Border out to show fight and character at SASHOC Nationals
The annual SASHOC National Week tends to produce surprises, upset results, and Cinderella stories, and the Border u18A girls’ team wants to be a part of that narrative this year.
Led by the experienced coach Jerry Snyman, the Eastern Cape side will arrive at the national event with nothing to lose and ready to throw the kitchen sink at their opponents.
The tournament will be hosted at St Anne’s DSG, in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, and runs from 30 June until 5 July.
You can catch every minute of it LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App and DStv channel 216.
Border had a disappointing run last year and just managed to stay in the A section after finishing in 11th place behind Northern Free State.
This year, they’re drawn in Pool B where they will face Northern Gauteng A, KZN Coastal A, KZN Inland A, and Western Province A and B.
Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the tournament, Snyman said his team’s preparations have gone smoothly.
“Prep has been good, despite the busy derby season and nursing injuries we’ve had,” he said. “We are in the final stages now of tweaking the finer details ahead of the tour.”
Snyman and the selectors have named a solid 16-player squad that includes players from Hudson Park High, Clarendon High School for Girls, Stirling High, and Merrifield College.
Only two players, Tarelle Jones and Tariro Chinamasa, were part of last year’s outfit, so it’s a new squad, and Snyman is excited to see what his side can produce.
“As much as it’s a new team, these players have been playing hockey since their primary school years. Some have grown immensely over the years, which has led to them being picked for the team, proving hard work does pay off.
“The players have made sessions so easy,” he added, “as they’ve all been selected for their various talents, skills, or roles in the team, and the girls have stepped up to the task and become a team, which is what coaches want at the end of the day. A team plays for a team, not individuals.”
Despite being drawn in a tricky pool, Border will fancy their chances of making a mark. To do that, they will target certain games within the group.
Coach Snyman believes unity through thick and thin will be vital in their quest.
“Our group could be worse, having finished where we finished last year,” he said.
“We knew this year was going to be a tough task. Nonetheless, we have our goals and targets set for some games.
“We will need to stay as a team through the highs and lows. We cannot let a poor performance, or a missed goal, get us down. We need to keep in the fight until the end, regardless of the results.”
Clarendon’s Cara Knott will lead the side, with her schoolmate, Caroline Kretzmann, serving as vice-captain.
Border kicks off its campaign against Northern Gauteng A on Monday, 30 June, at 13:10.
Border u18A
Mbaliyethu Khumalo (Hudson Park High), Keera van Vuuren (Hudson Park High), Rania Khan (Hudson Park High), Jessica Schaefer (Clarendon High School for Girls), Megan Phillips (Clarendon High School for Girls), Alex Viljoen (Merrifield College), Tarelle Jones (Aces), Caroline Kretzmann (Clarendon High School for Girls), Tariro Chinamasa (Merrifield College), Quinn Carr (Clarendon High School for Girls), Hannah Faro (Hudson Park High), Busiwe Mayekiso (Hudson Park High), Cara Knott (Clarendon High School for Girls), Ahlumile Moni (Stirling High), Kishka Baartman (Stirling High), Kara Batting (Hudson Park High).
