ISSUE 17, JUNE 2015
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TRIUMPHANT
UWC SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force
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The ultimate online sports magazine
contents Cover FeatureS cover STORY TRIUMPHANT UwC lookING for higher honours Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: SASPA
MAIN STORIES Devanique Roussouw aiming for a medal in the World Champs Words: Dee Hean | Photos: Provided
© Camouflage Visual Solutions (Pty) Ltd and Game On
BENCH (CONTRIBUTORS)
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Karien Jonckheere Philna van Veijeren Brian Medcalf Dee Hean VarSity Sports (Backpage media) Sophie Thompson freepik.com
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BACK PAGE MEDIA
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Fencing… “en garde” Eastern Cape is ready to strike! Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
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faf de klerk dan’s player to watch
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Franco Smith BringS a different perspective to FS rugby Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
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SA Archery Federation Is Hitting the Mark Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: SA Archery Federation
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Ilunga Mukendi From the Congo to the Shark Tank! Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Dan Lombard
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PSL Football Meet The Big SIX
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Deon van der Merwe DISCLAIMER While every effort is made by TEAM: GAME ON to ensure that the content of our magazine is accurate, CAMOUFLAGE VISUAL SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD and GAME ON magazine cannot accept any responsibility for errors that may occur, or for any significance of applying the information contained herein. Statements by contributors and media submissions are not always representative of either CAMOUFLAGE VISUAL SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD or GAME ON magazine’s opinion. No part of the GAME ON magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored without prior written permission from CAMOUFLAGE VISUAL SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD and/or GAME ON magazine. CAMOUFLAGE VISUAL SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD and GAME ON magazine supports and encourages responsible practices with regards to all sports, activities and the conservation and protection of our planet and all inhabitants.
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SA Rowing Team SA’s got Talent! Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: Reg Caldecott
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YOUTH Features
Hockey: UJ Ladies win Varsity Sports hockey final
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Triathlon: Henri Schoeman wins third consecutive ATU Triathlon African Champions
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Rugby: Affies machine picking up speed
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SPUR MTB KZN
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Umpiring: Two of SA’s Top Umpires selected to officiate at 2015 Netball World Cup
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Rowing: St Mary’s Rowers Excel
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Rugby: Strong Junior Bok squad selected for Italy
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HeaLth Focus
Rugby: Paul Roos returns triumphant from Japan
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Stretching
Tennis: Grey College Tennis Team wins 2015 Kearsney College Tennis Festival
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Rugby: SARU Youth Weeks 2015
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Touch Rugby: Touch Rugby in South Africa needs YOU!
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Soccer: Copa Coca-Cola in full swing!
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Soccer: Danone Cup of Nations U/12
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Squash: Michael Howard flies Glenwood’s flag high at KZN Interschools Squash
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Synchronised swimming South Africa to compete at World Champs
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Water Polo Kelsey White SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force
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Rugby KZN Primary Schools’ Rugby Tournament showcasing the young stars of tomorrow
Stretching Out with Brian Medcalf
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sporting News Netball: SA to compete in Junior Indoor Netball Tri-Nations tournament
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School Achievement: Laerskool Aliwal-Noord
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BMX: Tyrone Johns out to defend his World Champion status
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Paddling: McGregor wins top award at inaugural World Paddle Awards
Squash: Kearsney and Epworth triumph
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Soccer: Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise has announced her retirement
Tennis: Lucas Sithole wins doubles title at Japan Open
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Cricket: Momentum 2 Excellence bursary for Lwanele Poswayo of Queens College Eastern Cape
Squash: Siyoli Waters in Top 16 at British Open
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Indoor Hockey: PSI U/11 & U/12 Nationals
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Cricket: SA Cricketer of the Year awards 2015
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Mind Sports South Africa: SA Counterstrike Team Announced
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Fishing: Protea Bass Angling team look to defend title in Mozambique
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Cycling: Clifton Prep hosts J2C 2015
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Devanique Roussouw is aiming for a medal in the WAY Championships
Devanique
Roussouw is aiming for a medal in the World Archery Youth Championships “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; Every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Two very excited KZN girls are flying to the U.S. for an international archery championship in June 2015. South Dakota USA will see the world’s best archers compete for supremecy using precision and perseverance.
Durban’s Devanique Rossouw (16) and Pietermaritzburg’s Emily O’Neill (16) are training intensively with the intention of bringing home medals from the Youth World Archery Championships in June.
Main Feature: archery
Words: Dee Hean | Photos: Provided
Emily from St John’s Diocesan School for Girls, has been an archer for a decade and is very excited to take part internationally. Devanique, a Grade 11 learner of Port Natal Skool participated in the South African National Archery Competition in Johannesburg from 30 March to 2 April where she became the SA National Champion in her category and received Gold in the 1440 long distance and Silver in the 720 short distance. She has represented South Africa in 2 World Championships and says the World Champs are both mentally and physically challenging but is hopeful they will both place well. Game On managed to get a quick interview with Devanique before they leave: When did you take up Archery and who has taught you? I was 8 when my Dad first taught me how to shoot with a bow. What do you like best about the sport? I like the thrill of being in an elimination round, where opponents are competing for the medal shoot outs. Shooting gets my adrenaline up and also makes me relax. I love the challenges that come up and when you conquer them it makes you feel good and gives you a sort of boost. It is a lot of fun. Who do you count on as your support and inspiration in your life? Definitely my parents. Both have a certain way of motivating me to do better and always give my best in archery. Is Archery the only sport you are passionate about? I like hockey, softball and tennis as well, but because archery takes a lot of time and dedication it is the only sport I am able to do. How do you manage your academics in conjunction with competing in Archery competitively? Academics always come first, unless there is a tournament. If the tournament is during an exam period the school accommodates me. What have you learned from Archery that supports you in your life (like life skills)? Dedication, determination, working hard, to always do your best and how to keep my cool in nerve racking moments. What are your goals for 2015 in archery and beyond? To bring back a medal form the World Archery Youth Championships.
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Devanique Roussouw is aiming for a medal in the WAY Championships
What other areas in your life have you found fulfilment in (what do you do for fun and to relax)? I like to hang out with friends and go to the beach. I like camping and going hunting with my Dad. There has to be days that you just don’t feel like archery, what do you do on those days? I read novels, watch TV, walk the dogs and swim. Strengths & Weaknesses? (Chocolate?) Strengths: If I put my mind to something I definitely get it done. Weaknesses: Doing my chores and eating sugary foods. What does your recent SUCCESS mean to you? It shows me that I can achieve something through hard work, I see it as a challenge to make myself do better every time I achieve something through archery. Do you have a mentor/coach that supports you in your Archery? My coach is Wesley Gates. Who do you feel is your biggest competition that you respect and would like to win against? Mimmi Erikson from Sweden. Tell us about training for archery and what it requires? In archery you have to have a balance between fitness, emotional and mental training. It requires a lot of time and practice. It is a sport in which you can achieve tremendously if you put your mind, your time and full effort into it. What type of bow do you use and why DO you choose that type of bow? I shoot with a compound bow because it is a gorgeous bow. It has solid shot execution and is fun to shoot with. I started with a compound bow because I only used it for hunting until I started doing archery competitively. I love shooting compound because I excel in that category of the sport. What are the best results you have achieved to date and against who? How do you feel about it? In 2013, I went to the World Archery Youth Championships in Wuxi, China and was placed 9th overall, after I lost against Sonja from America in the 1/8 eliminations. It was a mind-blowing experience considering that it was my first international event. I am currently ranked number one in South Africa in my category and have won the SA championships numerous times.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Soccer
PSL Football
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Meet the
Big 6 This month in Game On we take a look at six up-and-coming Premier Soccer League stars who broke through the ranks during the recentlyended 2014/2015 season. In the professional world of football, with so much at stake, coaches are often unwilling to gamble on young players who have yet to prove themselves in a competitive environment. While teams like Ajax Cape Town have made nurturing talented footballers their priority, fellow Absa Premiership sides have been guilty of overlooking budding footballers in their mission for either Premiership glory or avoiding relegation. Taking a risk on the odd young gun, though, has proven a masterstroke in regards to the six players below proved throughout the season gone by.
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PSL Football Meet The Big SIX
Big 6 Maritzburg United
The average age of the Kaizer Chiefs starting XI in their 2-0 win over Chippa United on the final day of the season was 27.8, while Moroka Swallows, who have an ageing squad, secured a Premier Soccer League playoff place thanks to a goal from 37-year-old Siyabonga Nomvethe, further underlying coaches’ reliance on more senior players. The likes of Mbuyiselo Thethani (Free State Stars), Abbubaker Mobara (Ajax Cape Town), Riyaad Norodien (Ajax Cape Town), Tshepo Liphoko (AmaZulu), Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Menzi Masuku (Orlando Pirates) have been overlooked for this list, but the sextet could easily have been included and certainly look to have a bright future ahead of them.
#Deolin Mekoa Castle Lager Football Academy graduate Deolin Mekoa successfully helped Maritzburg United to their first top eight finish in the Absa Premiership era. Hailing from Wentworth in KwaZulu-Natal, the Team of Choice attacker made his Absa Premiership debut in the club’s opening game of the season, a 1-1 draw at champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Mekoa had a slow start to his campaign, but came into his own towards the back end of the season, setting up Kurt Lentjies and Mohau Mokate in 1-0 wins over Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town respectively, while scoring in games versus Platinum Stars, Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu, who were subsequently relegated to the National First Division.
Mekoa was rewarded for his efforts with a call-up to the national under-23 team.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Soccer
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Big 5 Bloemfontein Celtic
#Thapelo Morena Morena was promoted to the Bloemfontein Celtic first team at the start of the season and, having impressed in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, the 21-year-old quickly established himself as a regular for Siwelele. In all, Morena managed 21 league appearances assisting two goals and scoring two for the Free State outfit. The talented youngster, who had been deployed as a fullback, is better utilised as a forward-thinking midfielder, second striker and even as a wide man.
Clinton Larsen tipped Morena as a future Bafana Bafana star following a goalless draw with Kaizer Chiefs in February and, having kept up his good form since the turn of the year, Shakes Mashaba included Morena for the COSAFA Cup.
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PSL Football Meet The Big SIX
Big 4 Bloemfontein Celtic
#Dumisani Zuma The former Kings United striker has already made a name for himself at club side Bloemfontein Celtic and for the national under-20 side Amajita. Zuma was a fairly regular starter for Siwelele throughout the 2014/2015 Absa Premiership season, scoring one goal and assisting a further three in 20 league outings. “He is a very exciting talent, he has been working hard and he will keep on getting better. We are very happy to have a talented player of his calibre at our club,” head coach Clinton Larsen said of the 19-year-old. “ While Zuma is guilty of missing the odd chance, time is on his side and he will continue to improve. The youngster underlined his credentials at the 2015 African Youth Championship by scoring twice in the 5-2 win over Zambia in Amajita’s final Group B match.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Soccer
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Big 3 Ajax Cape Town
#Rivaldo Coetzee At 18 years of age, Rivaldo Coetzee is undoubtedly one of the country’s brightest talents. The Ajax Cape Town centre-back was thrown into the national team last year and went on to form a vital part of Shakes Mashaba’s side as they qualified for the 2015 African Cup of Nations with an unbeaten record.
During this time the Kakamas-born defender became the youngest ever player to play for the national team at only 17 years of age. Coetzee has also established himself as a regular for the Urban Warriors throughout the 2014/2015 league season, while also helping the Cape side to the Nedbank Cup final. Big things are expected from the level-headed defender, who has already reportedly attracted interest from not only Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, but also Ajax Amsterdam.
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PSL Football Meet The Big SIX
Big 2 University of Pretoria
#Thabo Mnyamane Former NWU-Pukke striker Thabo Mnyamane established himself as a pivotal part of the University of Pretoria set-up in the Absa Premiership, with head coach Sammy Troughton declaring in mid-February that Mnyamane is one of the players he wants to ‘mould’ his team around. Having committed to a new deal Tuks, they will be hoping to keep hold of the talented attacker, who has attracted interest from the ‘big three’. The 22-year-old, who made a name for himself in the Varsity Cup, scored six Premiership goals in his first full season playing top flight football. Mnyamane showed top form towards the end of 2014 and was subsequently named November/December player of the month for his exploits. Tuks teammates Geofrey Massa and Tebogo Monyai predict big things for the left-footed striker, who can also play on the wing and even in midfield.
Mnyamane scored on his Bafana Bafana debut in their international friendly win over Swaziland in Mbabane.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Soccer
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Big 1 Ajax Cape Town
Phumlani Ntshangase Bidvest Wits workhorse Phumlani Ntshangase has impressed for the Clever Boys during the 2014/2015 PSL campaign. The 20-yearold is highly rated by head coach Gavin Hunt and started almost every game for the club in the past season, enhancing his reputation in each game for the Braamfontein-based club. Ntshangase is expected to form a vital part of Bidvest Wits’ plans going forward and his versatility (he can also be used at centre back) is something Hunt values highly. Bidvest Wits goalkeeper coach and former Bafana Bafana gloveman Andre Arendse believes Ntshangase, who was named man of the match in his Bidvest Wits debut, already has the look of a ‘seasoned pro’. Following the club’s 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in March, Arendse praised the youngster who had an outstanding game, nullifying the threat posed by ‘Downs playmaker Teko Modise. “It is not easy to keep Teko quiet at the best of times, but Phumlani managed to do that. He was robust in the challenge and was second to none at clearing from danger,” said Arendse.
“He kept us on the front foot. He helped us keep the ball away from Sundowns, who can play like you can’t believe if they are in control of possession. He helped us keep them at bay.”
Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
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Dan Lombard Fencing: Eastern Cape is “en garde” and ready to strike!
Eastern Cape is “en garde” and ready to strike! Modern day fencing provides a window for individuals to peer into yesteryear and relive the sword bouts that were a common place during the Renaissance. The sport was created to allow soldiers to practice fighting without losing an eye or worse their life.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Fencing
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Traditionally the Eastern Cape is renowned for the black rugby talent it produces but of late it is fencing that is causing quite a stir. Jessica KnoetzeRaper and her son Jon-Paul run the Excelsior Fencing Club in Port Elizabeth. The pair both hold national colours for the Modern Pentathlon. Jon-Paul is the top ranked male fencer in the province. “The Excelsior FC was established in September of 2012 off the back of increased interest generated during the Olympic Games in London. At the time we were only coaching pentathletes but expanded at the request of locals who were interested. We are now one of two clubs in the Eastern Cape,” said Jessica.
“As a small sport we suffer from the usual problems. There’s not enough international exposure to develop our fencers. Fencing is a very expensive sport and sponsorships are hard to come by but the South African Amateur Fencing Association does great work in supporting us. The lack of coaches and umpires coupled with a slow member growth rate are problems we are trying to rectify.”
The Women’s World Cup was held at the Birchwood Convention Centre in Johannesburg in early May. A total of 147 fencers were invited to the event with 20 athletes hailing from South Africa. Shani Smit, a Grade 12 learner from Framesby High School, was the only Eastern Cape representative.
