Eunice relishing Greg Beling Festival challenge
After ending 2023 on a high as the number one ranked team in the country, Eunice High School for Girls has entered the 2024 season with all eyes on them, deservedly so.
In late January, however, they experienced a challenging start to the season at the Balling Hockey Festival in Bethlehem.
There, Eunice suffered three losses, to St Stithians College, St Anne’s DSG, and St John’s DSG. They finished strongly, however, with convincing wins against The Wykeham Collegiate and Voortrekker Bethlehem.
They will carry that optimism into the Greg Beling Hockey Festival in East London, where the action starts on Thursday.
Eunice had a good run at last year’s early season event, beating Parel Vallei (5-1), DSG Makhanda (5-0), and Stirling High School (2-1). They, however, were beaten 1-0 by Pearson. Later in the season, they twice avenged that loss.
Every year poses its own challenges, Eunice coach Nika Coertzen believes. “Every year brings challenges, goals, and a different team dynamic,” she said.
“What is a constant every year is that it is always an honour to represent the first team, and that it takes a lot of hard work.
“Last year’s results gave us a lot of confidence and pressure, but as they say, pressure is a privilege,” she added.
The Bloemfontein school opens with a clash against DSG Makhanda on Thursday at the Cambridge High School Astro.
Coertzen says DSG will be a good first outing for her side, as they seek to improve with every game they play.
“We lost five matches in 2023,” she stated. “Our aim is just to be better every game, regardless of the result.
“Every game is an opportunity to play the game we love, no matter the opposition. I feel confident and excited to see the progress of the team in the past three weeks,” she added.
After opening their account on Thursday, Eunice will take on Cambridge and Rhenish at the Clarendon Astro on Friday.
Their last of six matches, will be played on Sunday against Affies.
Coertzen said she is looking forward to seeing what this year will bring her side. “Our first few games were a big learning curve and a good way to identify what we need to work on going forward.
“It is about learning from those experiences, good or bad, and striving to be better every game.
“I am blessed with a special group of ladies who are willing to learn and put in the hard yards. I am confident and excited to see what 2024 brings,” she concluded.
Eunice fixtures for the Greg Beling Festival
Thursday, 14 March 2024
18:00 – DSG v Eunice @ Clarendon Astro
Friday, 15 March 2024
09h00 – Cambridge v Eunice @ Cambridge
14h45 – Rhenish v Eunice @ Clarendon Astro
Saturday, 16 March
18h15 – Stirling v Eunice @ Stirling High
10h45 – Hudson Park v Eunice @ Bunkers Hill Astro.
Sunday, 17 March 2024
10:30 – Eunice v Affies @ Clarendon Astro
