Four each from KES and St John’s in Central Gauteng team
Central Gauteng, one of the traditional powerhouses of schools’ water polo, has announced its teams for the forthcoming Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament, which takes place in Buffalo City from 7-11 December.
The event includes 123 teams of girls and boys, in the u13, u14, u15, u16, and u19 age groups, among them the Aussie Crocs, from Queensland, Australia, who will contest the boys’ u19 competition, which takes place at the Joan Harrison Aquatic Complex.
Other hosting venues are Clarendon High School for Girls, Selborne Primary School, Selborne College, Hudson Park High School, and Merrifield Preparatory School and College.
The Central Gauteng boys’ team was one of the top-performing teams of 2023, going down 7-8 in a penalty shootout in the final against Western Province after the teams had played to a thrilling 8-8 draw. They will, once again, be coached by Jon-Marc de Carvalho.
Five players who were part of that side are included in the 2024 lineup. They include three boys from St John’s College, Greg Pryce, Ross Rovelli, and Nicholas Searle; St Stithians‘ Marc Smith; and Karabo Mamaregane, of King Edward VII (KES).
Sebastian Bruinders completes the St John’s contingent of four players, while Mamaregane, who netted a hat-trick when Central Gauteng won the Currie Cup in March, is joined by three others from KES, Judah Dos Santos, Harry Wilkins, and Jack Wilkins.
Marc Smith is joined by two team-mates from Saints, James Crick and Declan Wood.
St David’s Marist Inanda, who placed fifth at the St Stithians Invitational Water Polo, the second-highest finish for Gauteng sides behind St John’s, who placed third, have Mark Hudson and Ross Stuart in the team.
A very interesting inclusion is that of Alexander Kelbrick, from Affies. He opted, as he is allowed to do, to attend Central Gauteng trials and was included in the team. He’s a dangerous attacker and was one of the event’s leading goalscorers at last year’s IPT for the Northern Tigers. His Affies’ team-mate, Francois Hartslief, was included in the Central Gauteng u19B team.
U19A
Sebastian Bruinders (St John’s); James Crick (St Stithians); Judah Dos Santos (KES); Mark Hudson (St David’s); Alexander Kelbrick (Affies); Karabo Mamaregane (KES); Greg Pryce (St John’s); Ross Rovelli (St John’s); Nicholas Searle (St John’s); Marc Smith (St Stithians); Ross Stuart (St David’s); Declan Wood (St Stithians); Harry Wilkins (KES); Jack Wilkins (KES)
Non-travelling reserves: Ethan Hutton (Steyn City), Liam Tebbutt (St Stithians)
Coach: Jon-Marc de Carvalho
Assistant coach: Michael Stewart
Manager: Zahraa Bodiat
U19B
Erik Arwidi (St David’s), Matthew Callaghan (KES), Chris Chapman (St John’s), Travis Donnelly (St Stithians), Logan du Preez (St Stithians), 6. Francois Hartslief (Affies), Ethan Horn (Jeppe), Kyle Kennerley (St Stithians), Mukhetwa Maemu (Jeppe), Calder Millington (St Benedict’s), Simon Mussett (St John’s), Darien Salovy (St David’s), Kamogelo Thobejane (St John’s), David Vosloo (KES).