“The feedback from the international fencers was very positive. They loved the venue and the way the tournament was run. We tried to prepare Shani as best we could but the enormity of competing against Olympians proved to be overwhelming. She held her own and managed to score points in every match bar one. We are extremely proud of her,” Jessica said. A fundamental aspect of development is the process of bringing junior talent through the system. Another achievement for the Eastern Cape is that its female fencers are making huge strides in the sport. The Eastern Cape Fencing team walked away with five medals at the South African Junior Fencing Championships held at the University of the Free State. Four of the winners were female.
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Dan Lombard Fencing: Eastern Cape is “en garde” and ready to strike!
Isabella Finestone took silver in the Under-15 group while Kayla and Monique Ferreira placed 1st and 3rd in the Under-13 category. Kayla also placed third in the Under-15 group. Angelo Barkhuysen was the only shining light for the boys when he won bronze in the Under-13 age group.
“Most of our male fencers are now seniors that have come through the ranks. The men’s division is a bit tougher but that does not take away from the ladies. It just means that we are setting the benchmark.”
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The Eastern Cape is a haven for the development of previously disadvantaged athletes and it is no different for fencing. Chuma Nyendwana runs the Nemato Change a Life Youth Development programme in the Nelson Mandela Township in Port Alfred. The programme consists of many sports with fencing among them. Nemato has 17 young fencers in the programme and are going from strength to strength. The club will be out in full force at the Eastern Cape Open in August. “I’m a qualified rowing coach and in the process of becoming a qualified Épée coach. I’m impressed by the enthusiasm the kids show. We get them in by visiting township schools and inviting the learners to our open days. We are growing slowly but need assistance with equipment and transport costs,” Chuma explained.
Fencing has a long way to go in South Africa in order to become a competitive sport but the work that Jessica, JonPaul and Chuma are putting in should start to show dividends in the not so distant future. With an influx of sponsorship and continual growth in the number of fencers the Eastern Cape could become a powerhouse, one coup de taille at a time. En garde. Modern Pentathlon explained The Modern Pentathlon is an Olympic event that comprises five disciplines: fencing, 200m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a combined event of pistol shooting and a 3200m cross-country run. It was introduced into the Olympics in 1912 and initially competed for by cavalrymen as the disciplines fall part of their day-to-day training. Women were only allowed to compete from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Main Feature: Fencing
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
EC Fencing team that competed at the SA Junior Championships in Bloemfontein Girls Shani Smit (c) Emma Finestone Skye Ruffer Jane Kirk Isabella Finestone Monique Ferreira Kayla Ferreira Sophia Finestone
boys: Chad Putnam (c) Anro Swart Ben Laws Kyle De Lange Angelo Barkhuysen
Different fencing weapons explained Foil: The foil is a lightweight weapon that was initially used as a practice weapon. It is a thrusting weapon and points are scored by making contact with the trunk of the opponent’s body with the point of the blade. The arms and neck are off limits.
Épée: The Épée is a heavier thrusting weapon than the foil. Points are scored by being the first to make contact anywhere on the body including the head. The Épée was the first weapon to be made electronic in order to register when points were scored. This is the weapon used in the modern pentathlon.
Sabre: A lightweight weapon modelled off the military version of the same name. Points are scored with thrusts and cuts. The upper body is the target area including the arm.
Management: Jessica Raper Jon-Paul Raper
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dan’s player to watch: faf de klerk
There are few things sweeter in the sporting world than a former powerhouse pulling themselves out of the dredges to become a match-winning outfit. The Lions used to break Super Rugby records for all the wrong reasons until 2014 when suddenly they became a force to be reckoned with.
dan’s player to watch:
Francois “Faf” de Klerk has been instrumental in the resurgence of the Lions. It has been a good while since South Africa has had the pleasure to watch a scrumhalf with such flair and talent, especially as he has big boots to fill with the likes of Joost van der Westhuizen’s legendary casting in the role of SA’s most recognised and celebrated scrumhalf. Do rugby fans have a new hero to look up to in Faf? The Lions started this year poorly with losses to the Hurricanes and Stormers at home but picked up their season to record five wins on the trot. They enjoyed their most successful tour to date when they overcame the Blues, Reds and Rebels. Faf credits coach Johan Ackermann for the upward swing in results.
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Hoërskool Waterkloof
Feature: rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Deon van der Merwe “deonvandermerwe.co.za/GLRU”
“Coach Ackers instilled a belief in us that we could win and be good at it. We are always being written off by people and we used that to motivate us. Coach Ackers is a real people’s person. He knows our strengths and sees us not just as players but as people,” explained the diminutive halfback.
Growing up, Faf idolised Joost and George Gregan. As a player he has incorporated their sniping runs, brave tackling and ability to sniff out the tryline into his own arsenal. His heroes were praised for their courage on the field because of their size and Faf is receiving similar praise. The only difference is that Faf is considerably smaller than the men he looks up too.
“I’ve never been the biggest guy on the field. I just want to give my best for 80 minutes. It is definitely a mindset and getting in a solid hit early on helps a great deal. I work hard in the gym otherwise the guys would run over me with ease but I think that your attitude counts a lot more,” said Faf.
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dan’s player to watch: faf de klerk
His tenacious attitude was fostered in a home where his parents supported him come sunshine or rain. His father, Tobie, always made time to help Faf develop his game. It was his attitude that got him through the difficult times after moving to Johannesburg from Pretoria at the culmination of his schooling. “As a youngster I thought I was set because I was playing at a large union. I played Under-19 and Under-21 for the Golden Lions but I wasn’t offered a contract extension and was forced to move to a smaller union.” “Nelspruit and the Pumas became my new home. I struggled to get game time in my first year mostly because of my attitude. Coach Jimmy [Stonehouse] worked hard with me on my skills. It all paid off in 2013 when the Lions invited me to attend trials. The following year I was on loan for the Lions Super Rugby campaign.”
His 2015 performances have attracted the attention of the Springbok management and his inclusion in the Bok training camps was relayed to Faf after their win against the Cheetahs in Johannesburg. “It came as a complete surprise as Ross [Cronje] started at scrumhalf for most of the season. I was obviously delighted but didn’t want to celebrate too much as I felt for the guys who weren’t selected.
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It is a dream come true for me. I’ve worked for this since I first picked up a rugby ball,” Faf said. This best describes Faf, as somebody who is grounded. He works hard to achieve his dreams but when they come to fruition he remains humble. His mother Corrie is behind this, according to Faf.
“In my family it is important to work hard, but just as important to be humble. Family is important to me. If I have a sufficient period of leave I like to get out to the bush with them. On most of our off days I can be found on the golf course. I enjoy being on the course,” he said.
Faf de Klerk is a breath of fresh air in a rugby environment full of players that rely solely on their physical attributes. He can bring about a change in how halfbacks operate in South Africa with his running game and slick skills.
Faf would be an asset to a Springbok squad who are desperately thin in the scrumhalf department at the moment. He just needs to be given the opportunity.
Feature: rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Deon van der Merwe “deonvandermerwe.co.za/GLRU”
FAF FAST FACTS Date of birth 19 October 1991 Place of birth Nelspruit, South Africa Height 1.69 m Weight 66 kg School attended Hoërskool Waterkloof, Pretoria Most difficult opponent Crusaders Most difficult player to play against Aaron Smith
PLAYING CAREER Youth/junior career: 2007-09 Blue Bulls 2010-11 Golden Lions Senior career: 2012-present Pumas 2014-present Lions
He said it... Golden Lions Rugby Union High Performance Manager, Bart Schoeman, on Faf’s:
Ability “Faf has proved that he is a game breaker. Unfortunately he has started most of the season off the bench because of his impact ability. Teams have to commit more players to the breakdown because of his sniping breaks which opens the game for our outside backs. He also has a clean pass.”
Attitude “Faf has a ‘never say never’ attitude. I’ve been working with him since he was a schoolboy. He wasn’t even the first choice scrumhalf at Klofies. He has had to work very hard to get where he is. The way he conducts himself would give the impression that he is a mammoth of a man size-wise. He’s definitely that because of his attitude.” Future “He has what it takes to be a Springbok. He has proven his aptitude in the world’s toughest provincial competition. Only time will tell if he’s given an opportunity to shine on the world stage.”
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Dan Lombard Franco Smith: Bringing a different perspective to FS rugby
Hoerskoel Sand Du Plessis
Franco Smith Bringing a different perspective to Free State rugby
The UFS-Shimlas capped off a dream season when they unceremoniously thumped NWU-Pukke 66-33 in the Varsity Cup final in April. The man who orchestrated the team’s success was none other than former Springbok flyhalf Petrus Francois Smith. Franco, 42, returned from Italy last year after coaching Benetton Treviso for seven years and took up his new position at the Free State Cheetahs as the backline coach for the Currie Cup. In less than a year Franco had won his first piece of silverware. He puts his success down to the student players that bought into his coaching ideology.
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“I was not involved with the previous campaigns so I didn’t worry about what was done before. I had a set plan on how I wanted to approach 2015 with the Shimlas. I wanted to create better players. I wanted Shimlas to play beautiful rugby, winning rugby and a brand of rugby we could be proud of. Our success would never have happened if the players didn’t buy into my ideas,” explained Franco.
Franco was appointed the head coach of the Varsity Cup Dream Team for their one off match against the Junior Springboks. The students pushed the Junior Boks hard and led at different stages but ultimately they lost. Franco believes that their performance is indicative of the strength and depth in South African university rugby.
Coaching Focus: Rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Bringing a different perspective to Free State rugby
“We got together a day before the match so I was happy with the way the guys played. The Varsity Cup is a great product as it allows the coaches to try something different. The scoring system makes it entertaining. It has definitely become an important part of the South African rugby scene.”
Rassie Erasmus, who did things a little differently, encouraged me to try things my own way. Italian rugby is played very passionately. I was given the freedom to experiment which paid off for the team. I had seven preseasons to fix my mistakes and develop my coaching technique.”
The time spent in Italy afforded Franco the opportunity to develop his coaching technique in an environment that welcomes change. He had almost instant success when he guided Treviso to back to back Italian Championship titles and helped the team qualify for the Pro12. It was also a great place to raise his young family.
“Not only was the rugby going well but I enjoyed living in Italy. It is such a beautiful place filled with a rich history. My kids are fluent in Italian while I learned the language while I was playing for Treviso. We lived just outside Venice with the nearest beach or ski slope a 40 minute drive away. As wonderful as Italy was it was time we returned home.”
“Springbok coach Andre Makgraaf had a huge influence on the way I saw things as a player and working under
Franco’s return to Bloemfontein was not just rugby driven. He wished to enrol his sons at Grey College. He lives for his
family who support him in his profession. “I built a home here before we left for Italy. Family is the cornerstone of my being and I felt it was time to bring them back to a place that has always been home.” The type of coach he returned as and the Shimlas emphatic season interested the Cheetahs to such an extent that he accepted both the Super Rugby and Currie Cup head coach positions they offered him. Cheetahs rugby has always been high tempo attacking rugby but they have struggled to turn it into winning rugby. This could very well change under his tutelage. “It will be a bit easier to see the scope of my work once I officially take up my role. The Cheetahs play a certain brand of rugby and I want to equip the
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Dan Lombard Franco Smith: Bringing a different perspective to FS rugby
players to be able to implement that brand. They have defensive issues at the moment so I want to try and get the players to play a more ball in hand approach,� explained Franco.
South Africa is in a better position with Franco coaching within its borders. He has proven his mettle in turning lessor teams into champions. A successful tenure with the Cheetahs could see Franco being earmarked for the Bok job in the future and his coaching ability could see him lifting the greatest rugby trophy of them all.
FRANCO Fast Facts Date of birth 29 July 1972 Place of birth: Lichtenburg, North West School attended: HĂśerskool Sand du Plessis University attended: University of the Free State Position: Flyhalf/centre
Bringing a different perspective to Free State rugby
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Coaching Focus: Rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Playing career
Teams coached
1992–95 Free State Cheetahs
2005–07 Free State Cheetahs (assistant)
1996–97 Griquas 1998–99, 2002 Bulls 1998–2000 Blue Bulls
2007–13 Benetton Treviso 2014–15 Cheetahs (assistant)
1999–2000 Newport Gwent Dragons
2014 Free State Cheetahs (assistant)
2001–02 Pumas
2015 UFS Shimlas
2001–02 Bologna
2015 Cheetahs
2003–06 Benetton Treviso
Representative team 1996–99 South Africa
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Karien Jonckheere Hitting the Mark
It’s not a sport you hear about too often in South Africa, so it may come as a bit of a surprise that there are over 65,000 recreational archers in the country, and at least four of them are good enough to be winning medals at international level on a consistent basis. In fact, just about every weekend of the year there are archers lining up to take aim, with events taking place at school, provincial and national level.
“We have some 80 sanctioned tournaments a year,” explained the President of the South African National Archery Association, Selwyn Moskovitz. “We currently have 808 archers licenced to shoot in competition. In the nine provinces we have some 162 volunteers that include instructors, coaches, judges and administrators.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Archery
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: SA Archery Federation
“Our schools project has some 35,000 learners who have gone through our development programme and we have some 65,000 recreational archers. Add to that 3000 paraarchers at various levels with a number of schools that have para-archery as part of their curriculum and those are impressive numbers for a sport that receives very little funding, meaning that the opportunity to compete internationally is rather limited.
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Karien Jonckheere Hitting the Mark
“It would be easy to participate in more international events, but that would mean that archers who can financially afford to compete would land up representing the country as opposed to those who qualify. As a result, our international ranking is quite low and out of 170 member nations, we rank about 50th. But when we do compete, our Compound Men and Compound Women [Compound is a different type of bow to Recurve – the one used at the Olympics] perform well. Out of the eight international events in which we have participated in the past two years, we have earned six medals. SA normally ranks in the top five in the world when we compete.”
South Africa has only had three archery representatives at the Olympic Games but Moskovitz hopes next year will see his sport adding to that number. “We have a large pool of archers who meet the International Federation’s MQS of 610 and four archers who have met our MQS of 630. They are Sandra Prinsloo, Karen Hultzer, Terence van Moerkoen and Marco De Matteo,” he explained.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Archery
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: SA Archery Federation
“All four athletes will be competing at the World Cup Stage 2 in Turkey at the end of the month and the World Championships in July as part of the programme that we have in place for preparation for the Olympics.” Then the decision is up to Sascoc, who put the rubber stamp on the final Olympic team to compete in Rio. Moskovitz believes there are a couple of misconceptions about archery, which those who haven’t tried it, hold.
“There are two common misconceptions. The first being that it is a lot easier than it actually is. This is why when we have 100 people turning up at a club on a regular open day, only one or two persevere,” he said. “The second is that one has to have incredible strength to shoot a bow.”
