: Bradley Stonehouse (2). Strafdoele: Stonehouse (4). Hoërskool Ermelo 25 (6) – Drieë: Francois Homan (2), Ruan Grobler, Hennie Geel. Doelskop: WJ Pretorius. Strafdoel: Pretorius.
Potchefstroom Volkskool 32 (11) – Drieë: Joshua van der Westhuizen, De Waal Coetser, Louis Fourie, Hennie Pretorius. Doelskoppe: Juhan Geldenhuys (3). Strafdoele: Geldenhuys (2). Jeugland 18 (5).
SACS were crowned the 2025 champions of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament after a dominant unbeaten run. Photo: Enhanced Sports Media (ES MEDIA)
South African College High School(SACS) scored a whopping 27 goals in five matches on their way to another Cape Town International Hockey Tournament title in the Mother City on Sunday.
After bossing play in the group stages and semifinal, SACS picked up from where they left off and defeated Reddam House Constantia 4-0 to lift the trophy at the Hartleyvale AstroTurf.
It’s their second Cape Town International Hockey Tournament title in the space of three years. They won it in 2023 and finished as the runner-up last year.
SACS, under the guidance of Sam Holmes, and Jody Erasmus, did what they normally do and selected a Stayers squad to do duty at the tournament. That meant that all first-team players who will be leaving the school at the end of the year were not eligible for selection. Instead, 1st team players not in grade 12 and u16 players were given a run
Matthew Lassen and Litha Kraai were the senior players in the team, guiding the youngsters, while the experience of players like Mohlodi Maseko, Daniel Graser,Cameron Cordeiro, and Cameron Groves came in handy.
In the group stages, SACS constructed a flawless run, defeating Somerset College 6-0, St George’s Weybridge 6-3, and Windhoek Afrikaanse Private School 3-1.
Then, they cruised to a 4-0 win over the UK’s Reed’s School in the cross-pool playoffs to book a place in the semi-finals against Hoërskool Outeniqua. They brushed off the George school’s challenge, winning 4-1, courtesy of goals by the experienced heads, Kraai, Maseko, and Lassen, before Daniel de Wet got his name on the scoresheet, to surge into the final.
Their opponents, Reddam House, had stunned Paarl Boys’ High 1-0 in the last four.
When SACS met Reddam in a league fixture back in June, SACS, at full strength, ran out 4-0 winners. On Sunday, their Stayers side rose to the occasion, repeating that scoreline with Kraai and Maseko both scoring twice to secure the title.
Holmes said they didn’t speak about the prospect of going all the way this year. It was about working on their processes.
“We don’t speak about winning or losing at all,” he explained. “We just look at what we want to achieve in a session or tournament.
“We try to get our processes right, make sure we understand the system for next year, and be quite robust. I must add, though, that every time the guys play for SACS, there’s motivation to try and win that game.”
Despite having the experience of Kraai and Lassen on the field during the tournament, Holmes was more excited by the junior players who are set to make the step up.
“I was very impressed,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve got the ridiculous fortune of having Litha and Matthew stay behind, so they add phenomenal levels of quality and depth to our team.
“In terms of the contribution from the u16s, I think they were immense. There’s a lot to look forward to, both in our defensive ranks and midfield. The players put their hands up.”
In other games on the final day, Paarl Boys’ High finished on a high, scoring a 3-1 win over Outeniqua to seal third spot.
St George’s Weybridge, from England, finished in fifth, the best of the international sides, after beating Durbanville 1-0.
There were also wins for Parel Vallei High and Worcester Gimnasium, while Somerset College lost out to Windhoek High after a penalty shootout.
Final day results
Kingston Grammar 3-2 Western Province Invitational
Windhoek High (2) 1-1 (1) Somerset College
King Edward’s School (3) 3-3 (1) Millfield School
Worcester Gimnasium 3-1 Windhoek Afrikaanse Private School
St George’s Weybridge 1-0 Durbanville
Parel Vallei 2-1 Reed’s School
Paarl Boys’ High 3-1 Outeniqua
SACS 4-0 Reddam House Constantia
Final standings:
SACS
Reddam House Constantia
Paarl Boys’ High
Outeniqua
St George’s Weybridge
Durbanville
Parel Vallei
Reed’s School
Worcester Gimnasium
Windhoek Afrikaanse
King Edward’s School
Millfield School
Windhoek High
Somerset College
Kingston Grammar
Western Province Invitational
On Saturday, in Pretoria, the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 1st XI scored a dramatic 3-2 win over Maritzburg College, historically one of South Africa’s leading hockey-playing schools, to best their rivals for the first time on the Astro.
