Champions Central Gauteng and Western Province dominate SA Schools selection
Five players each from Central Gauteng and Western Province were rewarded for their impressive performances at the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament with selection for the South African Schools squad.
The 15-player line-up was announced after Gauteng defeated Province 7-3 in the final of the tournament at the Joan Harrison East Swimming Pool in East London on Wednesday.
The IPT title was Gauteng’s second in succession after they won last year’s final against the same opponents in Gqeberha.
Gauteng was not at their best during the pool stage of the competition, but they played some enterprising and effective water polo and outsmarted Province tactically on the final day.
As a result, a handful of their players were included in the SA Schools squad. Two of them, Amy Smith and Mia Loizides, were included in last year’s squad.
Meanwhile, both Central Gauteng goalkeepers, Lucy Davis and Ogechi McMurray, cracked the nod along with Ruby Carlson.
Province also has five representatives in the team, and two of them featured in 2023. Hannah Banks and Emma Catto were selected again, while Roxanne Uys, Iviwe Tracy Oduore, and Alexa De Villiers joined them in the national side.
Coach Grant McKenzie’s Nelson Mandela Bay side finished in an impressive third place and three of their standout players played their way into the national lineup.
Matipa Karimazondo got her name on the list for another year, while Amie Jenner and their goalscoring machine, Teagan Harty, were also rewarded.
Both KwaZulu-Natal and Buffalo City A endured underwhelming outings, and finished in fifth and sixth respectively, but each had a player named in the team.
Inge Southey was the KZN rep, while Tori Voke, from Buffalo City, was also included.
Western Province’s Hannah Banks took the best forward accolade, while Mia Loizides was crowned the Defender of the Tournament.
Davis was in top form for Gauteng in the cage, which earned her the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.
The Player of the Tournament went to Alexa De Villiers, who excelled for Province and who was, at times, the difference between winning and losing.
SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS SQUAD
Alexa De Villiers (Herschel Girls School, Western Province), Hannah Banks (Reddam House Constantia, Western Province), Emma Catto (Reddam House Constantia, Western Province), Roxanne Uys (Reddam House Constantia, Western Province), Iviwe Tracy Oduore (Reddam House Constantia, Western Province), Amy Smith (St Mary’s Waverley, Central Gauteng), Lucy Davis (Kingsmead, Central Gauteng), Mia Loizides (Roedean School, Central Gauteng), Ogechi McMurray (St Dominic’s, Central Gauteng), Ruby Carlson (St Dominic’s, Central Gauteng), Amie Jenner (DSG Makhanda, Nelson Mandela Bay), Teagan Harty (Pearson High, Nelson Mandela Bay), Matipa Karimazondo (Kingswood College, Nelson Mandela Bay), Inge Southey (Durban Girls’ College, KwaZulu-Natal), Tori Voke (Clarendon, Buffalo City)
Manager: Etienne Le Roux (Western Province)
Head Coach: Kelsey Thomson (Central Gauteng)
