Central Gauteng well prepared to defend IPT title
The 2024 edition of the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament will see the Central Gauteng u19A girls’ team aiming to claim back-to-back titles.
The event takes place in East London from 7-11 December, and the u19 matches will be played at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pools.
After winning two major titles in the past 12 months, Central Gauteng is the team to beat. They claimed the honours at last year’s IPT in Gqeberha before winning the Currie Cup in East London in March. In both finals, they defeated Western Province.
However, a lot has changed since those triumphs. For starters, Central Gauteng is now led by coach Kelsey Thomson, who has taken over the reins from Etienne Le Roux.
Le Roux left St Stithians College and Central Gauteng to join Rondebosch Boys’ High in the Western Cape earlier this year.
Coach Thomson came on board in his stead and immediately made a positive impact when she inspired the team to Currie Cup glory.
She has been able to select the strongest possible squad for the IPTs and believes that combinations and players being familiar with each other will help their cause.
“This squad has depth, depth, depth, and more depth,” Thomson told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the tournament. “There are strong individual positions and then many utilities that are versatile in all aspects.
“These girls played lots together last year. They are also u16 gold medallists and four matric girls that have played together for years.”
Preparation is a challenge for many provincial teams, with selected players attending schools far from their teammates, which means daily training is not possible. That is not the case for the Central Gauteng u19A side. Their team is made up of players from schools within close proximity to the others, with players from St Stithians College, Roedean School, St Dominic’s Catholic School, St Mary’s Waverley, Reddam House Bedfordview, and Kingsmead College in the lineup.
“In terms of preparation, we have had a successful winter programme that has run since May and then we have fine-tuned our A and B teams since the beginning of October,” Thomson said.
“There have been lots of matches versus younger male teams for fast reactions, which has helped.”
Gauteng will be tested in their title defence. The pool stage is structured so that the top teams face each other, which will make the competition tighter than ever.
That means the defending champs will take on Western Province A, Buffalo City A, KwaZulu-Natal, and Nelson Mandela Bay during the pool stage of the competition.
Her team heads into the tournament confident, but coach Thomson said they’re taking nothing for granted.
“It’s exciting, different pool structures with all the top teams in one pool,” she enthused.
“It bodes well for high-level competition throughout the tournament and not only once getting to the quarters.
“This age group is one of the strongest all around I have ever witnessed throughout all the provinces. KZN has great young players and a great new coach, too, in Nicholas Rodda. They are lucky to have him.
“Western Province is always a team to respect. They are lucky to have Etienne Le Roux with his wealth of water polo knowledge.
“Don’t forget [Nelson Mandela Bay’s] Grant Mackenzie, a legend coach, who develops great teams always. For me, it’s awesome to see so many young teams that have a lot to offer.”
Thomson will bid farewell to five players after the tournament, including captain Mia Loizides and vice-skipper, Amy Smith. They’ll be joined by Ruby Carlson, Francesca de Villiers, and Cecilia Peterson.
“These matrics have dedicated years to Gauteng Water Polo. It’s an honour for me to see them off in their last IPT, as I was their coach in their u14 and u15 years,” she recalled.
While Loizides and Smith are set to lead the u19A team, the u19B side will be captained by Peterson, with Aimee Hattingh and Taylor Billet serving as the vice-captains.
Central Gauteng u19A Girls
Courtney Calenborne (St Stithians), Emily Carle (St Stithians), Ruby Carlson (St Dominic’s), Lucy Davis (Kingsmead), Francesca de Villiers (Roedean), Anastasia Hambakis (Reddam Bedfordview), Isabella Imbriolo (St Stithians), Julia Joseph (St Mary’s), Mia Loizides (Roedean), Ogechi McMurray (St Dominic’s), Emma Pelicot (Roedean), Amy Smith (St Mary’s), Tori Tanner-Ellis (St Stithians).
Central Gauteng u19B Girls
Taylor Billett (Roedean), India-Rose Cope (Crawford Lonehill), Kiara Cronje (Roedean), Mia Duffy (Beaulieu), Holly Franks (Kingsmead), Amy Harmzen (St Dominic’s), Aimee Hattingh (Reddam Bedfordview), Mya Osei (Roedean), Cecilia Petersen (Roedean), Amy Stubbs (Roedean), Emily Townshend (Crawford Lonehill), Ziyanda Tshabalala (Roedean), Simphiwe Zulu (St Dominic’s).
Non-travelling reserves
Eryn Doyle (Beaulieu), Rachel Rostron (St Peter’s), Angela Smith (Parktown Girls), Shannon Spitsbaard (Crawford Lonehill).
Coaches and Manager
Head coach: Kelsey Thomson
Assistant coach: Michaela Boaventura
Assistant coach: Wade Brand
Manager: Nicola MacLeod