They’ve come close in recent seasons, drawing 1-1 in 2024, 2-2 in 2023, and losing 1-2 in 2021.
Saturday’s win, which came in front of a lively home crowd, left the Pretoria school with seven wins, four draws, and six losses so far this season.
Affies’ Head of Hockey, Colin Mendoza, beaming with pride, credited his team’s preparation and resilience for their victory: “We started with the first team last weekend, with two long training sessions, working off the rust a bit,” he shared. “This week, we focused on rebuilding connections during training, and rather than obsessing over Maritzburg, we worked hard on the weak points we identified.”
A video analysis session on Thursday sparked a shift in the mindset of his players, reckoned Mendoza. “It became very clear to the boys that we felt this could be the year we beat them,” he said.
Matchday began with mixed emotions. A loss for the Affies’ u14A team brought some nerves, but a win by the u16A team lifted the supporters’ energy.
“The atmosphere after that was electric,” Mendoza recalled. “The schoolboys and spectators started to fill the pavilion, and there was a real sense of excitement.”
From the first whistle, Affies hit their stride. Incredibly, they forged a 3-0 advantage through goals from captain Johan Pieterse, Gawie de Kock, and Rudolf Thiart. Maritzburg College, though, is renowned for the school’s never-say-die spirit and they capitalised on a yellow card to claw back two quick goals. Affies, though, held on for a cherished victory.
“We knew that we needed a good start. Keeping a clean sheet in the first quarter was our first goal,” said Mendoza.
“Going 3-0 up was very exciting and the boys started to believe. When Maritzburg came back strong, we didn’t crumble. Affies boys never stop fighting, and that showed in the final minutes.”
The final whistle confirmed a long-awaited and hard-fought victory.
“This is the first time we have beaten their first team,” Mendoza said proudly. “It’s a big step for the Affies’ hockey programme.”
Ray Allen, a two-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat in 2013 and the Boston Celtics in 2008, as well as an Olympic gold medallist with Team USA in 2000, received a Soweto Basketball Academy jersey during the Jr. NBA Clinic held at the Klipspruit Sports Center in Soweto, Johannesburg. Photo. NBA Africa
On his visit to Africa, two-time NBA champion, Ray Allen, also a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, made a brief stop at the Klipspruit Sports Centre, in Soweto, on Saturday.
There, the three-point sharpshooter, participated in a Junior NBA Clinic that attracted over 300 children, aged u14.
To commemorate his 50th birthday, Allen has been on an extraordinary trip to various countries, including Rwanda, which has ploughed significant resources into basketball. While there, he enjoyed a remarkable mountain gorilla-tracking experience with his family in the Volcanoes National Park.
In South Africa, he began his journey with a family safari, discovering breathtaking landscapes, observing wildlife, and cherishing quality moments in nature.
Addressing the media, Allen said that when he first landed in Africa there was a sense of unity and camaraderie that he felt on the continent. “You see the togetherness, that unity, people growing and trying to encourage each other. It’s been extremely peaceful everywhere I’ve gone,” he commented.
He further characterised the visit as an educational experience from a cultural perspective, emphasising the importance of being immersed in the environment to gain a deeper understanding of the music and food, which are all interconnected.
At the Klipspruit Sports Centre, Allen’s presence induced broad smiles from the young players and an uplifting experience as Allen, his children, and prominent figures in South African basketball – including Mthokozisi Madonda, who oversees the NBA’s social initiatives across the continent, and Monwabisi Dlamini, the founder of Soweto Basketball Academy – led and guided the clinic.
The young participants dribbled and practiced their shots, filled with excitement as they lapped up the opportunity to work with an NBA great.
The atmosphere was filled with joyful smiles as NBA legend Ray Allen embraced the younger generation at the Jr. NBA Clinic in Soweto. Photo. NBA Africa
In a conversation with the media, Allen said he consistently considers the potential of children, focusing on their capabilities rather than their appearances. He believes that if people are prepared to invest in the youth, they can accomplish remarkable things in their lives.
