Jeppe ready to defend Aitken Cup, says captain Kapanda
Jeppe High School for Boys‘ hockey captain Ethan Kapanda says his side is ready and eager to defend the Aitken Cup.
The Kensington boys will take to the turf on Thursday with one mission in mind – to defend their crown.
Last year, they beat Parktown Boys’ High 2-0 in the final, with a well-drilled performance helping them lift the coveted silverware.
In 2025, they’re enjoying a far better season than 2024 and they have serious momentum on their side. As the defending champion and the team that has dominated the season thus far, they will, no doubt, have a target on their backs.
Leading the charge, Kapanda, who played an instrumental role in last year’s success, fondly recalled the 2024 final.
“The most vivid memory for me was lifting the trophy after all the hard work we put in,” he recalled. “To see us get the job done left a memory I won’t forget.”
Kapanda, who took on the captaincy last year already, is in charge of a close-knit unit that has stacked win after win this season. The side has presented a unified front and no small measure of resilience. They’ve grown stronger as the season has progressed.
Reflecting on lessons he took from leading the team last year, Kapanda said: “It made me want to make this year’s team a more cohesive group, one that works together and builds each other up, no matter what mistakes are made.
“Our key success factor last year was setting one clear goal, and every player was determined to achieve it. It’s the same for this year. We know what we want.”
Being at the helm of Jeppe’s 1st XI, a team that has built up a deserved reputation for excellence over many years, is a stern test of leadership. However, the tall, skilful skipper said there is less pressure this year than last year because of the lessons he learnt in 2024, which have helped him grow into the role.
“It’s a great honour being captain of a school like Jeppe, which always comes with pressure,” Kapanda admitted. “But being my second year, the pressure isn’t as bad. We all know every team is strong this year, with top players, so every match will be competitive.”
As the defending champion, one of Gauteng’s traditional powerhouses, and a team that has proved itself to be one of the best in South Africa this year, every team will be eager to lower Jeppe’s flag, but that is a challenge the boys in black and white are fully prepared for, the captain said.
“Jeppe has always been a school that everyone wants to beat. As a team, we know that, and we’re ready for it,” he confidently told SuperSport Schools Plus.
And while the mission is about defending the title, for Kapanda, there is also a personal achievement that is tied to the title defence, which he is hoping to realise. “Lifting this trophy again will mean the world to me. Not many people can say they’ve won Aitken twice as captain,” he said. “But, most importantly, it would mean everything for the school. This is a special trophy for Jeppe.”
Coach Siya Sityana’s charges begin their title defence against Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge on Thursday afternoon at the University of the Witwatersrand.
On Friday morning, they face a potential banana skin when they tackle an in-form and dangerous St Stithians College side. Later in the day, they take on HeronBridge College.