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Karien Jonckheere Hitting the Mark
“It takes five to seven years to get to high performance level. By then you have gone through our formal training and coaching programs. At Gold Squad level our athletes require a huge amount of dedication, many hours on an archery range perfecting and repeating form, learning how to harness nervous energy, how to maintain equipment, learning how to be in control of one’s mind, understanding and handling different weather conditions and how to perform realistic goal setting.” Moskovitz discovered this all first hand when, as he admits, he first tried the sport out of boredom. “In the late 1990’s my son harassed me to take him to the archery range. Eventually I caved, and sat on a bench watching him for over three hours learning how to shoot. It was a very boring experience. “I had hoped it was a one-day wonder, but it was not. The next week I dropped him off and went window-shopping, but one can only do so much shopping. In week three he forced my hand to go shoot again and after 15 minutes of watching I was so bored, I joined in.” “It is only when you understand the rules of the game that it becomes exciting. My son went on to become the SA junior men’s champion. This experience taught me that archery was a clean family sport, something that is very evident today with over 100 families experiencing the same enjoyment.” Moskovitz snr, meanwhile, also went on to earn Western Province and Protea colours, and his record WP Disa Round score of 1283 in provincial competition remains unbeaten.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Archery
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: SA Archery Federation
Want to give archery a go?
Did you know?
“We have active clubs all over the country. All people need to do is to contact the local club secretary and they will be welcomed to come and try our sport,” said Moskovitz.
•
Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis tried to qualify for the US Olympic team for the Sydney 2000 Games. She finished 24th out of 300 and just missed out.
“We have a formal introductory course which can take anywhere from two hours to three weeks to complete. Known as our “Give-it-a-Go” programme, the booklet can be downloaded from our website at www.sanaa.org.za. Most clubs provide the full kit and have qualified instructors on hand to guide first time archers. Our club contact details can be found at http://sanaa.org.za/page. php?32.”
•
Former world number one Im Dong-Hyun of South Korea is partially blind. He has to be 10 times closer to objects to see them as a perfectly sighted person would. He nevertheless claimed team gold at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games and bronze in London 2012.
•
To prepare for the London Games, the South Korean team built a replica of Lord’s Cricket Ground (where the archery was hosted) complete with announcements made in English and crowd noises, to get used to the conditions they could expect there.
•
Archery was first introduced to the Olympic programme in 1900 (with only Belgium, France and the Netherlands competing), although it was excluded from 1920 until its reintroduction in 1972.
•
King James II of Scotland placed a ban on playing golf in 1457 because it seemed the sport was keeping his soldiers away from archery practice.
•
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.
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Ilunga Mukendi From the Congo to the Shark Tank!
Ilunga Mukendi From the Congo to the Shark Tank! Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in South Africa, Ilunga Mukendi joined Glenwood High School on a cricket scholarship, and instead, became their rugby star. This is the remarkable story about the ‘Green Machine’s’ flying winger. The headlines screamed ‘Ilunga Mukendi scored a hat-trick as Glenwood High School thrashed Maritzburg College 57-12 at Kings Park’, and ‘The Green Machine crush College’. So good was Ilunga’s display in a rare televised schoolboy match at the Shark Tank, that suddenly the boy who was born in Lubumbashi in southern DR Congo, had hit the radar. Glenwood Old Boys around the world began asking across social media platforms just who this flying winger was?
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Glenwood High School
Main Feature: RUGBY
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
Ilunga is currently doing matric at Glenwood while carving out a rugby career for himself. But when he started high school, rugby was not even on the agenda. Ilunga was invited to Glenwood on a scholarship after his cricket and hockey talents were discovered while at primary school on the KZN south coast. But after a few years, his passion switched to rugby. “While I was on the KZN South Coast at Shelly beach, I attended South City College. I played KZN cricket and hockey at primary school and when I came to Glenwood those were my sports,” Ilunga told Game On. “But Glenwood are very passionate about their rugby. When I saw how much passion there was on match days with the whole school supporting the first team rugby side, I took notice.” By the end of Grade 8, Ilunga had made the U/15 A rugby side and by the time he was U/16 he stopped playing hockey. Last year, while in Grade 11 he stopped playing cricket and the rest is history. “I decided that I wanted to make 1st Team Rugby. In Grade 11, I played first team, and I was fortunate enough to make the KZN Craven Week side. I never thought I would make it that far, but by the grace of God I got there. It was a great feeling and now in my matric year I can work twice as hard,” he says.
Asked to comment on Ilunga’s progress, Glenwood High School first team rugby coach Rudi Dames had this to say: “I have been coaching him (Ilunga) at first team level and it has been a wonderful story because he came to Glenwood as a cricketer first. He was an Under-14 fast bowler. But at Under-15 level we saw that he had the raw capability to play rugby. We asked him whether he was keen to play rugby and he began first team rugby in Grade 11 in what was a phenomenal side. He played Craven Week that year and now in his matric year he is likely to play Craven Week again!” “If you look at the game on TV against Maritzburg College at the Shark Tank, and the three tries he scored, then his name is in the hat.” Ilunga’s father is a doctor and when the family left DR Congo for South Africa, Ilunga says he was “about seven or eight years old”. “The first six months we lived in Mpumalanga, then we moved to the KZN South Coast. My parents live together and I have two little brothers, and a little sister. My parents support me and want me to succeed in rugby.” So far in his Grade 12 year, Ilunga says he is happy with his academics, saying it is “going well”. “I always try to keep the balance between both sport and education. The first team has had a rough patch, and we have not done well. We are picking it up now though. My experience
of playing at The Shark Tank was amazing, a great experience. A lot of schoolboys want to be in that place and so to be there and to beat a team like Maritzburg College in front of so many people was amazing.” In conclusion, Ilunga’s coach believes that the future is bright for Glenwood’s budding rugby star.
“Academically Ilunga does fairly well and his Dad is strict on his marks so I can say that he works hard in the classroom as well as out on the field. He is a leader; the Vice-Captain of our team and he is a prefect. Overall he is a good role model and I am excited for his future,” Rudi Dames says.
Ilunga Mukendi Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
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Ilunga Mukendi From the Congo to the Shark Tank!
A week in the Glenwood First Team: Coach Rudi Dames reveals his schedule set out for the Glenwood High School first team rugby players. 05h45 – The players start their day with gym sessions every day from Monday to Friday. Here we focus on their speed and agility training. 15h00-17h00 – This is when rugby training happens every day of the week. Now and then on a Friday they can relax a bit and maybe have a day off. Weekends – This is the time for playing matches and of course in the off season the matches end but we still train and keep the players sharp. Overall they probably have about three weeks where we give them time off with no rugby at all.
Glenwood to play in Japan: Glenwood High School are set to represent South Africa at the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament in Japan next year. This year, South Africa were represented by Paul Roos from Stellenbosch and they did not disappoint as they thrashed Brisbane Boys’ College 35-3 in the final of the event in Fukuoka. Participation in the World Rugby Youth Tournament is by invitation only and the overseas schools selected by their respective unions to represent their country are expected to be of a high standard. Glenwood had previously won this event, back in 2008 when they beat Tarbes High School from France in the final.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
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SA Rowing TEAM SA’s got Talent!
Rowing
SA's got Talent!
Even the BBC commentator couldn’t quite believe it when four unheralded South Africans powered past the British lightweight four to take the country’s first ever rowing gold at London 2012. “Here come the green and gold of Australia,” were the words that riled many delirious South African spectators, shouting at their TV screens as John Smith, James Thompson, Sizwe Ndlovu and Matthew Brittain claimed top honours.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Rowing
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: Reg Caldecott
While many outsiders, commentators included, may have thought that was a fluke performance by the South Africans, it was far from it as one year out from the next Games in Rio, the team are still in top shape and looking set to book their qualification spots. That means finishing 11th or higher at this year’s World Championships in France in 30 August to 6 September, and coach Roger Barrow believes the more established rowing nations may just be paying the SA squad a little more attention. “A lot of people see one result and think it could be a one-hit-wonder but last year we had a very good year with all our results at world champs so I think people are becoming a bit more wary of us - hopefully they are,” he said, adding that the team is to qualify four boats for the Rio Games.
Rowing SA's got Talent!
“My main concern is that we keep training all year round and keep healthy and keep progressing as a team. Hopefully people do fear us a little bit but we don’t fear other countries – we know we just have to look after ourselves.” South Africa’s rowing reputation was certainly further enhanced by John Smith and James Thompson’s world-beating performance last year. Competing at the World Championships in Netherlands, they claimed gold on their way to setting a world best time in the lightweight men’s double, while Shaun Keeling and Vincent Breet claimed a bronze medal in the heavyweight pairs. “John and James are both very determined people and they’ve put in a lot of hard work. I think it’s exceptional what they’ve done in changing disciplines – from the four where they won gold at the Olympics down to the double and now being world champions in that,” said Barrow. “I still don’t think they’ve completely mastered the art of the discipline and they’re working hard at that. But if you look at the individuals – they’re determined, committed people and they love racing so they’re very good at that part and that’s why they’ve been able to compete like this and keep performing. They’ve got a lot of experience under their belts and a lot of belief in themselves.”
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SA Rowing TEAM SA’s got Talent!
Rowing SA's got Talent!
The women’s lightweight four aren’t too far behind either. The duo of Kirsten McCann and Ursula Grobler finished fourth at last year’s World Championships. “I think that’s definitely our top women’s boat. I wouldn’t say the men are ahead of the women at the moment. There’s no reason that both those boats couldn’t win. But it’s so close between the top seven or eight nations in the world, they could come between first and eighth. They’ve just got to have a good day,” said Barrow.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Main Feature: Rowing
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: Reg Caldecott
The national squad all train together at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Pretoria, and while this has certainly had a positive effect on the university rowers there, Barrow maintains the rest of the country struggles to produce top-class tertiary-level rowers. The coach pointed to UCT, UJ and Rhodes as the only other universities showing any kind of promise in the sport. “We don’t have much coming through. I think our university system is quite weak. School rowing is strong though. There are quite a lot of school rowers but the carry-through level of rowers going from school to under 23 level is very small. There just aren’t enough people and money to employ coaches so we’ve got a big problem in our university structures.”
Rowing SA's got Talent!
Barrow did point to five promising young rowers to look out for in the future, however. “Jake Green is a good young rower coming through the ranks from the Eastern Cape – he’s 19 or 20 and hopefully a good prospect for Japan. We’re trying to keep our rowers going for the Japan Olympic Games in 2020. “There are two good crews coming out of the schools as well – from St Johns, two guys [Daniel] Carter and [James] Mitchell. And two girls, from St Andrews Girls and St Mary’s, they both have the surname Bentley [Rosanne and Tayla-May] but they’re not related. Those are four very good up and coming rowers so hopefully they continue with the sport and come into the senior side.”
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SA’s Emma Manners-Wood & Laura Strugnell to compete at World Champs
Synchronised
Swimming SA’s Emma Manners-Wood & Laura Strugnell to compete in July at World Champs in Russia 40
Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Wynberg Girls’ High School
Youth Feature: Synchronised swimming
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: Provided
Don’t be fooled by the sparkly costumes, lipstick and smiling faces… synchronised swimmers are some of the toughest athletes out there. At top level they’re training six to eight hours a day, six days a week and it’s widely acknowledged that they’re up there with the rowers, triathletes and heptathletes as the fittest athletes at the Olympic Games. Here in South Africa, synchro is something of a “Cinderella” sport with limited funding and facilities, but that hasn’t stopped it from thriving, particularly in the Eastern and Western Cape. And there’s one school in particular which seems to have become the epicentre of the sport in the country – Wynberg Girls High. At the national age group championships last December, the Wynberg team and trio won gold in their events while they also claimed top honours at the SA Level 1 champs in East London in March. That’s not too surprising considering they’re coached by a former and a current national champion, Sue and Emma MannersWood. Emma, Sue’s daughter, is a Wynberg Girls High old girl herself and has her sights set on qualifying for the Rio Olympics next year. Sue Manners-Wood explained why Wynberg have enjoyed so much success in the sport. “The school has a policy of encouraging a compulsory sport for all girls and this has resulted in there being a large group of synchro swimmers,” she said.
Apart from being involved at Wynberg, MannersWood Snr. is also coach at Barracudas club, Western Province and in fact the South African team.
of it. I was lucky that the American champion (at the time) came to our swimming club in East London, where I was a swimmer, and got me inspired.”
“I myself did synchro from the age of six until I was 28. I competed until Emma, my daughter, was two. And my passion clearly rubbed off on her.
That inspiration led to MannersWood being awarded SA colours in the sport but she was unable to represent the country in international competition as that was during the Apartheid era and the sports boycott.
“Synchro is the perfect combination of ballet, gymnastics and swimming. I loved the music and the drama
Manners-Wood now pours all her passion into coaching – and she has excelled there too.
“The school also registered as a club which has enabled the girls to enter inter-club competitions and get experience.”
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SA’s Emma Manners-Wood & Laura Strugnell to compete at World Champs
“Barracudas (my club) has won NAG [inter-club competition] overall for three years and my provincial team (WP) has won SA senior nationals for the past three years as well. EP (or Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics, as they are now known) won Level 1 and 2 in 2015. “I coach the national duet pair and we are currently preparing for our third World Championships in July in Russia.” The national pair are Emma, and Laura Strugnell, who stand a chance of representing South Africa in Rio next year.
“If we qualify at world champs by beating Egypt (world champs serves as a continental qualifier), then Emma and Laura will go to Rio.” At Olympic level, the sport is dominated by Russia and the United States and the SA duo will certainly have a tough task ahead of them.
“We are very isolated, with little opportunity to compete and usually place in the bottom five internationally,” explained Manners-Wood, pointing to what still needs to be done to develop the sport further locally. “We need to start at grassroots level and implement a carefully structured long-term athlete development plan. We need to get learn-toswim teachers and school PE teachers trained as coaches and talented girls must be identified early and supported. We need financial support and sponsors. I could go on about this forever,” she said. And how do you spot those talented girls? “They must be good swimmers. They need flexibility, a good ear for music and creativity are an advantage.” And, of course, they need to be prepared to work hard. “Training involves speed swimming sessions, gym workouts, flexibility training, land drilling and synchro sessions,” explained the coach. “A lot of people think if you can’t swim, you do synchro and perceive it as an art rather than a sport. I think that the make-up and sparkly costumes contribute to this as well as the judging which can be subjective. They don’t realise how difficult it actually is and how fit and strong the girls have to be.”
Synchronised
Swimming
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Youth Feature: Synchronised swimming
Words: Karien Jonckheere | Photos: Provided
DID YOU
KNOW • Synchronised swimming is one of only two sports reserved only for women at the Olympic Games. The other is rhythmic gymnastics. After women’s boxing was introduced at the 2012 Olympic Games, there are no men-only sports. • Synchro was introduced to the Olympic programme in 1984. • Synchro swimmers are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool at any time so have to keep treading water furiously throughout the routine, while making it all look effortless. • At Olympic level, synchro is contested by teams of eight and by duets of two. • A panel of 10 judges score the routines, based on technical ability and artistic impression. • Synchro swimmers use waterproof make-up and the hair product of choice to get that sleek look is called Knox – a type of gelatine. • Competitors can still hear the music underwater thanks to underwater speakers.