It is the duty of community members, he emphasised, to offer resources to the youth, to enable them to lead fulfilling lives. This, he noted, not only benefits the community but also positively impacts future generations, as it fosters a cycle of giving back and supporting the community.
“For me to be here, it also encourages me,” he added, “just knowing that when I walk into a room, kids are excited. These kids have never seen me play before but just seeing me provides inspiration and excitement for them.”
These moments, Allen said, will remain with him throughout his life, understanding that the contributions he made during his career continue to hold significance for many individuals.
“I try to use it to the best of my ability to grow the game of basketball and to inspire young people,” he explained.
Having travelled the world, thanks to basketball, Allen told SuperSport Schools Plus that the sport transcends mere recreation. He stated that when one contemplates the game of basketball, it encompasses business, education, community, resources, and even real estate.
“When you talk about building facilities, arenas, cities that give people jobs, and opportunity, it brings tourism to your city.
“I’ve seen countless cities in America that didn’t have sports teams that built and achieved sports significance, how it helped the economy, how it helped the people, and how it inspired young people to be inspired to be more and see more.”
Basketball has transcended the act of dribbling, he said. It has served as a unifying force among individuals, as reflected in his perspective, testimonies, and experiences related to the sport.
Watching individuals unite in support of their team is a truly beautiful experience, and the emotion when a team is victorious or plays a great game leads to collective celebrations, he concluded.
Jenna-Leigh Freese slotted a penalty corner against Ashton International Ballito to see St Mary’s DSG through to the title game of the SPAR KZN Grand Final, where they beat St Anne’s Diocesan College 1-0. Photo: Brad Morgan.
St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, produced a polished performance on their way to a 1-0 victory over St Anne’s Diocesan College in the final of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge GrandFinal, at St Mary’s, on Sunday.
“We love hosting the Grand Finals,” Caryn Springate, the St Mary’s Head of Hockey, told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“St Mary’s has such an incredible team, from our ground staff to our operational staff, to the sports department, alongside the sponsors, who all come together to put on a fantastic two days where everyone gets involved.”
With the win over St Anne’s, St Mary’s bolstered their record as the tournament’s most dominant school, with seven titles to their name. Durban Girls College (DGC), who missed out on this year’s edition, has the second-most wins with five.
The hosts, who also won the trophy last year, made their 12th appearance in the Grand Final and previously lifted the title in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024. They also finished second in 2022 and 2023 and settled for the bronze medal in 2011 and 2013.
Ashton International Ballito delivered a determined and resilient performance to edge out Epworth School for third place. Photo: Brad Morgan.
The event served as inspiration for the younger generation of St Mary’s DSG girls, with members of their junior sides, going down to u11, in the stands to cheer the 1st XI on.
Winning the title also served as a further building block for a young side, which has done an outstanding job of continuing the school’s legacy of excellence on the Astro.
For the runners-up, St Anne’s, it was the fourth time that they finished in second place, having previously achieved that feat in 2014, 2018, and 2019. They won it all in 2011, and were also the bronze medallists in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
In the title game, Saints took the early initiative and made the first circle entry of the contest, but they spurned two opportunities to take the lead.
However, it didn’t take long for the home side to have their efforts rewarded. They threw bodies forward and, after a goalmouth scramble, that resulted in a goal in the seventh minute when Georgia Short chipped the St Anne’s goalkeeper to bury the ball in the back of the net.
Maris Stella held off a feisty Ferrum outfit to claim fifth place. Photo: Brad Morgan.
St Anne’s recovered from the setback and fortified their defence. Jasmin Kelly, their captain, astutely led the visitors and inspired the rest of her team to up their game, and they gave as much as they received, putting St Mary’s DSG under pressure.
The home team’s goalkeeper Ziyanda Mchunu was called into action and, with superb reading of the game and great speed, closed down the space to deny St Anne’s an equaliser in the first half. Then, in the second half, she rejected Holly Hofmeyr, stopping a penalty stroke attempt, to keep St Mary’s in front. She was exceptional.
Another player who stood out was Jenna-Leigh Freese. “She was brilliant today and throughout the whole weekend,” Caryn Springate said. “She has grown from strength to strength and was phenomenal. Our young players also stepped up today.”
