Zwartkop and Eldoraigne meet in high-stakes hockey showdown
Pretoria rivals, Hoërskool Zwartkop and Hoërskool Eldoraigne, will battle it out for derby honours over two days, with the boys’ and girls’ 1st XI hockey matches set to shine in the spotlight.
The interschool rivalry kicks off on Friday, with the girls’ senior teams taking centre stage in an evening match. On Saturday, the boys’ first teams will complete the long fixture list.
Both matches will be hosted at Hoërskool Eldoraigne. Later in the season, the rivals will clash again at Hoërskool Zwartkop.
Zwartkop girls’ coach Martin Williams believes Friday’s showdown is more than just a regular match. It’s a symbol of tradition and school spirit.
With the teams having played a number of league games, he’s confident that his squad is ready for the challenge: “We are in the middle of our league season,” Williams said, “so we are well prepared after a good pre-season and three league games already. This week’s preparations were mainly about small adjustments and match-specific tactics.”
Last year, Zwartkop did the double, with both their boys’ and girls’ first teams emerging victorious. Despite that success, Williams insists that his team is not feeling the weight of expectation.
“It was a great moment for us, as a school, winning both games for the first time. That said, we’re not putting ourselves under pressure to replicate that. Our focus is on playing good hockey and soaking in the atmosphere,” he explained.
“It’s not every day you get to compete in front of a packed pavilion, filled with school pride and passionate supporters. For many of these players, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My message to them is simple: enjoy every second.”
The Zwarries boys’ side is also in good form, and they’ve enjoyed a strong run in the league. Before they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hoërskool Pietersburg, coach Connor Flowers’ side beat Hoërskool Wagpos 10-0. They also overpowered Hoërskool Hugenote (7-0) and Hoërskool Klerksdorp (12-0).
However, the annual derby between Eldoraigne and Zwartlop has been very closely contested in recent times. Since 2018, Eldoraigne has won three times, Zwartkop twice, and two matches have been drawn.
FIXTURES
16 May – Girls
19:15 – Eldoraigne vs Zwartkop
17 May – Boys
13:45 –Eldoraigne vs Zwartkop