If you want to get involved in synchronised swimming, contact Sue Manners-Wood on:
Sue@manners.co.za Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
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Dan Lombard Kelsey White… SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force
SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force Water polo is a sport defined by immense skill, intense fitness and ferocious aggression. Kelsey White has been a member of the South African Women’s Water Polo team since 2010 and has played water polo in the USA and Australia. She is currently the SA Captain who believes that in sport you must “Dream big. Never ever give up. Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard. Use your talents and take every opportunity you can as more and more doors will open for you. Don’t forget to have fun.” Game On caught up with the talented Kelsey to find out more about the woman behind the sport, the differences in water polo around the world and where she sees herself in the future.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Youth Feature: Water Polo
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
GOM: When and why did you start playing water polo? Kelsey: I started playing water polo in my first year of high school. I always enjoyed swimming and being in the water from a young age. I was at a swimming practice and saw some older girls and boys playing water polo. I had never heard of the sport before and I was intrigued with the team aspect and skill of the game. GOM: What does it take to make it to the top? Kelsey: A lot of hard work and dedication. Water polo is one of the toughest sports there is and if you are not willing to push yourself to the limit you will fall short. You have to have strength, speed, agility, skills and quick thinking to succeed in water polo. Game experience and skills are a vital part of making it to the top. I was blessed enough to be part of the Arizona State University women’s water polo team where I played at a collegiate level for four years and gained a copious amount of game knowledge and experience. GOM: How is one selected for provincial and national teams? Are there qualifying competitions? Kelsey: Each province has their own league and provincial teams are selected from those leagues and trials. The national team squad is selected at various training camps and at the annual national Currie Cup Water Polo tournament. GOM: Are you sponsored? Kelsey: I’m not sponsored. It would be fantastic to have a sponsor and I’m currently looking for one. v
GOM: Who is your support base? Kelsey: My family, my parents have been amazing and have supported me from my very first water polo game until now. They have funded many tours and trips that I have had to go on to compete for my province and country.
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Dan Lombard Kelsey White… SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force
GOM: Who do you look up to? Kelsey: Christina Hewko. She was a grad assistant to the ASU women’s water polo team for my last two seasons in the USA. She represented the USA and Standford University. Not only did she aid my development but she was a wonderful mentor for me when I was a million miles from home. My mother is a huge role model in my life. She has supported me no matter what and has always driven me to be the best I can be. She is an optimistic, strong and powerful woman and I hope to be just like her when I am a mother.
SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force Commonwealth team 46
Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Youth Feature: Water Polo
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
GOM: What are the problems in South African water polo and how would you go about changing them? Kelsey: National players are not funded at all and thus have to self fund themselves for every training camp, international tournament and other national team events. This makes it difficult as we are top level athletes trying to juggle our own jobs and training. I feel that the national players need to be exposed to more international tournaments in order to compete at a high level and develop at a consistent rate.
I think we have to promote the sport as much we can so that we can get a good sponsor who would be able to help get us to the next level. I encourage as many junior water polo players to try and play overseas. This will open up many opportunities to acquire experience as well as a broader vision of what water polo is like around the world. GOM: Having played in The United States, what would you say are the differences with water polo in the two countries? Kelsey: Water polo in the USA is run more professionally than in South Africa. There are more players and more games per season. Because there are less players ,and thus less teams in South Africa, the competition tends to stagnate. Water polo in the States is funded which helps a great deal. The national team practices regularly while in South Africa we practice every couple of months. GOM: What does a day in Kelsey’s life entail? Kelsey: I’m a physical education teacher at St Mary’s Girls Waverley School and I run the water polo program for the high school. I am also the head coach of Wits Water Polo Club. I start my day at 5am where I do crossfit and then head off to school where I teach Grades 1 to 5. After school I coach netball or waterpolo. Then it’s off to Wits to coach. I have provincial training three times a week. GOM: What does your training schedule entail?
Kelsey: Strength Training (at least four times a week): I do Crossfit. This entails weight lifting, cardio, agility work and power movements. Water Training (5 times a week): Swimming up to 25 km a week. Leg work, ball skills, movement techniques and shooting.
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Dan Lombard Kelsey White… SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force
GOM: Do you follow a specific food plan? Kelsey: My eating plan includes a lot of proteins, veggies and organic nutrients. I use Natural Vibrance Green Protein to obtain all my super foods. I drink a lot of water and fresh fruit juices. I feel it is very important to have a healthy diet so to refuel your body as an athlete.
SA Women’s Water polo’s driving force
GOM: What are your goals for 2015 and beyond? Kelsey: For South Africa to win the EU 8 Nations Senior Women’s Water Polo Tournament 2015 in Ireland and for us to be competitive at the Fina World Championships in Kazan, Russia later this year. I want to continue coaching and help attract new players. But my biggest dream is to represent South Africa at the 2016 Olympics. GOM: Any advice for young players? Kelsey: Dream big. Never ever give up. Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard. Use your talents and take every opportunity you can as more and more doors will open for you. Don’t forget to have fun.
Teams she has represented: 2004 - 08:
Rand Park High School; Gauteng School Sides
2005 - 10:
Water Star Academy Club
2005 - 08/2013 Gauteng Ladies Team present: 2009 - 12:
Arizona State University Women’s Water Polo Team (USA)
2013:
Hunter Hurricanes National League Women’s Water Polo Team (AUS)
2014 - present:
Wits Women’s Water Polo Team
2010-present:
South African Women’s Water Polo Team
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
“Dream big” “Never ever give up” “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”
Youth Feature: Water Polo
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
MORE ON KELSEY:
“Don’t forget to have fun”
Date of birth: 18 September 1990 Place of birth: Johannesburg, South Africa School attended: Rand Park High School University attended: Arizona State University Coaches: Gareth Samuel (provincial); Brad Rowe (national)
Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
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KZN Primary Schools’ Rugby Tournament showcasing the young stars of tomorrow
KZN Primary Schools’ Rugby Tournament 2015
showcasing
the young
stars of tomorrow
Attacking, Durban Coastal’s Marvin vd Merwe from Glenwood Prep luckily misses a low flying tackle from James Murray during the SPAR KZN Inter-District Rugby Tournament in Pietermaritzburg.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Youth Feature: Rugby
Words: Sophie Thompson and Dee Hean | Photos: Sophie Thompson
KwaZulu-Natal Primary Schools
The annual gathering of KwaZulu-Natal’s young aspiring rugby players took place at the Woodburn Rugby Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 May 2015.
Now in its 18th year, the tournament attracts over 300 young players from various primary schools around the province. The enthusiastic players are divided up into three teams from each district with six districts or regions being represented, namely the Midlands, North Durban, Pinetown, South Coast, Zululand and Lammergeyer (Northern Natal) districts, all competing in the hope of being selected to represent their province. Established in 1995 after the demise of the Hosking Week Sports Festival the KZN Primary Schools’ Rugby Tournament was formed with an ethos of integrating players of all different backgrounds with an aim of also developing school boy rugby within the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The future star players will be rewarded at the conclusion of the tournament, three teams will be selected acknowledging top performances. The U13A side will represent the province at Craven Week. An U13B side will travel to Sasolburg to participate in the U13B Inter-Provincials and the U12 side will head up to Vryheid to compete the annual U12 Inter-Provincials.
The tournament is also an opportunity for aspiring Sharks players to grab the attention of selectors of the Sharks Academy as some may look to play professional rugby in the near future. Professional players that have emerged from this outstanding tournament include Springbok and the current Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie, along with Springbok Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves, Prop Patrick Cilliers of the Stormers and former Sharks winger Cedric Mkhize.
Louis Botha, Vice Chair of KZN Primary Schools Rugby Association says. “This tournament is not only about rugby but it is also about building friendships. I encourage the boys involved to play for the win but to also play for the fun of rugby”. “We are very happy to have SPAR on board with us for this year’s tournament and we hope that we can continue to work with SPAR for future tournaments making the KZN teams a driving force to be reckoned with in years to come.” “Being associated with such a prestigious primary school rugby tournament is excellent for us as the development of school sports is what SPAR thrives to be involved with; we expect a huge turnout of parents and supporters to accompany these young lads next weekend as they tackle the next level of school boy rugby.” said Rob Philipson, Managing Director of SPAR KwaZulu-Natal prior to the tournament.
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KZN Primary Schools’ Rugby Tournament showcasing the young stars of tomorrow
The main game of the tournament was the finals in the U13A sides and was the last game of the tournament between Durban Coastals and Southern KZN. The surprise in the U13A category was the determined team from Southern KZN, their never-say-die attitude and relentless eagerness saw them win two games back to back, the first time in five years they have managed to win, and not only win but qualify for the finals. An elated coach from Southern KZN, Warren Hitchings said, “I can’t explain how happy I am! The guys just clicked. The atmosphere in the team was fantastic; every single one of the guys backed each other on and off the field. It was an honour to be a part of!” The coach that hails from Pennington Primary continued, “Each and every single one of them was, in my eyes, a quality player, the best from our region and they did us proud. We only had three training sessions in the build up to this tournament, guys travelled from Kokstad and Kuswag to Suid-Natal to come and train, their commitment evident from the very first session we had together.” A delighted Durban Coastal’s coach, Brandon Hobbs from Glenwood Prep said after his team’s win, “We had good team spirit in amongst our lads. They did really well, making it all the way. Some great talent! There were a few individuals who managed some game breakers in key plays. I was impressed how they all played well together as a team.”
KZN Midlands Primary Schools Rugby Chairman, Tiny Coetzee said, “I was delighted with how the tournament turned out. The weather was great, the games were hard and exciting and I believe every single one of the 330 boys enjoyed themselves.” Talking about the selection process, Coetzee continued, “We have had a bit of a re-look at the selection structure. The guys who make the squads will have to go through another round to impress the selectors.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Pondering a side step, Southern KZN’s Jareth Praschma eyes his opponent out from Pinetown and Districts. Preparing to tackle is Ethan Hartwell during the SPAR KZN Inter-District Rugby Tournament in Pietermaritzburg.
Youth Feature: Rugby
Words: Sophie Thompson and Dee Hean Photos: Sophie Thompson
Two U13 teams will travel to Bloemfontein to take part in the Bondedag, this will serve as their final trials as to who will be selected for the A or B side. The U13A team will head to the renowned Craven Week in Witrivier, Mpumalanga; meanwhile the U13B side will head to Sasolburg.” “In the U12 division, will come back to Pietermaritzburg for their final round of trials. The successful guys will then head onto Vryheid to represent KZN towards the end of July.”
showcasing
the young
stars of tomorrow
“We are really pleased with the tremendous spirit and camaraderie that is evident in this tournament.” says Rob Philipson, MD of SPAR KZN. “From our point of view, SPAR encourages people to lead healthy lifestyles, and this tournament not only helps to develop strong and healthy bodies on the field, but also helps to grow and nurture healthy attitudes and team spirit. Well done to all those who participated, they are all winners to have got this far. We wish those who have been selected for the next level, the very best of luck, and we look forward to their future success.” Three days of superb rugby action at the SPAR KZN Inter-District Rugby Tournament concluded with three teams being announced to represent KZN.
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KZN Primary Schools’ Rugby Tournament showcasing the young stars of tomorrow
KZN U13A 1
KH Thomas
Southern KZN – Izothso Primary
12 S Ngcobo
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
2
U Botha
DBN Coastals – Umhlali Prep
13 K Mbongwa
DBN Coastals – DPHS
3
T Trollip
DBN Coastals – DPHS
14 M vd Merwe
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
4
H Gouws
Zululand – Richards Bay Primary
15 E Matkovich
Pinetown and Districts – Westville Senior Primary
5
C R De Bruyn
Southern KZN – Scottburgh Primary
16 N Mdabe
Zululand – Mtubatuba
6
M Khuzwayo
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
17 B Nortje
Southern KZN – Kuswag Skool
7
M Mkhize
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
18 M Xego
DBN Coastals – DPHS
8
K Khumalo
Midlands – Pelham
19 J Dobson
Pinetown and Districts – Kloof Senior Primary
9
P Elliot
DBN Coastals – DPHS
20 M Khalishwayo
Northern KZN – Paul Pietersburg
10 M Halstead
DBN Coastals – Clifton
21 E Potgieter
Northern KZN – Lucas Meyer
11 S Nkomo
Southern KZN – King Edward
22 J Murray
Midlands – Cowan House
Coach: M Dick
DBN Coastals – DPHS
Manager: H Muller
Zululand – Richardia
Asst Coach: M Jali
DBN Coastals – DPHS
Chaperone: K Barkley
Midlands – Pelham
KZN U13B 1
M Fierro
Pinetown and Districts – Highbury 12 N Dludla Prep
Northern KZN – Nuwe Republiek
2
J McCabe
Midlands – Merchiston
13 K Morsink
Southern KZN – Izotsho
3
M Immelman
Pinetown and Districts – Westville Senior Primary
14 Y Gosai
Pinetown and Districts- Atholl Heights
4
C Van Heerden
Midlands – Pelham
15 J Roets
Southern KZN – Amanzimtoti
5
M Madela
Northern KZN – Hutton Park
16 J Bessick
DBN Coastals – Northlands Primary
6
L Grobler
Southern KZN – Kuswag
17 N Mndaweni
DBN Coastals – DPHS
7
L Stubbs
Midlands – Merchiston
18 M King
Midlands – Merchiston
8
N Zikalala
Northern KZN – Monument
19 M De Klerk
Midlands – Cordwalles
9
B Oellerman
Midlands – Merchiston
20 T Tomsett
DBN Coastal – Virginia Prep
10 H Trodd
Midlands – Merchiston
21 M Grant
Midlands – Cordwalles
11 M Maphisa
Zululand – Mtubatuba
22 T Nkosi
Northern KZN – Piet Retief
Coach: S Carroll
DBN Coastals – Northlands Primary
Manager: Archie Bhengu
Pinetown and Districts – KwaManzini Primary
Asst Coach: B Hobbs
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
Chaperone: R Robbertze
Zululand – Richardia
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Youth Feature: Rugby
Words: Sophie Thompson and Dee Hean | Photos: Sophie Thompson
KZN U12 1
A Mfiki
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
12 A Zakwe
Midlands – Merchiston
2
Q Pitout
Midlands – Merchiston
13 C Maree
Northern KZN – Piet Retief
3
A Zondi
Midlands – Cordwalles
14 L Mpongose
Northern KZN – Paul Pietersberg
4
S Mkhize
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
15 D Pretorius
Northern KZN – Piet Retief
5
J Venter
Northern KZN – Pongola
16 M Khuzwayo
Midlands – Merchiston
6
K Manukuza
Zululand – MtMathuba Primary
17 R Swift
Midlands – Merchiston
7
L Mtshali
Zululand – Veldenvlei
18 S Mngomezulu
DBN Coastals – Penzance
8
G Mbatha
Northern KZN – Paul Pietersburg
19 J vd Merwe
Midlands – Merchiston
9
C Oellerman
Midlands – Merchiston
20 A Nkuma
Zululand – Grantham P
10 C Davis
DBN Coastals – Virginia
21 R Viviers
Northern KZN – Hutten Park
11 S Kok
Midlands – Merchiston
22 L vd Walt
Northern KZN – Piet Retief
Coach: S Accerman
DBN Coastals – St Henry’s
Manager: David Malaki
Southern KZN
Asst Coach: Tinus Laatz
DBN Coastals – Glenwood Prep
Chaperone: R Robbertze
Zululand - Richardia
showcasing
the young
stars of tomorrow
This sporting event and news is brought to you compliments of spar
Good for you
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Triumphant UWC look for higher honours
Triumphant
UWC higher
look for honours
University of the Western Cape
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The University of the Western Cape won their third Varsity Sports Ladies Beach Volleyball title after comfortably beating the University of Pretoria 44-25 in the final. UWC has cemented itself as an institution that is producing quality volleyball players in South Africa.