A further feather in the host’s cap was the fact that they won the title without the services of their captain, SA Schools’ midfielder, Nicola Forbes, who was out of action after suffering a concussion the previous weekend.
SPAR KZN champions for a seventh time, St Mary’s DSG, Kloof. Photo: Brad Morgan.
The St Mary’s DSG victory meant they remain unbeaten since the 2023 final, when DGC took the honours by a 2-1 margin.
The ladies from Kloof had booked their berth in the title game courtesy of a 3-0 win over Ashton in a commanding semi-final performance.
The semi-final between St Anne’s and Epworth finished 0-0. That sent it to a penalty shootout, which St Anne’s won 1-0.
Playoff Results
St Mary’s 1-0 St Anne’s
Ashton 1-0 Epworth
Maris Stella 1-0 Ferrum
St Patrick’s 1-1 Felixton (St Patrick’s won on penalties)
Kingsway 1-0 Wartburg
Final Positions: 1. St Mary’s DSG, 2. St Anne’s, 3. Ashton 4. Epworth, 5. Maris Stella, 6. Ferrum, 7. St Patrick’s, 8. Felixton, 9. Kingsway, 10. Wartburg
City Lads FC and Chippa United claimed the 2025 provincial Engen Knockout Challenge titles in the Eastern Cape. Photo. Supplied
Chippa United and City Lads FC were crowned the champions of the Eastern Cape Engen Knockout Challenge after securing victories in their respective finals in the boys’ and ladies’ divisions at Dale College, in Qonce, on Sunday.
Both teams, the Chilli Boys and the City Lads FC, will represent the province, the Home of the Legends, at the national Engen Champs of Champs in October.
There, the winners from nine provinces will compete for the title of the best in South Africa.
Boys’ Competition
The Chilli Boys as provincial champions following their victory in the Eastern Cape’s Engen Knockout Challenge. Photo. Supplied.
In the boys’ tournament, an u18 competition, the eventual champions, Chippa United, were extended by Highbury, but a narrow 1-0 win put them through to the semi-finals.
With a place in the final on the line, they overcame a determined and highly motivated Maria Louw High School, winning 2-0. Maria Louw had reached the semis after a 2-0 defeat of Real Aces.
In other quarterfinal matches, United Professionals shared a goalless draw with Joza Stars. That sent their match to a penalty shootout and United Professionals advanced, winning 4-1 from the spot.
Red Lions handed Malcomess SS a 2-0 loss to move on to the semi-finals, where they faced United Professionals. After a hard-fought contest, Red Lions booked their ticket to the final with a 1-0 win.
In the title game, it was Chippa United, who were absent in 2024, who came out on top, winning 2-0.
Ladies’ Competition
Dethroned as champions in 2024, City Lads FC reclaimed the Engen Knockout Challenge title they had previously won in 2023. Photo. Supplied
In the ladies’ quarterfinals – the teams are u20 outfits – City Lads overpowered Blackpool 10-3.
Nav Galaxy also delivered an impressive performance, winning 3-0 against Bay Stars, and Ebhayi matched that result in a win over Phoenix Birds.
There were no goals in regulation time between Walter Sisulu University Buffalo City Campus (WSU BCC) and Caledonian, but WSU BCC advanced 5-4 on penalties.
In the semifinals, City Lads maintained their dominant form, cruising to a 6-0 win over WSU BCC, while Nav Galaxy secured a 2-0 win against Ebhayi to reach the final.
City Lads FC ‘s free scoring ways were halted by the defending champions, Nav Galaxy Ladies, in the title decider, but they, nonetheless, scored once, which was enough to lift the title that they had previously won in 2023.
It was a tactical battle from beginning to end, with City Lads’ discipline and determination making the crucial difference.
