A new era dawns for Western Province u19 girls under Etienne Le Roux
The Western Province u19 girls’ water polo team will be focused on taking it one step further when the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament kicks off in East London early next month.
The event takes place from 7-11 December at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pools.
Province has a score to settle after suffering a 10-12 defeat in last year’s final against Central Gauteng in Gqeberha.
That team, which was led by coach Nicola Barrett, gave a good account of themselves in an electric title game, pushing their opposition all the way while playing some of their best water polo of the tournament.
Mia Loizides scored five goals for the eventual champions, while Hannah Banks found the back of the net four times for Province. Both players will again represent their provinces this year.
The 2024 event will also provide an unfamiliar sight for water polo enthusiasts around the country. That’s because, for the first time at the tournament, coach Etienne Le Roux will not be coaching a Central Gauteng side.
Le Roux bid farewell to St Stithians College and Central Gauteng earlier this year to join Rondebosch Boys’ High and Western Province.
He constructed an impeccable track record during his time in Gauteng, leaving with a stacked CV that included winning several IPT titles while leading Central Gauteng to some milestone wins over their rivals.
He has been thrown into the deep end and has been charged with replicating his past success in the Western Cape.
“It has been a challenging year for me and my family with lots of changes,” Le Roux told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the IPT.
“But the people in the Cape, and specifically at Rondebosch, have been very welcoming and supportive. We are loving our new life and looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Le Roux, an animated and passionate presence at poolside, takes over the coaching reins from Connor Whiting, who led the Western Province side at the Currie Cup in March, which was also held in Buffalo City.
“They [the team] are great,” Le Roux enthused. “We have been working really hard as a squad, with both the A and B teams pushing hard at sessions.
“The players are learning lots, and we are growing nicely as a team. They are a talented group who have a lot to prove.
“They have also been receptive to my style of coaching and have taken on all the challenges I have thrown at them with an open mind and the willingness to push through.
“The entire team is improving each and every week, and we will be coming in strong and fit for IPT.”
Le Roux’s side will be tested by Central Gauteng A, Buffalo City A, KwaZulu-Natal, and Nelson Mandela Bay in the group stage of the event.
The coach is expecting a tough tournament and will lean on his vast knowledge of the Gauteng players when he comes up against his former team.
“I think it is going to be great. The u19 girls’ section is going to be super competitive this year, and we will need to be at our best throughout the tournament.
“Gauteng, I am sure, will be a tough game, but this time I truly know my competition inside and out, which may help us a bit in planning, if you know what I mean.”
Western Province u19A team
Alexa de Villiers, Nicole Bantom, Grace Sales, Amy van Breda, Emily Van Heerden, Sophie Vickers (Herschel Girls School), Iviwe Tracy Oduore, Hannah Banks, Emma Catto, Julia Luckoff, Roxanne Uys (Reddam House Constantia), Sofia Walker, Bella Murray, and Isabella Tooley (Rhenish Girls’ High School).
