A history-making titanic tussle, under lights, of different styles

On 1 August 1998, Maritzburg College became the first school in South Africa to play a game on its own Astro. Now, on Friday, the famous Pape’s will host its first match under lights when College takes on Clifton College.

There is no doubt that both the Maritzburg College and Clifton College first teams are well prepared and well drilled for the 2024 hockey season, with early morning sessions, gym programmes, and some good pre-season matches against local schools all preparing them for the action proper, which starts on Friday.

Calvin Price, the new Director of Hockey at Clifton, is excited about the Friday Night Lights 2024 season opener in Pietermaritzburg.

Price, who recently guided the KZN Raiders Ladies indoor hockey team to a winner’s gold medal at the National Ladies Indoor IPT in Cape Town, reflected: “College hockey is always strong, and with years and years of building a hockey culture, College under lights on Pape’s, no doubt, will be a challenge, but we are up for it and looking forward to it.”

Price has succeeded Keagan Pearce (now the Director of Hockey at Kearsney College) as the head of Clifton’s hockey, and ahead of the new season he acknowledged the excellent work done by his predecessor, saying he was grateful for the hard work and passion Pearce had put into the Clifton programme.

“We will be playing an exciting brand of hockey where we will be expressing ourselves on attack and defence. We are a young squad, with loads of talent, and we look forward to the busy winter season ahead,” Price said.

Kyle Emerson, the College first team coach, said he is thrilled to have his team run out under their new floodlights, and excited to have the school’s passionate boarders and staff out on the banks of Pape’s to support the Red Army.

College’s SA u17 goalkeeper, Nicholas Holmes, who competed in the second edition of the u17 Dato Mirnawan Cup in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, in December 2023, will have a key role to play if College is to record a victory.

He, together with the experienced Julian Konigkramer (KZN Inland u18B last year), will co-lead the Red, Black, and White as vice-captains, supporting their impressive captain, Ipeleng Mosupye (KZN Inland u18A last year).

Head down to the Pape’s Astro at 18:30 to enjoy a game of superb skills, patience, and explosive counterattacks or follow the action live on SuperSport Schools.

The main game will be preceded by three others. The u14A teams meet at 15:30, the u16As start at 16:30, and the 2nd sides begin at 17:30.

Maritzburg College has made braais available for spectators who wish to bring and braai.

TEAMS

Clifton College 1st team

1. Daniel Hompes (vc), 2. Jared Pearson (c), 3. Ethan Lyne, 4. Tom Ehrich, 5. Tristan Smith, 6. Zach Williamson (KZN Coastals u16A 2023), 7. Georg Wolhuter (GK), 8. Bryon Ward, 9. Tiago Suarez. 10. Ryde Brisset (KZN Coastals u16A 2023), 11. Tye Milne, 12. Tim Saulez (KZN Coastals u16A 2023), 13. Jason Adams, 14. James Wilson, 15. Dan Joss, 16. Nabil Bejia (KZN Coastals u14A 2023)

Maritzburg College 1st team

1. Nicholas Holmes (vc) (SA u17 2023), 2. Dane Jackson (SA u16A 2023), 3. Greg Askew (KZN Inland u16A 2023), 4. Siwa Sithemba (SA u16A 2023), 5. Uyanda Dlamini (KZN Inland u18B 2023), 6. Ipeleng Mosupye (c) (KZN Inland u18A 2023), 7. Julian Konigkramer (vc) (KZN Inland u18B 2023), 8. Ryan McKean (KZN Inland u18B 2023), 9. Kadin Jenkins (SA u16B 2023), 10. Banele Dlamini (KZN Inland u18A 2023), 11. Ethan Maynard, 12. Michael Gibson, 13. Rory Schirge (KZN Inland u16A 2023), 14. Matthew Smith (KZN Inland u16A 2023), 15. Ethan Fabre (KZN Inland u16B 2023)