Results
Boys’ Quarterfinals
Chippa United 1-0 Highbury
Red Lions 2-0 Malcomess SS
Maria Louw 2-0 Real Aces
United Professionals (4) 0-0 (1) Joza Stars
Boys’ Semifinals
Chippa United 1-0 Maria Louw
Red Lions 1-0 United Professionals
Final
Chippa United 2-0 Red Lions
Ladies’ Quarterfinals
City Lads 10-3 Blackpool
Nav Galaxy 3-0 Bay Stars
WSU BCC (5) 0-0 (4) Caledonian
Ebhayi 3-0 Phoenix Birds
Ladies’ Semifinals
City Lads 6-0 WSU BCC
Nav Galaxy 2-0 Ebhayi
Final
City Lads 1-0 Nav Galaxy
Engen Knockout Individual Awards
Boys
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Andiphile Ngoqo – UTD Professionals
Defender of the Tournament: Athabile Frans – Maria Louw
Midfielder of the Tournament: Josh Drachoender – Chippa United
Top Goalscorer: Qhamani Gubevu – Chippa United
Striker of the Tournament: Zukanye Mdila – Red Lions
Coach of the Tournament: Masexole Mathyu – Red Lions
Player of the Tournament: Josh Drachoender – Red Lions
Fairplay Team of the Tournament: Real Aces
Referee of the Tournament – Zizipho Valashya
Ladies
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Mlibokazi Sikhusa – WSU
Defender of the Tournament: Sikelelioa Mhlanga – City Lads
Midfielder of the Tournament: Agcobile Manengela – City Lads
Top Goalscorer: Carlyn Ellie – Caledonian FC
Striker of the Tournament: Endinako Njengele – Nav Galaxy Ladies
Coach of the Tournament: Lumka Mjana – City Lads
Player of the Tournament: Sikelelioa Mhlanga – City Lads
Fair play Team of the Tournament: Bay Stars Ladies
Reddam House Constantia was outstanding at the CTIHT, going unbeaten on their way to the title. Photo: Supplied.
Emma Hibbert scored a brilliant drag flick, her eighth goal of the tournament and Reddam House Constantia‘s third, as they romped to a 3-1 win over St Paul’s College to clinch the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament (CTIHT) trophy at the Hartleyvale AAstro on Sunday afternoon.
The victory capped off an outstanding campaign from Reddam, who won six of their seven matches and drew the other against the eventual runners-up, St Paul’s, in the group stage of the tournament.
Coach Chris Hibbert’s side led the scoring, banging in 22 goals while conceding only four.
“Tournament hockey is tough, and for it all to come together this week is very rewarding,” Hibbert told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“The girls were outstanding, and turned up every game, and while it wasn’t always easy going, they showed outstanding resilience and teamwork to come through the tough moments in games.”
The final was a repeat of the final Pool A encounter between Reddam and St Paul’s, which had ended in a 1-1 draw. Both sides, thus, headed into the title decider well aware of the threats posed by their opponent. However, it was Reddam who had better plans.
Hibbert’s charges took a few minutes to get into the game. However, once they found their groove, they were unstoppable, exhibiting the relentlessness that had powered them through to the final.
For the opening goal, Emma Hibbert, one of the most consistent and impactful players at the event, sent a superbly weighted pass to Jess Bester, who had positioned herself perfectly. Given some space, Bester carried the ball into the circle, calmly rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
The local side went two-up thanks to Cassidy Frank, who executed an excellent tackle deep inside St Paul’s territory before threading a pinpoint pass to Sally Gitlin, who produced a composed finish to bury the opportunity.
Reddam ran onto the field from the halftime break eager to drive in the final nails into the coffin, but Coach Nevil Gora‘s ladies had other ideas. The Windhoek side threw everything they had, including the kitchen sink, into the contest, assaulting the Reddam House goal. It was, however, the Capetonians who found the back of the net.
Emma Hibbert transformed from provider to scorer, executing a pulsating drag flick to convert Reddam’s second penalty corner of the match. That left St Paul’s College with a mountain to climb.
Despite trailing by three goals, the efforts of Gora’s charges didn’t waver. They kept at it with dogged determination and their persistence was rewarded with a goal at the end of the third quarter when Tamara Grögli converted a penalty corner.
In the fourth chukka, St Paul’s was a rejuvenated side, and they dominated the early exchanges, but were unable to convert any of their chances.
Reddam House, then, took control of the final eight minutes of play to secure the title.
“The girls understood their roles, trusted their teammates to fulfil theirs, and backed themselves to do their jobs. The coaching staff is proud of the way they conducted themselves throughout the tournament,” Patrick Smith, Reddam’s Head of Hockey, said.
“This week, it has been great to see everything come together. It is so special for our matrics, who have committed so much to our hockey programme. It is wonderful that they get to have this high at the end of their school hockey career,” Hibbert added.