Youth Feature: Beach volleyball
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: SASPA
“The best thing about winning the title for the third time is that more and more people want to play volleyball at UWC,” said Bejancke Della, UWC Ladies Beach Volleyball captain.
Bejancke, a second year law student, has been playing volleyball since primary school. She has captained UWC for the last two years and would like to see the sport grow even more. “Volleyball is a very technical sport so the earlier a person starts the better. The problem is that it is not seen as a serious sport especially the beach version. There is not a lot of competition in Cape Town. Our league games are not very challenging so our development stifles. The All Star Saints is the only club who challenges us.” Her biggest supporters have been her family especially aunt, Nellie, and cousin Jandre, but it is Bejancke’s
coach Elmien Cloete who has made the biggest impact on her life. “My aunt and cousin know how much volleyball means to me and go out of their way to assist me. Jandre also plays, so we talk quite a bit about the sport. But my greatest supporter is my coach Elmien Cloete. She has gone above and beyond for us and has made me a better person and athlete. I wouldn’t be where I am if it was not for her.” The number of Volleyball tournaments in South Africa is insufficient presently, according to Bejancke, and she is pleased that the Varsity Sports Ladies Beach Volleyball tournament is in place as it is a step in the right direction.
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Triumphant UWC look for higher honours
“It’s great to be able to play other universities outside of USSA week. The University of Pretoria are definitely our toughest opponents. The fact that it is televised helps the sport to receive important coverage that only assists in the growth of volleyball.”
Bejancke and her team have their sights set on the USSA Indoor Volleyball tournament in June and the Beach format in December. They have a point to prove in the indoor format as the University of Johannesburg took top honours last year while UWC will look to defend their Beach format title. Judging by their dominance at the Varsity Sports tournament it should prove easy going for the UWC team.
she said it...
Fast facts about Bejancke Della
Playing ability
BJ
Bejancke is the complete package. She’s a fit, determined, athletic and has the skillset. She’s not the tallest player for beach volleyball but makes it up with her attitude.
Date of Birth
Leadership quality
27 June 1993
She is a great player and uses her experience to guide her decisions on the indoor court or on the sand. Her biggest asset is that she is composed. This helps her to provide a calming effect on her teammates.
Nickname
Place of birth Parow, Cape Town
High School attended Western Cape Sport School
Playing position Right side attacker
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Elmien Cloete, Coach of UWC Volleyball, on Bejancke’s:
Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Future Bejancke has the ability to go far. Her ability, work ethic and perseverance will see her playing a vital role within South Africa. She will be more than just a university athlete and will stamp her mark on the national and global stage.
Youth Feature: Beach volleyball
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: SASPA
Rule differences between beach and indoor volleyball
Ladies’ Beach
Volleyball
2015 final
standings 1 2 3 4
University of the Western Cape
Scoring is the same in both formats. Points are scored by grounding the ball in the opposition’s court or by a team committing a fault (error or illegal). Consecutive touches must be made by alternative players except a block touch where any player can play the ball. The only other similarity is the net. The height for men and women are 2.43 m and 2.24 m for both formats. •
Playing surface is sand as opposed to hard court. Players are permitted to be barefoot.
•
Dimensions of playing area: 16x8 for beach; 18x9 for indoor. No attack line.
•
Two players per team as opposed to six. No substitutions allowed.
•
Best of three sets played to 21 [15 for a deciding set] as opposed to best of five to 25.
•
Open hand touches, tips and dinks are illegal.
•
A block at the net counts as one of the three allowed touches in the beach game, but not in the indoor game.
•
Open-hand setting standards are different in the beach game – double hitting is called tighter but lifts are slightly more lenient, directing the ball while open hand setting is also illegal in beach.
•
Coaching during matches is not allowed.
•
There are no rotation errors on the beach – players may switch sides at will.
•
It is legal to cross under the net in beach volleyball as long as it does not interfere with opponents’ play.
•
Teams switch ends of the court every seven points, rather than between sets.
•
In beach volleyball, one is NOT allowed to touch the net under any circumstance. Whereas in indoor volleyball one can touch the net as long as it is not in the action of playing the ball, or does not otherwise create an advantage.
•
There is no Libero in beach like there is in indoor.
University of Pretoria Vaal University of Technology University of Limpopo
5
University of Cape Town
6
University of the Free State
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Brian Medcalf STRETCHING OUT
STRETCHING OUT By Brian Medcalf (B Sport Sc Hons Biokinetics)
As athletes, sportsmen and women, we have access to loads of different tools that will improve our performance and allow us to achieve more out of our activities. Having the right range of movement, posture and flexibility will help to improve your power, strength and endurance but also help improve your recovery time, decrease your risk of injury and balance out your posture. So by adding stretching to your exercise routine we will have a better rounded and balanced regime to support the duration and intensities of your workouts.
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Health: Stretching
Words: Brian Medcalf | Photos: Provided
So why do we need to stretch? When you exercise no matter what exercise you do, you damage muscle fibers. Now the higher the intensity and duration of the activities the more muscle fibers you damage. This is where stretching comes in, when these recently damaged muscles start to heal they heal shorter and without stretching, over time your muscle will start to affect your range of movement, posture, possible injury and performance. Possible posture and injury problems that are associated from the lack of stretching are: • Rounded shoulders (Kiphosis), exaggerated lower back arch (Lordosis), Skew spine (Scoliosis). • Hips rolled forward or backwards (Anterior and posterior pelvic tilt). • Flat feet or a low arch (Pronation) and high arch (supination) • Spine issues (herniations, bulging disk) • Lower back syndromes • Neck issues • Rotator cuff • Hip, knee and shoulder problems. These above listed issues are just amongst a few that are the most common that are reported in children, athletes and regular exercises. So there is no time to waste when it comes to embarking on a pre- and poststretching routine. With all of this in mind you now need to know, what type of stretching to do, when to stretch and how often to stretch.
There are three main types of stretching: 1. Static stretching is a stretch that is held in a challenging and slightly uncomfortable position for a period of 30 to 60 sec. This form of stretching is most commonly used POST exercise to help aid in the recovery and release of built up tension. An example of this would be after a workout, run or before going to bed, using static stretching to facilitate recovery. 2. Dynamic stretching is taking your body through a controlled range of movement for 1 to 5 sec that is specific to the activity that you’re going to train or perform in. This type of stretching is perfect before an activity, which will allow a greater range of movement. An example would be before a workout, bringing your knee to your chest, holding it for 2 to 3 sec and then changing to the other leg, repeating this 5 to 8 times on each leg. 3. Ballistic stretching involves trying to force a part of the body beyond its range of motion using bouncing or jerking activities for up to 1 to 2 sec at a time. Athletes use ballistic stretching where their muscles are used to power activities. An example of this would be leg swings, opening and closing of the chest, swinging of the arms forward and backwards.
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Brian Medcalf STRETCHING OUT
before activity As you can see we have a variety of stretches that can be used during our workouts and sporting sessions. We have Dynamic and Ballistic stretching that will be used before an activity, for example, before going for a run or a sport session do the following: • Walking knee lifts (bringing one knee up as high as possible, hold it for a second or two and then change to the other, repeat this 4 to 5 times per leg • Butt kicks (kicking your lower leg up so you try and get your heel to your buttocks, repeat each leg 4 to 5 times)
• Arm rotations forward and backwards (taking your arms in big circles) • Side to side running (taking big steps to the side, 4 to 5 on each leg) This will help to open your mechanical chain that you are about to use and get blood circulating to those muscles. It will also lower the risk for injuries from beginners to advanced exercisers. These stretches are ideal for children, sports women and men and adults. These stretches are basic and very effective. If you want even more sports specific dynamic or ballistic types of stretching, then
you should see a Biokinetist or a coach to put a series of stretching exercises together for your specific needs. Once you have finished your training session, this is where static stretching can and should be brought in. Static stretching allows you to release the tension you have just generated from your training session and it starts the recovery process. Now if you are one of those individuals that find it difficult to bend over and pick up something, then static stretching is perfect for you.
after activity Here are a few stretches that should be done after every training session and every day:
Periformis Stretch Sitting on a chair, cross the right ankle across the left knee, keeping the left leg straight under the knee. Push down the right knee with your right elbow and move your upper body forward. Hold the stretch for 30 to 60 sec and repeat 2 to 3 times per leg. Focus on moving your chest down towards your thigh.
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Health: Stretching
Words: Brian Medcalf | Photos: Provided
Hip Flexor Stretch Coming down on one knee, take a big step out in front of you. Place both hands on the front knee; push your hips forward, making sure both hips are square. When you’re in this position lean backwards slowly keeping your hips pushed forward. Hold stretch for 30 to 60 sec and repeat 2 to 3 times per leg. Rotate opposite hip inwards towards front leg to increase intensity of stretch.
Lying Quad Stretch Lying on your left side, take your right hand and grab your right foot and take it back behind the bottom leg. Roll the hip forward when doing this. Your objective is to get your knee back and your hips forward. Hold the stretch for 30 to 60 sec and repeat 2 to 3 times per leg.
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Brian Medcalf STRETCHING OUT
Gluteus Medias Stretch Lying on your back, take your right leg up to 90 degrees and take your left hand across and grab the outside of the right knee. Pull the right knee across your body keeping the lower back and shoulder blades on the ground. Hold the stretch for 30 to 60 sec and repeat 2 to 3 times per leg.
Chest Stretch Place one arm in the side of a door way or up against a cupboard. Stepping forward, place the opposite foot in-front of the other, lean forward and rotate out. Feel the stretch through the chest and shoulder. Hold for 30 to 60 sec and repeat 2 to 3 times per arm.
This entire stretching routine should take you no more than twenty minutes
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Health: Stretching
Words: Brian Medcalf | Photos: Provided
The rule of thumb is, the more you train, the more you stretch. This also goes for all those that man a desk or are on your feet for hours on end. You might not think that it’s exercise, however you’re consistently stimulating certain muscle in a shortening or constant state of lengthening. Whatever it is, you’re creating an imbalance, which leads to a change in posture and later pain or injury.
I know there are instances where you forget to stretch, or you have pushed yourself a little too hard, or you have been sitting for too long and your muscles have been pushed too far.
WHAT DO YOU Do? Stretching can only do so much. So we now need something NATURAL to help relieve the pain we are experiencing in our muscles. Here are a few things that can help relieve your pain: •
•
•
Hot/warm showers or baths, helps to increase blood circulation in the affected area and lymphatic drainage (inflammation removal) Drink water to reduce DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and repair strength loss. Using any of the following natural ingredients in a gel, bath salt will help:
Menthol – works by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm. These feelings on the skin distract you from feeling the aches/pains deeper in your muscles.
Arnica – anti-inflammatory
•
Camphor - The health benefits of camphor include its properties as a stimulant, antispasmodic, antiseptic, decongestant, anesthetic, sedative and nervous pacifier, antineuralgic, antiinflammatory, disinfectant, and insecticide substance.
The information you have received in this article on stretches is to help you to become more preventative and to help you get into a simple and effective routine to achieving the goals and benefits talked about.
Making sure your diet contains ingredients such as: •
Omega 3 helps to break down inflammation.
•
Eat blueberries, tart cherries, and other dark-colored fruit to reduce delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)
•
Eat leafy green and cruciferous veggies to improve estrogen metabolism.
•
Eat high-glycemic fruits & starches to replenish glycogen fast.
•
Eat almonds & other nuts to accelerate repair of damaged tissue.
•
Eat protein rich foods to speed tissue repair.
•
Use cinnamon to improve insulin sensitivity for faster tissue repair and glycogen replenishment.
Cook with turmeric and ginger to reduce DOMS.
If you are ready for a positive change in your body, the best way to get these benefits is to start at the beginning, your posture. If you’re finding that you, or someone in your family is living on the coach, complaining of back or muscle pain, or are wanting to start an exercise routine, look at their or your posture, this is the starting point. Chances are stretching is going to be your first order of business, especially if you/ they are very unfit, in fact, it is essential. Remember, everybody’s posture is unique and we all react differently to activity. So be smart and surround yourself with people that know and that are versed at prevention. Use your Biokinetist and qualified coaches who can analyse your posture and draw up the right routine for your body. Stretching is one of the tools that will enhance your performance, prevent injuries and take you to the next level.
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TARGET THE PAIN
HERBAL ICEMAN IS AS SERIOUS ABOUT PAIN AND MUSCLE RELIEF AS YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR SPORT. Its effective formula of Arnica, Echinacea and other herbs are matured and blended with natural menthol to offer a soothing cooling gel that hits the spot every time. Try it for muscle and joint relief, aches, sunburn and insect bites. Available at all leading pharmacies. Visit www.herbaliceman.co.za for more infromation. Find us on Facebook/Herbal Iceman. V-Tech (Pty) Ltd On Magazine, IssueSouth 17, 2015 66 andGame Cnr. Douglas Old Pretoria Road,June: Midrand, Africa, Client Service Centre: 0860 109 779, www.vtech.co.za
Health: Stretching
Words: Brian Medcalf | Photos: Provided
Brian Medcalf Profile B Sport Sc Hons (Biokinetics) Brian has worked and traveled extensively overseas where he has gained a lot of international experience in his field of work. His passion is to help others achieve their goals and make a positive difference in their lives. Brian has been involved in the health, fitness, nutrition, rehabilitation and psychology industry for the past eighteen years. He has a BA degree in Sports Science and Psychology, and an Honors Degree in Biokinetics (clinical exercise specialist) having studied at the prestigious Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa. During this time Brian made the South Africa students team for badminton and coached senior and junior Boland badminton teams. Following university Brian relocated to Pretoria, South Africa where he helped run a successful fitness and rehabilitation centre. During his stay in Pretoria he helped set up the first privately run high performance badminton academy in the country, where his focus was the testing, conditioning and injury rehabilitation. Due to the success and achievements of the academy, he was commissioned to train the Northern Gauteng Provincial badminton team and help lead them to success. For the past six years Brian has been traveling the globe onboard cruise ships. This has allowed him to enhance his experience working with a variety of international clients but also increased his knowledge base. In Brian’s practice he created a following amongst the disabled. He has worked closely with international coaches and a variety of medical specialists dealing in orthopedic, metabolic, cardiac disorders and the disabled. Brian’s passion and enthusiasm for his job enables him to be a dynamic teacher and an outstanding communicator. His deep passion for his job and drive to help others motivates him to go beyond the call of duty to attain set goals. Brian’s professionalism and knowledge helps to inspire and benefit others.
