Affies ready for tough Jeppe challenge
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) is all set and raring to go in their forthcoming clash with Jeppe High School for Boys on Saturday, in Johannesburg.
Jeppe has been in superb form throughout the season and has compiled a fantastic unbeaten record. They’re an awfully tough unit to break down, and they, also, have a good number of threats at the other end of the park.
Affies faces them on the Boden AstroTurf on Saturday and the Pretoria School, too, is a tough nut to crack. They field a well-disciplined team and they have designs on shaking things up against their highly regarded opponents.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Colin Mendoza, the Head of Hockey at Affies, acknowledged the tough challenge that lies ahead, but said he was confident about his side’s approach.
“Yeah, Jeppe is strong this year,” Mendoza admitted. “But, in saying that, we have been watching a few of their matches, and it’s clear there are several individuals they rely on to have an impact on the game.
“From an Affies’ standpoint, we emphasise the importance of teamwork and a collective effort in executing the game tactics.”
Despite the Jeppe’s strong form, Mendoza believes his team’s unity on and off the ball could deliver them success.
“As a team, we play really well when we connect well on and off the ball. We are all on the same page. Going into the Jeppe match, that has been our main focus””
Affies will also be looking to make up for the disappointment of conceding a late goal in their last outing, which allowed King Edward VII School (KES) to snatch a 3-3 draw.
“We had a very good preparation week before KES, and we feel a bit disappointed about not getting rewarded with the win,” said Mendoza. “We played really well and ticked the necessary boxes during that game.”
The Affies’ coach also highlighted the individual talent and leadership within his squad and praised his players who were recently selected for provincial teams.
“We have several boys selected for Northern Gauteng teams, and we are very proud of them, namely Johan Pieterse (captain) and Wium van Niekerk in the A-side,” he said. “Over and above that, we are a team that is diverse in both age and experience. We are excited to put in a massive team shift this weekend.”
