Barend Geldenhuys: from Boland B to SA Schools B
While it was the Western Province u18A boys that took gold at the SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein, Boland B also left the tournament with silverware after claiming first place in the B Section at the University of the Free State.
The side, coached by Matthew Smith and managed by Conroy Eiman, defeated Mpumalanga 5-3 in a heated final to secure promotion to the A Section for 2025.
During the week, Boland scored a whopping 22 goals. They shone in the pool stages, drawing once, losing once and winning the remainder of their matches.
After their opening day 2-2 draw with North West, coach Smith’s side hit their stride, winning their next three matches, beating Eastern Province B 5-4, Southern Free State B 5-0, and KZN Inland B 2-0.
They succumbed to a 1-3 defeat against Mpumalanga. However, by then, a semi-final spot had already been secured.
In the semis, Boland was pushed to the limit by a motivated Eastern Gauteng side. Nothing separated them after regulation time, which ended 2-2. But Smith’s charges scraped a tense 4-3 win on penalties.
In a second meeting against Mpumalanga, with promotion and the title on the line, Boland, after a nervous first half, upped their game and came out firing in the second half to capture a 5-3 win.
“It was quite an eventful week. We had first day jitters and then came together as a team nicely as the week progressed,” Smith told SuperSport Schools Plus after the final.
“We had exceptional midfield players, a lot of depth, and very good individuals that stepped up.
“I’m happy with how the boys jelled as a unit. They come from different schools, but we had a common goal and that’s to win gold.”
A player who had a massive influence on the team during the week was Paul Roos Gimnasium’s playmaker, Barend Geldenhuys.
Geldenhuys, who has been enjoying a season to savour for his school, was a surprise omission when the Boland A side was announced.
Despite playing in the B Section, he did the unexpected. He came to life during the week and played his best hockey, scoring often to end the tournament as the top goal scorer, with 13 goals, four of which came against Mpumalanga in the final.
His prolific performances earned him selection for the SA u18B team, making him the only player from the B Section to achieve that rare feat.
“I was kind of shocked when I heard the news [that I had missed out on selection for the Boland A team],” Geldenhuys told SuperSport Schools Plus after the final in Bloemfontein.
“Coach [Michael] Baker let me know about it and told me to keep my head up.
“I must say, I had a feeling I might not have been chosen, because I feel like I didn’t have the best start this year, but I’m glad about where I am now,” he added.
Geldenhuys, who also played a pivotal leadership role as the vice-captain of the Boland B team, alongside Hano Basson, admitted he had to quickly change his mind set and focus on what he could control.
“I had to quickly put that disappointment behind me and focus on the task ahead.
“I set my goals, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy in the B Section, but, as a team, we were motivated and raring to go.
“I had to be the best I could be for the team and keep showing up day in and day out.
“It was a nice week, but tough. We didn’t start well, drawing the first game, and then we played our second game, and the team just got better,” he said.
Geldenhuys expressed his shock to learn he had made the SA Schools B team from the B Section, but said he was immensely proud of the achievement.
“I was talking to a few of the selectors at the start of the week, and they told me to just go for it, even though I was in the B-Section,” he revealed.
“They told me there’s a chance I could make it, and I didn’t think I would make it, but I’m just grateful.
“It’s not just about me, though. Without the team, I wouldn’t have been here. Credit must go to coach Smith, who also allowed us to express ourselves, and that got the best out of the team.”
The title means Boland B is now back in the big league, and in 2025 will play in the A Section, while Border has been relegated.
Geldenhuys still has some more matches to play in the maroon jersey of Paul Roos, before turning his attention to matric exams.
Paul Roos returns to action on 12 July when they host South African College High School (SACS) in a highly anticipated Western Cape derby on the Maties AstroTurf. Many would consider it a clash of the two best teams in the country.
Catch all that action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