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Dan Lombard SA to compete in Junior Indoor Netball Tri-Nations tournament
SPORTS NEWS
South Africa to compete in Junior Indoor Netball Tri-Nations tournament Contributed by Dan Lombard
South Africa will compete in the inaugural Junior Indoor Netball TriNations tournament in Perth, Australia. Team SA will compete in both the 6-a-side and 7-a-side formats between 12-18 July 2015. Good luck girls! Teams participating in the tournament: Under-14: Nedine Senekal, Christine McKenzie, Siphokazi Bophela, Tiffany Gordon, Clarissa Strydom, Caitlin Winterbach, Shazelle Haman, Janke du Preez, Kelsey Gems, Sarah Thompson, Jacqueline WIlmans, Thea Swart, Ingrid Tredoux.
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Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
Under-15: Chrisley Marshal, Chelsea Smith, Michaela Webster, Carla Loots, Marle Rademan, Kayla Pienaar, Danelle Swanepoel, Lisa Oosthuizen, Ashleigh Moss, Jamie Leigh Turnbull, Jamie van Wyk, Kirsten Straszacker, Danielle Brooks. Under-16: Jean Marie Orton, Alexia Panayi, Siobhan McAlery, Klara van Heerden, Francis Olivier, Esli Triegaardt, Kay Sue Crook, Rone Carstens, Vicky Bell, Kaelyn Jansen, Amber Petoors, Ime Mouton, Merilee Temlett. Under-16 Mixed: Cara van der Weshuizen, Donne Kriel, Chane Steyn, Cailin du Plooy, Mila Dirks, Maria Loubser, Snayo Ndaba, Zahne Becker, Alexandra Marais, Megan Bruton. Under-17: Sian Moore, Kayla van Rooyen, Saige Bell, Leigh Janse van Rensburg, Jade James, Luscha Pienaar, Danelle van der Linde, Angeline Dos Santos, Azelle Zietsman, Cortney Clark, Charnel Ueckerman, Carlien Koster, Suzell Viljoen.
Sports News: School Achievement
Contributed by Philna van Veijeren
LAERSKOOL ALIWALNOORD Contributed by Philna van Veijeren | Photos: Provided
For the last month, Laerskool Aliwal Noord have been going from strength to strength with their sport achievements – all the way from the rugby field to the dancefloor! In March, Leandré Kotzé and Robert Orrock made it to the SA athletics championships for hurdles, held in Germiston. In rugby, Gershwone Smith, Kristof du Randt and Hansie Odendaal were chosen for the U12 Free State team, and Willian Pretorius for the Free State U13C team, that played against the Griekwas on 9 May.
Laerskool Aliwal Noord
In hockey, Willie Pretorius, Jody Verwey, Handré du Toit, WilliamJames Orrock and André Schoeman played in the Amathole trials and Willie Pretorius and Jody Verwey were chosen for the Border A team! And for the girls’, Lathitha Ncipha, Karoline Cloete and Joha Ludik also participated in the Northerns trials, and Karoline Cloete and Joha Ludik qualified for the Border B team. In Cross Country, William-James and Robert Orrock, Anica Pretorius and Ian Oosthuizen made it into the Free State cross country team after participating along with the high school kids! They compete in the interprovincial tournament on 23 May.
SPORTS NEWS
To top off all of this, Kamy McPherson, Anine Schlebusch and Karla van Riet made it to the Free State Dance Competition, while Alri Bosch and Joha and Elré Ludik rode in the Lormar Horse Endurance Race in Middelburg, East Cape. Finally, the U12 Tristan Kumm participated in the Annual South African Barefoot Water-ski Championships, where he won a silver medal in the Open Men’s Boom Tricks. Well done Laerskool Aliwal Noord!
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Dan Lombard Tyrone Johns out to defend his World Champion status
SPORTS NEWS
Tyrone Johns out to defend his World Champion status Contributed by Dan Lombard
South African BMX World Champion in the Challenger 30+ division Tyrone Johns will be heading to the 2015 UCI BMX World Championship at the Circuit Zolder in Belgium from 21-25 July. Tyrone is based at Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park where he has the best resources to train for the World Champs. Fellow rider Teagan O'Keefe is also set to participate but the rest of the SA team is yet to be selected.
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Sports News: Paddling
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
SPORTS NEWS
Hank McGregor was named Athlete of the Year at the inaugural World Paddle Awards held at a glittering ceremony in Augsburg, Germany on Saturday, 19 May 2015. Hank became the first South African to win both the K1 and K2 title at the same tournament during the World Championships 2014 hosted by Oklahoma City. He is a five-time marathon World Champion. Hank was the first athlete to win national singles and doubles titles in river marathon, flatwater marathon and surfski in the same season. He is considered to be the best all round paddler in the world. The spotlight will be on South Africa come 2017 when the nation hosts the Marathon World Championships.
McGregor wins top award at inaugural World Paddle Awards Contributed by Dan Lombard
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Dee Hean Portia Modise has announced her retirement
Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise has announced her retirement
SPORTS NEWS
Contributed by Dee Hean | Photos: Backpage Media
Modise has enjoyed an illustrious career as the first local and African soccer player to score 101 goals in 120 games for Banyana, becoming one of the top performers in African women’s football in a generation that included Noko Matlou, the first South African to be named African women’s footballer of the year, in 2008. Modise thanked the SAFA management team, and said she hoped her accomplishments would encourage young women to aspire to do greater than she had in sport.
"I'm not saying goodbye to the football association, I'm saying see you later. 74
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Sports News: Soccer
Contributed by Dee Hean | Photos: Backpage Media
I would really like to contribute to the country's soccer building. Modise said her wish was to see a professional national women’s league established in SA. Safa president Danny Jordaan said he hoped Safa could establish a league by 2016. "We have come to a very important moment because Modise is announcing her retirement. In terms of goal-scoring prowess she is the best striker this country has produced for both men and women’s football. Portia is the only South African to score more than 100 goals.” Jordaan said. "To see the end of such a player is a sad moment for us. But it also asks the question of how Portia can continue to play a role.” "Firstly, we will engage her as an ambassador for South African football. The second is that we will create a coaching path so she can have the best qualifications." Modise will take her first step towards coaching when she enrols in a Fifa female A-licence course, the same qualification held by Banyana coach Vera Paauw, in August.
"She has been tremendous on and off the pitch for us, and we will miss her very much. But we also respect that as a player who has given so much, there comes a moment when they realise they have to make another step in life." Paauw said. SAFA CEO, Dennis Mumble said Modise's sport expertise would be absorbed into Safa's youth department.
"She is not lost to South African football, that much we can guarantee you," said Mumble. Modise won the South African Sports Star of the Year Award last year, beating stiff competition from some of the country's most talented sportmen such as cricketer AB de Villiers and swimmer Chad Le Clos.
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Dee Hean Lwanele Poswayo, one of the M2E bursary winners
SPORTS NEWS
Momentum 2 Excellence bursary for Lwanele Poswayo of Queens College Eastern Cape Words: Dee Hean | Photos: Cricket South Africa
Lwanele Poswayo is one of the Momentum 2 Excellence (M2E) bursary intakes for 2015. Lwanele found his passion for cricket in 2009, when he was selected for the Queens Junior U11 A team. He is currently in grade 11 and attends Queens College in the Eastern Cape. Lwanele plays cricket matches on weekends and also enjoys soccer. His role model is Dale Steyn, because he is a great bowler and he wishes to follow in his footsteps one day. Lwanele believes that you must always lead by example and it is crucial to always prioritise the important things in life. He is extremely thankful for the M2E Bursary because it has changed the way he sees himself and believes he will succeed now at his future endeavours.
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Queens College
“Momentum 2 Excellence is an innovative and unique partnership. Momentum, Cricket South Africa and MAD are passionate about education and the great sport of cricket.
The M2E programme provides the opportunity for talented youngsters to excel in both areas. I have seen first-hand that sport is often more than just a game. It can transcend cultures and nationalities, unify a nation and teach you crucial life lessons to mould you into an individual that is both a team player and a leader.
The cultivation of these youngsters cricket talent coupled with MAD developing these future leaders through the power of a great education will create a new generation of leaders for South Africa,” said Francois Pienaar, Chairman of MAD CHARITY™.
Sports News: Cricket
Words: Dee Hean | Photos: Provided
SPORTS NEWS
SA Cricketer of the Year awards 2015 Who will it be? The countdown has begun for Cricket South Africa’s glittering season-ending awards function. The much anticipated event will take place on 03 June 2015 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg. The judging panel for this seasons awards comprised: Aslam Khota (Convener) HD Ackerman Victor Mpitsang Neil Manthorp Makhaya Ntini Andrew Samson (Statistician) The event will be televised live on SuperSport 2 from 20h00. Selected List of Awards and Nominations: Momentum One-Day Cup Cricketer of the Season: Andrew Puttick (Nashua Cape Cobras), Dean Elgar (The Unlimited Titans), Robin Peterson (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Words: Dee Hean | Photo: Provided
RAM Slammer of the Season: Kieron Pollard (Nashua Cape Cobras), Eddie Leie (bizhub Highveld Lions), Richard Levi (Nashua Cape Cobras) Sunfoil Series Cricketer of the Season: Hardus Viljoen (bizhub Highveld Lions), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions), Stephen Cook (bizhub Highveld Lions), Dane Paterson (Nashua Cape Cobras) CSA Coach of the Season: Rob Walter (The Unlimited Titans), Geoffrey Toyana (bizhub Highveld Lions), Paul Adams (Nashua Cape Cobras) Domestic Newcomer of the Season: Theunis de Bruyn (The Unlimited Titans), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions), George Linde (Nashua Cape Cobras) Ticketpro International T20 Cricketer of the Year: David Wiese, Faf du Plessis, Morne van Wyk
Castle Lager ODI Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel, AB de Villiers, Imran Tahir Castle Lager Test Cricketer of the Year: Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn Momentum Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk SA Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn
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Dan Lombard Protea Bass Angling team look to defend title in Mozambique
Protea Bass Angling team look to defend title in Mozambique Contributed by Dan Lombard Photo: Provided
The Protea Bass Angling team has been selected and will compete at the Region 5 competition at Lake Chicamba in Mozambique from 27-31 July 2015. South Africa will compete against teams from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Zambia. There will be two practice days and three competition days. Each team will consist of six boats with two anglers per boat. Each boat will weigh in their heaviest five Bass limit per day to determine a winner after the three days. The fish must be alive when weighed and are released once the weigh in is done. The Protea Bass Angling team are in need of sponsorship and if interested parties would like to sponsor the team, please contact Craig Fraser (082 558 6970) or Rowan Timmer (079 804 5343).
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sports news
The Protea Bass Angling 2015 team: Craig Fraser (captain) Casper Knoetze Guy Paulet Shane Estran Marc Bywater Justy Varkevisser August Lingnau Gregory Schluep Ruan Wahl Brett Edmunds Rowan Timmer Colin Till Carlos Silva (reserve) Martin Ferreira (manager)
Sports News: CycLing
Words: Dee Hean | Photos: Provided
SPORTS NEWS
J2C is hosted by Clifton Prep Words: Dee Hean | Photos: Provided
Clifton Prep, Nottingham Road, rolled out their red carpet and warm hospitality for the 5th leg of the Joberg2C Approximately 1300 people descended on the magnificent Autumn coloured campus. It was a glorious day, the Clifton community team ran like clockwork, their praises being sung by the happy J2C riders and their supporting structures. In times where schools cash flows are being tested continuously, Clifton is one of those unique schools that finds exciting and innovative ways to raise funds to take the school forward and offer both a great education, a strong “barefoot, braveheart” ethos where children learn through balanced work and play opportunities, like the J2C event in which parents and community members pulled together to create an incredibly successful event that brought people together and brought funding for the school PA Chairperson, Karen McKenzie in her letter of thanks to parents and the community said “Joberg2C is much bigger than any one of us. The success of this event as a fundraiser, lies in the magic that happens when each one of us share our gifts, our expertise and our time. The atmosphere on the day was electric...the readiness to serve, cheer, help, guide and have fun was exhilarating, exhausting and exemplary. This is to each one of you unsung heroes, who touched the hearts of our Joberg2C visitors, thank you for what you contributed to make our Joberg2C 2015 a huge success. To the one who behind the scenes ensured that our bandwidth was good to go for 1200 people online, to the team who kept 43 toilets sparkling clean, to the child who insisted on helping that rider with his bag to the tent, just to
hear more of the international accent, to the one who pushed 100 bikes, to the child who washed bikes non-stop, to the girls who did 750 kg of overnight laundry, (thank you Michaelhouse for your help here), for the disinfectors at the door, the ones who made sure that riders had continuous hot water, the ones who braaied 600 pieces of wors, the ones who carried tons of crates of drinks and goods, the one who had to move a hand rail in the boarding house 3 times until it was just right for Joberg2C and lastly to the ones never mentioned. THANK YOU for what you did for Clifton Notties during our Joberg2C hosting, you may never know the value of your contribution...a visitor so taken by your commitment that they will return to Notties on holiday, buy a house here or send a child to Clifton...who knows. Rest well and looking forward to 28 April 2016, when we will repeat our excellence.”
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Dan Lombard UJ Ladies win Varsity Sports hockey final
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
UJ Ladies win Varsity Sports hockey final Contributed by Dan Lombard and Varsity Sport | Photo: SASPA
The University of Johannesburg beat the University of the Free State 3-0 in the Varsity Sports Ladies hockey final in Bloemfontein on Monday, 18 May.
sports news
The loss was Kovsies first of the season after UJ avenged the 5-1 drubbing they received at hands of Kovsies in the regular season and claimed the title of 2015 Varsity Hockey Champions. UJ are now champions in both Mens and Ladies hockey after UJ won the Mens final in 2014. Mugg & Bean Star Save of the Match: Chloe Keeping (UJ) Jet Striker of the Match: Kaila-Ron Flemming (UJ) FNB Player of the Match: Kaila-Ron Flemming (UJ)
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Sports News: Triathlon
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Henri Schoeman wins third consecutive ATU Triathlon African Champions Contributed by Dan Lombard
Elite Men’s competitor Henri Schoeman led from start to finish to record his third win of the 2015 ATU Triathlon African Championships in Naama Bay, Egypt on Sunday, 10 May. The race was dominated by South Africans with eight of the Top 10 including the first five hailing from South Africa. Fellow South African Gillian Sanders won her fourth consecutive Elite Women’s race of the year at the same event.
