Mpumlwana guides Hudson Park to Clarendon Centennial Water Polo title
Strong defence coupled with accuracy in front of goal saw the Hudson Park High School u15 girls’ team clinch the Clarendon Centennial Water Polo title in East London on Sunday.
Hudson cruised through their Pool B assignments before being extended in the playoffs. In the end, they sneaked by Glenwood House 1-0 on penalties in the final after the match ended deadlocked at 4-4.
“The campaign went really well,” head coach Khanyisa Mpumlwana told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“The goal was to win the tournament. We had an unlucky run at the Collegiate Tournament but played some amazing water polo.
“The win is an immense confidence boost. The players will grow more confident and hopefully continue with their winning ways.”
Apart from being held to four goals in the final, coach Mpumlwana’s troops were on another level on their journey to the title-deciding match. In their five pool matches, they scored a whopping 36 goals and conceded only six times.
In the semi-finals, they were put to the test by DSG Makhanda but held their nerve to score a narrow 2-1 win to qualify for the title game.
Several Hudson Park players shone during the weekend, and the coach paid homage to his stars.
“All the players did really well and have grown in leaps and bounds since u14,” he explained.
“Tyler-Jade Robert is a defence queen and undeniably the best defender in the Eastern Cape. Abby Batting and Leah Smith had our tight press on lockdown, and no one was able to break their defence. They have pure aura and chemistry in that channel.
“Madison Klopstra, scoring crucial goals rolling in from our left, received two Player of the Match awards, and she was unlucky not to make the team of the tournament. Milani Mlanga and Abby also received two players of the match awards.
“Baily Lake had a rocket of a long-range shot, while Mlanga was immense with her finesse lob shots. She also played an exceptional tournament.
“I can’t not mention our goalkeeper, Caylin MacKenzie, who has won countless goalkeeper of the tournament awards. She has been the heart of our team. Lastly, our bomb squad – Cassidy Cloete, Stephany Necsulescu, Gabriella De Sousa and Georgia Maria – all deserve a mention.”
The win will be a welcome boost to the East London school’s water polo programme, which is growing in leaps and bounds.
Earlier this month, the girls’ first team defeated Glenwood House to win the Woodridge Stayers in Thornhill.
Coach Mpumlwana believes the current crop of players has also set the bar higher. “This is going to set the tone for a few years. They are the team to beat,” he said.
“The job’s not done.”
