It’s all systems go for the Balling Hockey Festival
All roads lead to Bethlehem, where one of the most anticipated events on the hockey calendar, the 11th edition of the Balling Hockey Festival, kicks off on Thursday. The showpiece runs until Sunday, 2 March.
Matches will be contested at the BVHS Astro and New Horizon College.
“With each passing year, the festival grows in both scale and competitiveness, drawing some of the best school teams from across the region,” festival director, Emile Odendaal, said ahead of the event.
This year, 16 schools will be in action across four days. Parents and spectators can expect a higher level of hockey, Odendaal reckoned. What began as a friendly competition has evolved into a fiercely contested festival where the level of play has reached new heights.
“Elite athletes, dedicated coaching staff, and state-of-the-art facilities have set the competition down a path of continuous improvement, making it more exciting for fans, players, and schools,” Odendaal explained.
St Anne’s Diocesan College will kick off the proceedings when they tackle Voortrekker on Thursday at 16:00. That match will be followed by a tussle between The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC) and Union High at 17:00. Both ties will be played at Voortrekker.
Perennial powerhouses Oranje, Eunice, and St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) will take to the Astro on Friday morning. However, they will not be the only sides that bear watching. St Anne’s made waves last year and played their way to a Fairtree Super 12 invitation. TWC could also give their opposition a good run for their money.
The Pietermaritzburg school recently brought Odendaal, the festival director, on board as their head coach. The experienced gaffer is keen to help his new side take the next step from being a solid outfit to being one of the best in the region and the country.
TWC has developed a reputation for putting in workmanlike performances at festivals and tournaments without quite making it to the top spot. They’re aiming to change that narrative.
“This year marks a new chapter for Wykeham as they bring in a fresh face to their coaching staff, Emile Odendaal. The school has made a strategic move to recruit the highly experienced and well-regarded coach, who is determined to elevate the school’s performance to the next level,” a statement from TWC read.
Odendaal is known for having turned several underperforming teams into top teams in the past. TWC is hoping he helps transform their fortunes, too. The Balling Festival is the first step they are taking with Odendaal. It will be a challenging starting point.
“The festival is more than just a sporting event. It’s an opportunity for the next generation of athletes to showcase their skills, make lifelong friendships, and engage in healthy competition. With top-tier schools and rising stars, the 11th edition of the festival is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet,” Odendaal said.
FIXTURES
Thursday, 27 February
16:00 – 17:00 St Anne’s vs Voortrekker
17:00 – 18:00 TWC vs Union
Friday, 28 February
07:30 – Witteberg vs Union
08:25 – St Anne’s vs Sasolburg
09:20 – Eunice vs TWC
10:15 – Oranje 1 vs Menlopark
11:10 – Oranje 2 vs St Dominic’s Boksburg
12:05 – Goudveld vs St John’s DSG
13:00 – Noordheuwel vs Voortrekker
13:55 – Oranje 1 vs St Anne’s
14:50 – St Mary’s DSG Kloof vs Menlopark
15:45 – Monument vs TWC
16:40 – Our Lady of Fatima vs Voortrekker
17:35 – Eunice vs St John’s DSG
Saturday, 1 March
06:30 – St Anne’s vs Goudveld
07:25 – Sasolburg vs St Dominic’s Boksburg
08:20 – Oranje 1 vs St John’s
09:15 – Eunice vs St Mary’s DSG Kloof
10:10 – Our Lady of Fatima vs Monument
11:05 – TWC vs Goudveld
12:00 – Voortrekker vs Menlopark
12:00 – Orange 2 vs Union (New Horizon)
12:55 – Noordheuwel vs Witteberg
12:00 – Oranje 2 vs Union
13:50 – Eunice vs Our Lady of Fatima
14:25 – Goudveld vs Sasolburg (New Horizon)
14:45 – St John’s DSG vs Menlopark
15:40 – Monument vs Oranje 1
16:35 – BVHS vs TWC
16:50 – Witteberg vs St Dominic’s Boksburg (New Horizon)
17:30 – Noordheuwel vs St Mary’s Kloof
Sunday, 2 March
06:30 – Union vs St Dominic’s Boksburg
06:30 – Oranje 2 vs Witteberg (New Horizon)
08:10 – Our Lady of Fatima vs Oranje 1
09:05 – Sasolburg vs Monument
10:00 – St Dominic’s vs St John’s
10:55 – Eunice vs Noordheuwel
11:50 – TWC vs Menlopark
12:45 – Oranje 1 vs St Mary’s Kloof
14:25 – Oranje 2 vs Goudveld
Two age group events – u14 and u16 – will be run concurrently with the u19 competition with most matches being played at New Horizon College.