2015 Sharm El Sheikh ATU Triathlon African Championships and Pan Arab Championships Elite Men’s results
SPORTS NEWS
Race results #
Name
COUNTRY
Time
1
Henri Schoeman
South Africa
2
Wian Sullwald
South Africa
3
Basson Engelbrecht
South Africa
4
Travis Johnston
South Africa
5
Eddie van Heerden
South Africa
6
Mehdi Essadiq
Mauritius
7
Wikus Weber
South Africa
8
Drikus Coetzee
South Africa
9
Clinton Gravett
South Africa
01:52:17 01:54:28 01:55:51 01:57:06 01:57:44 01:58:10 01:59:21 01:59:26 02:01:06 02:01:43
10 Marc Greyling
South Africa
This sporting news is brought to you compliments of Herbal Iceman by V-tech (Pty) Ltd
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Dan Lombard Affies machine picking up speed
Affies machine picking up speed Contributed by Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) is a rugby powerhouse in Pretoria. The Wit Bulle have had a fine run of form in 2015 which includes a big win over King Edward VII School as well as claiming the scalp of Springbok factory Grey College.
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Results 21 March
Helpmekaar
0-24
Affies
28 March
Paul Roos
29-12
Affies
Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival 2 April
EG Jansen
5-41
Affies
4 April
Affies
10-13
SACS
6 April
Framesby
0-57
Affies
18 April
Affies
31-10
Westville
Wildeklawer Super Schools results 25 April
Affies
50-0
SARU
27 April
Affies
22-22
Paarl Gim
9 May
Grey College
18-29
Affies
16 May
Affies
92-0
KES
23 May
Affies
28-15
Waterkloof
Remaining fixtures 30 May
Affies
vs Jeppe
6 July
Affies
vs Menlopark
25 July
Affies
vs Maritzburg College
1 August
Glenwood
vs Affies
8 August
Pretoria Boys High
vs Affies
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SPORTS NEWS
Sports News: Mountain Biking
Contributed by Philna van Veijeren | Photos: Provided
SPORTS NEWS
MOUNTAIN BIKING: ONWARD AND UPWARD Contributed by Philna van Veijeren | Photos: Provided
A transformation is taking place in school cycling in South Africa and mountain biking is taking schools by storm. Spearheaded by the Spur Mountain Biking Series, a nationwide campaign is encouraging schoolkids to participate in cross country cycling – also in KwaZulu-Natal. Organised with the aim to get cross country cycling nationally recognised as a school sport, a series of races is held in each province to determine a representative school or
provincial team (by tallying each race’s points) to participate in the national final later this year. Each course is specifically designed to be fun, but easily doable to be accessible for even the most inexperienced riders – anyone who wants to try is welcome. The race schedule be found here : https://www. amarider.co.za/Spur/siteEvents. and anyone is welcome, and you don’t have to participate along with a school team. You can register on the day at the race.
Paving the way for the rest of the country in schools’ mountain biking, are the schools in Gauteng, with the biggest races and fastest growing number of participants. Nevertheless, the cyclists in KwaZulu-Natal are more passionate than ever, and, as Ewan Cochrane, who helps organise the races, says - they may not have the most racers, but they have the best.
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Dee Hean Marielouw van der Merwe & Theresa Prins
Two of SA’s Top Umpires selected to officiate at 2015 Netball World Cup sports news Words: Dee Hean Photos: Catherine Kotze / SASPA
Two of South Africa’s top umpires have urged up-andcoming coaches to continue to dream big, as they prepare to take up duties at the INF Netball World Cup in Sydney from 7-16 August 2015. Therese Prince from DF Malherbe in Port Elizabeth and Marie-Louw van der Merwe from Paarl Girls’ High are part of the elite list of 17 umpires who have been selected for netball’s global showpiece. The two will also jet off to England next month to officiate at an international series there 4 to 13 May before heading up the line-up at the SA’s most prestigious competition, the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League from May 8 to June 7. Asked what advice she had for umpires, Marielouw said: “Learn your rules and keep up to date with any changes. Continually strive to learn more about the sport and try your utmost to improve your skills and most of all make the most of all opportunities coming your way.” Theresa echoed her colleague’s sentiments, saying that “umpires must remember that the show belongs to the teams on the court and that umpiring is not a popularity contest, it is about applying the rules and thereby bringing out the best netball skills of the 14 players on court.” Both umpires are extremely excited at the opportunity of officiating at the top netball tournament in the world. “I am in a fortunate position that this will be my second World Cup and I have experienced the Commonwealth Games, u/21 World Cups and University World Cup. It is always an honour and privilege to represent my country,” says Theresa. Netball SA director of umpires Dr Hannette Brewer said the fact that two of the 17 were from South Africa indicated just how high our standard was. “We have a dedicated programme to develop umpires and technical officials in the country. The selection of two of our foremost umpires proves that our development process is exceptional.”
Paarl Girls’ High
DF Malherbe Hoërskool
“We wish our umpires all the best for the tournament and we are confident that they will perform well and maybe even inspire our Proteas to do the same,” she said.
This sporting event and news is brought to you Courtesy of BRUTAL FRUIT
Sports News: Rowing
Contributed by Philna van Veijeren | Photos: Provided
St Mary’s School
SPORTS NEWS Megan Hancock, Caitlin Bentley, Paige Crooks, Jessica Schoonbee & Coach
ST MARY’S ROWERS EXCEL Contributed by Philna van Veijeren | Photos: Provided
The absolute climax of the rowing season takes the form of the South African Rowing Championships, and for St Mary’s School, Waverley, it was a weekend of glorious victory. This year the St Mary’s team dominated the event with both the U16 and Open crews wining their respective age groups. This was the first time in the event’s 22-year history that a girls’ school has won the quad events in the U14, U15, U16 and Open races. Rowers Megan Hancock and Tayla-May Bentley both won gold for sculling, doubles and quads in the U16 and Open age groups. Megan Hancock broke the U16 girls’ sculling record and, along with her partner, Caitlin Bentley, also broke the U16 doubles record. However, the St Mary’s rowers aren’t stopping at merely dominating the rowing scene in this country. Dina Protopappas
(U17), Jessica Schoonbee, Caitlin Bentley, Paige Crooks, Megan Hancock, Reitumetse Mokgele, Bridget Estill and Cara Richmond (U16) were selected for the South African Schools’ junior rowing squad who recently toured to London! They departed on 30 April, and the squad competed at two regattas whilst in England. First, the Wallingford regatta on the Eton Dorny Lake, where the U16 4 x team placed second overall. Then the Bedford regatta, where the U16 8+ placed second overall in the knock-out competition, and the U17 8+ won in the final, beating the Oxford College Boat Club. St Mary’s was responsible for
the biggest contribution to the team. Tayla-May Bentley, Lisa Heyneke and Alexandra SavenyeTerblanche were also chosen to attend trials for the South African junior squad, where Tayla-May succeeded and will be competing in the Junior World Championships in Rio de Janeiro 5- 9 August 2015! The girls at St Mary’s, Waverley, are in a class of their own. They train dedicatedly and effectively at the Victoria Lake Club, inspired by committed coaches. This shared passion for rowing is clear, and it shines through in their incredible results.
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Dan Lombard Strong Junior Bok squad selected for Italy
Strong Junior Bok squad selected for Italy
SPORTS NEWS
Contributed by Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
The Junior Boks returned from Argentina with two wins in preparation for the global showpiece. The first match was a hard fought affair in Santa Fe with the visitors scrapping out a 25-22 win. The Los Pumitas fought back in the second match but the Junior Boks did enough to walk away 39-28 victors. It is the first time the Junior Boks have returned from Argentina undefeated.
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Sports News: Rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
The end of the tour also marks the timeframe in which the South African Under-20 coach Dawie Theron had to make the final cut to the team for 2015. Dawie has now completed his selction and chosen a strong squad ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship to be held in Italy in June. Blue Bulls loose forward Hanro Liebenberg, brother of former Junior Bok captain Wiaan, has been named Captain. We look forward to more exciting rugby this season.
Junior Springbok squad: Forwards (16) Hyron Andrews (Cell C Sharks) Rikus Bothma (DHL Western Province) Dan du Preez (Cell C Sharks) Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks) Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks) Joseph Dweba (Toyota Free State Cheetahs) Njabulo Gumede (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Jason Jenkins (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Hanro Liebenberg (Vodacom Blue Bulls – captain) Mzamo Majola (Cell C Sharks)
Junior Boks Pool B fixtures: SA vs Italy, 2 June 2015, 20:30, Calvisano
Ox Nche (Toyota Free State Cheetahs) Abongile Nonkontwana (Vodacom Blue Bulls) RG Snyman (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Jan van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
SA vs Samoa, 6 June 2015, 18:30, Parma
Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province)
SA vs Australia, 10 June 2015 20:30, Calvisano
Jacques Vermeulen (DHL Western Province)
Backs (12) Tinus de Beer (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province) Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province) JT Jackson (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Malcolm Jaer (EP Kings) Marco Jansen van Vuren (Xerox Golden Lions) Khanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province) Brandon Thomson (DHL Western Province) Ivan van Zyl (Vodacom Blue Bulls) EW Viljoen (DHL Western Province) Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province)
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Dan Lombard Paul Roos returns triumphant from Japan
Paul Roos returns triumphant from Japan Contributed by Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided Paul Roos Gymnasium
Paul Roos became the fourth South African school to win the Sanix Youth Rugby Invitational Tournament when they beat Brisbane Boys’ College 35-3 in the final in early May. The tournament is held at the Global Arena in Munakata, Fukuoka on the island of Kyūshū. The teams invited are normally one of the top five in their respective countries. Paul Roos managed to keep four of their opponents scoreless including their 63-0 semifinal win over England’s Truro College.
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SPORTS NEWS
Sports News: Rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Previous winners and runners-up winners
YEAR
New Zealand Hamilton Boys’ High School
South Africa 2014
New Zealand Saint Kentigern College
2013
Hartpury College
2012
Truro College
United Kingdom
New Zealand Hamilton Boys’ High School
United Kingdom 2011
New Zealand Hamilton Boys’ High School
2010
2008 2007
2005 2004
2002
Sendai Ikuei High School New Zealand
2001
St Peter’s College
2000
Paul Roos Gymnasium
Australia The King’s School
Tonga College Japan
South Africa Grey College
Higashi Fukuoka High School Tonga
2003
South Africa Boland Landbou
The Southport School Japan
New Zealand Rotorua Boys’ High School
Hoërskool Monument Australia
New Zealand Rotorua Boys’ High School
Higashi Fukuoka High School South Africa
2006
New Zealand Christchurch Boys’ High School
Tarbes High School Japan
New Zealand Christchurch Boys’ High School
Higashi Fukuoka High School France
Australia Westfields Sports High School
Truro College Japan
2009
South Africa Glenwood High School
Ivybridge Community College United Kingdom
France Dax Landes High School
Paarl Boys’ High School United Kingdom
New Zealand Kelston Boys’ High School
runners-up
South Africa
Paul Roos’s results Beat Higashi Fukuoka (Japan)
45-13
Beat Kashiwa (Japan)
78-0
Beat Enisei-STM (Russia)
57-0
Beat Gose Industrial High (Japan)
38-0
(Quater-final)
Beat Truro College (England)
63-0
(Semi-final)
Beat Brisbane Boys’ College
35-3
(Final)
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Grey College Tennis Team wins 2015 Kearsney College Tennis Festival
Grey College Tennis Team wins 2015 Kearsney College Tennis Festival From left to right: Joubert Klopper, Nyathi Motlojoa, Nick de Kock, Hubert Badenhorst, Phillip Henning, Liam Coertzen, Kukutla Motlojoa
Contributed by Grey College | Photos: Marnus van Wyk. Grey College
The Grey College First team tennis once again showed why they are considered the number 1 tennis school in South Africa by winning the Kearsney College Tennis Festival this past weekend. This prestigious festival, in its 20th anniversary year, showcased tennis from the best tennis schools in the country.
Grey College results were Round 1:
Grey College against Kearsney College Grey wins 9-0
Round 2:
Grey College against Affies
Grey wins 8-1
Round 3:
Grey College against Pretoria Boys
Grey wins 5-4
Round 4:
Grey College against Clifton
Grey wins 9-0
Round 5:
Grey College against Paul Roos
Grey wins 5-4, winning the tournament.
The following players were awarded the best player awards in their respective positions: Phillip Henning was the best no. 1 player Kukutla Motlojoa was the best no. 3 player Joubert Klopper was the best no. 6 player
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SPORTS NEWS
Sports News: Rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
SARU Youth Weeks 2015 Contributed by Dan Lombard
All eyes will be on Paul Roos Gymnasium in the June/July holidays when they host the Under-18 Craven Week at the Markötter Fields as part of the school’s 150th celebrations.
SPORTS NEWS
Eastern Province broke a 37 year drought when they beat SWD 25-7 in 2014’s unofficial final and will be out to defend their title.
2015 SARU Youth Week dates and venues Under-13 Craven Week Jun 29 - Jul 03 Hoërskool Rob Ferreira, White River Under-16 Grant Khomo Week Jul 06 - 09 Jul Bridgton Sports Grounds, Oudtshoorn Under-18 Academy Week
Jul 6 - 10 Jul
Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark
LSEN Week
Jun 29 - Jul 2
HTS Drostdy, Worcester
Under-18 Craven Week
Jul 13 - 18 Jul
Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
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Dan Lombard Touch Rugby in South Africa needs YOU!
Touch Rugby in South Africa needs YOU! Contributed by Dan Lombard
SPORTS NEWS
Rugby is followed almost religiously in South Africa with a stereotypical Saturday afternoon involving a braai and some sort of rugby match. The Springbok 15’s and 7’s teams are the pinnacle of rugby within the Republic but the umbrella of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) covers a whole lot more than just those two teams. The lessor known subsets of rugby include wheelchair rugby, blind rugby, tag rugby and touch rugby. The Touch Boks returned from Coff Harbour, Australia with a fair showing at the 2015 FIT Touch Rugby World Cup. The Mens and Ladies teams both finished fourth while the Mixed team secured a bronze medal.
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Sports News: Rugby
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
According to the South African Touch Association (SATA) website there are roughly 10,000 registered players in South Africa. There are 12 leagues across six regions and teams participate in a Spring, Summer and Winter season. Each season is 10 weeks and matches are played on a weekly basis. Players strive to represent their provinces at Inter-Provincial Tournaments in either the Open or Junior (15s, 17s, 18s and 21s) categories. SATA hosts additional tournaments in the form of the SA Club Championships, Super 6, Knysna Cup, Summer of Touch Beach Tour and Stilbaai.
“People freak out when they hear the word rugby and think it is contact. Touch rugby is a thinking game and requires speed, agility and great hand-eye co-ordination to outwit your opponent. It definitely has a little bit of everything,” explains SA Ladies captain Jenna Nortier. Although SATA is affiliated to SARU, that is where the relationship ends. Jenna believes that more needs to be done to encourage people to start playing touch rugby and sponsorship would go a long way in developing the sport. “We are ranked third in the world behind New Zealand and Australia. We definitely have the talent to be the best in the world. That’s why you play competitive sport. We had to pay for ourselves to go to the World Cup and sadly a lot of players had to stay at home because they couldn’t afford it. Going forward we need to be able to select players based solely on merit and not on the size of their bank account,” said Jenna.
Touch rugby explained A non-contact sport played on a field 70m x 50m. There are 14 players on a team with six players on the field and eight rolling substitutes. A match consists of two 20 minute halves. The sport is governed by the Federation of International Touch and follows the six down laws which differ from the informal one touch way of playing. A team has six chances (touches) to score by crossing the tryline and possession is turned over if unsuccessful. Possession also changes hands after an error. There are no stoppages in time so touch rugby is played at an incredible pace.
South African touch rugby’s plight is not unique in a country where minority sports are tossed aside. The work that SATA is doing to promote the sport will provide the exposure needed to be the best in the world. It is in the private sector that they will find their funding to champion the sport in terms of sponsorship and with that the resources SATA so desperately needs. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring SATA, please visit their website www.sata.co.za or send an email to info@sata.co.za
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Graeme Jackson Copa Coca-Cola in full swing!
SPORTS NEWS
The 2015 edition of the Copa CocaCola is currently ongoing with regional matches around South Africa. Copa Coca-Cola is an international youth football tournament that features over one million teenagers in more than 60 countries around the world, promoting an active lifestyle and encouraging team spirit, respect and friendship.
Copa Coca-Cola in full swing! Words: Graeme Jackson | Photos: Backpage Media
The theme of the 2015 Copa Coca-Cola is one which highlights the role a young person can play in encouraging a healthy lifestyle, both for themselves and the people around them.
great
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Sports News: Soccer
Words: Graeme Jackson | Photos: Backpage Media
tness The question, ‘What role will you play?’ is the payoff line for this year’s campaign and encourages young people to think about team work, leadership, friendship, good sportsmanship, enthusiasm, commitment and dedication. This year’s Copa Coca-Cola also features eight current and former players from the tournament acting as ambassadors. The eight youngsters have been given specific nicknames pertaining to their character and roles they play in a team: ‘The Impossible’, ‘The Rock’, ‘The Heart’, ‘The Rebel’, ‘The Joker’, ‘The Machine’, ‘The Perfectionist’ and South Africa’s Siyanda Jezile, a 16-year-old from Centurion who is known as ‘The Artist’ – a player with hypnotising skill on the ball.
South Africa U-17 men’s national team coach Molefi Ntseki says a tournament such as the Copa Coca-Cola helps the development of young players. “We have identified the creation of development programmes as a crucial focus for the coming years and each, and every one, has an important role to play in helping us unearth those players with national team potential,” Ntseki explains. The South African Copa Coca-Cola tournament kicked off in March with the regional matches in the Eastern Cape and will finish off the regional rounds on August 1 in Mpumalanga. The regional matches will be followed by the provincial knockouts, with teams looking to represent their respective provinces at the national finals taking place from September 23 to 26.
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Neil Greig Danone Under-12: The start of many football adventures
sports news
Danone Cup of Nations U-12: The start of many football adventures Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
The Danone Nations Cup is the world’s biggest football tournament for children between the ages of 10 and 12, (U12s category). One of the main values is fair play; therefore this competition helps to instill in these young players what are respect and dignity in victory as in defeat. Every year since 2000, around 2.5 million children take part in local, regional and then national Danone Nations Cup competitions, before the winners fly off to compete in the World Final. In each of the 32 participating countries, Danone’s subsidiaries organize their national tournaments in partnership with the local Sports Federations and/or State Education and Sports Ministries. Over
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34,000 schools and 11,000 clubs from all around the world are involved. Currently, the Danone Under-12 South Africa provincial finals are coming to a close and with that the National Finals are drawing ever closer, with the winners set to represent the country at the International tourney in Morocco later this year.
Sports News: Soccer
Words: Neil Greig | Photos: Backpage Media
South Africa have in the past performed very well at the Danone Nations Cup World Finals, winning the annual event in 2003, 2007 and 2009. The 2009 and 2010 finals were held at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. World Cup winner Zinédine Zidane serves as the tournament’s global ambassador. SA’s National Finals are on 27 June 2015 at Reiger Park and the winner of the National Finals will go and represent South Africa in Morocco. To talk a bit more about the coveted youth football tournament Game On roped in Themba Shabalala who is an administrator and the National Coordinator of the Danone Nations Cup as well as the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup under the umbrella of SA Schools Football Association.
Game On: Why is your Under-12 level so important for the development of talent? The U/12 age group is the entry level for the boys in terms of playing quality football. It is our considered view that players get their first experience of competitive football in this Under-12 Danone Nations Cup. It is the first step towards the realisation of capacity, tenacity, enjoyment and opportunity to make an informed decision to continue with football or not. The players get their skills nurtured at this level.
Can you tell us more about the thinking behind the provincial playoffs that happened in KZN? KZN is one of the areas that have many schools in our country. We are happy that we have achieved the objective of giving the young boys an enriching experience of playing high flight football at this level. We saw the participation of private and independent schools and former model C schools [four white schools] being pitted against township and rural schools. The level of football and talent displayed by the rural schools is amazing. They fared very well against these white schools and it shows that football is universal and has no boundaries. The question of coaching and facilities does play a part but at the end of the day it is the determination to succeed against all odds.
The opportunity for development coaches to look at the players with an eagle’s eye with the idea of trying to inculcate the team spirit, collectively and individually. A platform for talent Identification in line with the development pipeline.
So far, what has the highlight been of this year’s Danone Cup? Seeing lots of children coming to terms with organised football in the various levels of the tournament. More schools have participated in this year’s tournament and we have been strict in terms of the format of the games. All schools are now subjected to playing a league format at the lowest level as part of our strategy of ensuring quality matches, and creating more opportunities for the schools and players. Social cohesion is a reality. New schools are coming up as qualified teams and this means progress.
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Neil Greig Danone Under-12: The start of many football adventures
OUTSTANDING REGIONAL FINALS Eastern Cape 23rd May, at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London Western Cape Gauteng
RESULTS: REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMPLETED KZN 2015 CHAMPS: Mophela Primary School MPUMULANGA 2015 CHAMPS: Daniye Higher Primary School NORTH WEST 2015 CHAMPS: Khetleng LIMPOPO 2015 CHAMPS: Benny’s Sports Academy NORTHERN CAPE 2015 CHAMPS: Roodepan Primary School FREE STATE 2015 CHAMPS: Nelson Mandela Primary DATE: 22 May 2015 Rygate Sports Field, in Athlone DATE: 29 May 2015 VENUE: Michael Mkhwanazi School, in Tsakane Extension 8 DATE: 14 June TYPE: Gauteng Provincial tournament VENUE: Ryger Park Stadium, Boksburg
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Sports News: Squash
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
Michael Howard flies Glenwood's flag high at KZN Inter-schools Squash Contributed by Dan Lombard
SPORTS NEWS
Michael Howard
Glenwood High School
Michael Howard, Form VI, from Glenwood High School won all his matches at the 2015 KZN Inter-Schools Squash tournament held in Pietermaritzburg on the weekend of 8-10 May. Glenwood played against Kearsney College, Westville Boys' High, Michaelhouse and Maritzburg College. Michael’s performance saw him winning all of his matches throughout the tournament, and he is currently ranked as one of the top ten U/19 players in South Africa. His superb form has seen him being selected for the South African Under-19 team that will compete at the Penang Junior Open in Malaysia from 1-6 June 2015. South Africa are set to face Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
We wish you the best of luck! Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
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Dan Lombard Squash
KZN Schools Squash Boys
Kearsney College
SPORTS NEWS
Kearsney and Epworth triumph – SQUASH During 8-10 May, a squash showdown of epic proportions took place in Pietermaritzburg – the KwaZulu-Natal inter-school tournament. After 4 rounds of blood, sweat and bouncing rubber balls, Kearsney College and Epworth emerged as the winners of the ladies’ and men’s competition, respectively. Kearsney’s coach and Master-in-Charge of squash, Andy Morgan, tells of how the team started the tournament with two easy wins, but later had to fight some tougher competition to claw their way to victory. The boys - Brandon Nel, Callix Gray (captain), Brenton Scott-Martin, Geoff Sibbald, Graham Hudson and Cameron Ritchie - are a welloiled machine because they know each other so well, having played together more or less since the start of their high school careers. One of the biggest challenges they face is being a smaller boys school having to compete against opponents from much larger schools – but their “weakness” is also their advantage.
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Sports News: Squash
Words: Dan Lombard | Photos: Provided
KZN Schools Squash Girls These boys aren’t exclusive squash players, no – they also collectively participate in rugby, cricket and even badminton. Even though their involvement in other sports leads to some injuries and less practice time to give their coach sleepless nights, it gives them a different set of skills that they have used to their advantage to prosper.
EPWORTH Independant HIGH SCHOOL
In the pipeline for the near future is the trials for the KwaZulu-Natal provincial team and the SA Top Schools in Maritzburg. These boys want to use their success as motivation for the competitions to come. On the girls’ side, Epworth School was the champion, losing only one match during the tournament. Their players were Noël Lee, Jessica McDonald, Anele Ngubane, Olivia Langford and Genna Bennetts. On top of their victory, the girls have also qualified to represent KwaZuluNatal at the SA Top Schools in August, a tournament which they have won an astonishing 21 times.
SPORTS NEWS
Their two top girls, Anele Ngubane and Noël Lee have been selected to represent South Africa on a tour to Malaysia in May. These girls are an inspiration for many others in their school, where, with dedicated training (even over the weekends), attaining national colours for squash is a reality.
Looking to the future, the girls are hoping to win the Ladies’ first league and ultimately win the SA Top Schools for the 22nd time. We wish both schools the best of luck for the road ahead.
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Dan Lombard Lucas Sithole wins doubles title at Japan Open
SPORTS NEWS
Lucas Sithole wins doubles title at Japan Open Contributed by Dan Lombard
SA wheelchair tennis champ and World No. 4, Lucus Sithole, partnered with Australian Dylan Alcott to win the doubles crown when they beat America’s defending champions and top seeds, David Wagner and Greg Hasterok 7-5 6-2 in the final round of the 2015 Japan Open. This is the third Super Series event on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour 2015. It’s the first time that Sithole and Alcott have managed to defeat Wagner in a doubles final at any international event and it is the second Super Series doubles title for both Alcott and Sithole for the 2015 season. In the Quads Singles event Alcott ended the title defence, Sithole as the second seed continued his first visit to the Japan Open with a 6-2 6-2 victory in the semi-final round. Despite having played each other the previous day, the duo joined forces to face the top seeds and emerged victorious. ‘I was hoping to take the singles title again but I am excited that my partner Dylan and I were able to clinch the doubles title,’ he shared. Sithole expressed gratitude to the game sponsor for his win in saying ‘Dreams like these are made possible with the continued support from Airports Company South Africa, who have invested a great deal of time, effort and financial resources in South African Wheelchair Tennis’. Lucas is now off to represent South Africa in the prestigious 2015 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Turkey from 25-31 May 2015, where he will be joined by Kgothatso Montjane, Evans Maripa, Leon Els, Mariska Venter, Bongani Dlamini, Marshall Marsh, Thando Hlatshwayo and Danny Mohlamonyane.
Good luck!
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Sports News: Squash
By Neil Greig Backpage Media
SPORTS NEWS
Siyoli Waters Makes top 16 at British Open By Neil Greig Backpage Media
South Africa's top ranked female squash player Siyoli Waters beat her previous best finish at the Allam British Open 2015 recently, which was hosted in Hull. The event is is described as the Wimbledon of squash and Siyoli, who lives in Cape Town, beat her previous best in the tournament by reaching the Last 16 before going out to 4th seed Nour El Sherbini of Egypt 11-2, 11-8, 11-5, a match that lasted 24 minutes. Siyol had beaten 15th seed Jenny Duncalf of England in the previous round: 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 0-11, 16-14 after a gruelling 56 minutes. "I couldn't match her accuracy today. I am happy to have gone one round further this year - top 16," Siyoli said of her British Open experience. Meanwhile South Africa's top ranked male, Stephen Coppinger, went out to Egypt's Zahed Mohamed in Round One: 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 3-11, 11-5, a match that took just over an hour. Siyoli then moved on to Egypt to play in another event: "I have another event in Egypt, the Sharm El Sheik Open," she said.
By the end of May Siyoli will be back in South Africa to continue coaching young squash players in Cape Town as part of her giving back to the local community.
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Name Surname PSI U/11 & U/12 Nationals
SPORTS NEWS
Indoor Hockey: PSI U/11 & U/12 Nationals Submitted by PSI
The 2nd annual PSI U/11 & U/12 Nationals countdown has begun and Cape Town is excited and proud to be the hosts for this Action packed Indoor Hockey event for the second year.
PSI introduced Nationals for U/11 & U/12 with the purpose of exposing these young players to a big stage tournament where they can compete against other indoor players from across the country.
Last year’s tournament was a massive success and this tournament is expected to grow and be even bigger and better this year.
We welcome the Gauteng Gryphons, East London Jaguars, Pretoria Pitbulls and Overberg Badgers who will be making their debuts at this year’s U/11 & U/12 Nationals.
We believe this Event will grow the desire for the indoor game and help them develop and improve as players at an age where skill development is vital.
U11 and U12 National Winners in 2014: U11 Girls A section
Vipers (Port Elizabeth)
U11 Boys A section
Seals (Cape Town)
U12 Girls A section
Hawks (Namibia)
U12 Boys A section
Vipers (Port Elizabeth)
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This sporting event and news is brought to you compliments of PSI Game On Magazine, June: Issue 17, 2015
These Franchises have established themselves at the U/13, U/14; U/16 & U/18 Nationals and we are pleased to see them entering teams for the younger age groups. Franchises will be having a key interest in terms of Final placings at this tournament as it will contribute to the points table that determines the “Franchise of the Year” award. With so many teams competing, it is anyone’s guess which team will walk away with the “GOLD” in the respective age groups.
Sport News: e-Sports - Gaming
Words: Colin Webster | Photos: Mind Sports South Africa
SA Counter-strike Team Goes to World Champs With great delight, the MSSA is now in a position to announce the squad from which the official South African Counter-Strike: Go teams will be drawn to represent South Africa at the upcoming E-FRAG.net World Championships as well as at the 7th IeSF World Championships later this year. Of course none of this would be possible without the continued support of MWEB. MWEB is the official team sponsor, and through their continued support, South Africa has been able to climb from being ranked 18th in the world in 2012 to be ranked 13th in the world in 2015. The squad consists of nine of the finest CounterStrike players that participate in the official South African tournament scene.
To be selected or the final squad, each player qualified for National Team Trials at either a Regional, Provincial or National Championship. It was then at the official National Team trials that the squad was selected. The squad has now gone through the full selection process and the Management Board has the pleasure of announcing the team.
Heymans, Johan BerZerK Team Captain
Batzofin, Jason St John’s College Player
Boucher, Michael BerZerK Player
Brown, Thomas All Stars Player
Krugel, Wilmar BerZerK Player
Nortjé, Thylé All Stars Player
Smale, Duncan St John’s College Player
van Wamelen, Bastiaan St John’s College Player
Venter, Cornel BerZerK Player
The squad is now in full preparation for the qualifying matches for both championships. The official award ceremony where each player shall be awarded his Protea Colours shall be done in due course prior to the first online qualifying match.
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