Northerns’ Girls u18A team has IPT gold in mind
Two teams from Northerns will contest the forthcoming SASHOC u18 Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT), and one of them, the u18A team, has set its sights on bringing the title to Gauteng.
St Anne’s DSG, in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, hosts the event for a second successive year. It runs from Monday, 29 June, to Saturday, 4 July.
“This year, we aim to go for the title,” Sinoxolo Mbekeni, the Northerns u18A coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
“However, we know that we first need to make sure we qualify for the semis to achieve that.”
Fulfilling that ambition would be an improvement for the province’s flagbearers, who finished in fifth place last year.
Mbekeni and the Northerns’ think tank view that as a blip in their journey and have faith in the side they have put together and the brand of hockey they are encouraging the team to play.
“Honestly, we would like to repeat what we did two years ago, but making it to the final and hopefully winning,” Mbekeni said. In 2024, Southern Gauteng edged out Northerns 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the teams had played to a 2-2 draw in the final.
The coach’s confidence is not misplaced because Mbekeni leads a side laden with experience. Ten of their players competed at last year’s event.
Six – Jana Seebach, Moya Reinach, Cameron Holworthy, Amogelang Motlatle, Beracah Mosaka, and Thato Dimpe – played for the u18A team, while four others – Annika Kloppers, Lize Wiltz, Mia Perold, and Mila Badenhorst -played vital roles in ensuring the u18B side maintained its A section status.
Kloppers, who is enjoying a brilliant season in goal for Die Hoërskool Menlopark, will provide Northerns with a solid last line of defence. She will work hand-in-hand with a robust defence led by Waterkloof’s captain, Mia Perold. Caitlin Arendse, Mila Badenhorst, Kaylan Crawford, and Moya Reinach complete the defensive unit.
Mosaka and Dimpe provide valuable experience in the midfield, which also includes Chanette Jansen van Vuuren, Rearabetsoe Masepe, Jana Seebach, and Lenique Vogel. That sextet, the link between defence and attack, will have a significant say in the tempo of games.
Northerns has turned to the experienced quartet of Holworthy, Motlatle, Wiltz, and Aphelele Mbatsha for goals.
“The brand we want to play this year is a brand that really complements the type of players we have. I have always believed in a brand that provides a lot of go-forward. We have good speed and skill going forward, and a very strong defence to match it,” Mbekeni explained.
Northerns u18B has been tasked with ensuring the province maintains a strong presence in the A section. The squad, which brings together players from eight schools, aims to cause a few upsets. They’ll also be focused on bettering their 11th-place finish of last year.
Waterkloof is well-represented with four players in the side: Elaine Haycock, Milandri Muller, Nicole Smuts, and Kyra van der Walt.
Three schools provide two players each: Katelynn Blokpoel and Kathleen van Rooyen are from Die Hoërskool Menlopark, Larona Gaoraelwe and Adrienne King will fly the flag for Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG), and St Mary’s DSG Pretoria is represented by Oyami Mjobi and Siyazingca Nthoesane.
Lisa-Marie Janker (Affies Meisies), Blanca Kotze (Curro Hazeldean), Thato Mpshe (Cornwall Hill College), Kaylee Vermeulen (Midstream College), and Owethu Zulu (Tyger Valley College) are the sole representatives from their schools.
TEAMS
Northerns u18A: Caitlin Arendse (Midstream College), Mila Badenhorst (Waterkloof), Kaylan Crawford (PHSG), Thato-ya-Ona Dimpe (PHSG), Cameron Holworthy (Midstream College), Chanette Jansen van Vuuren (HS Menlopark), Annika Kloppers (HS Menlopark), Rearabetsoe Masepe (Homeschool), Aphelele Mbatsha (Midstream College), Beracah Mosaka (CBC Mount Edmund), Amogelang Motlatle (Curro Hazeldean), Mia Perold (Waterkloof), Moya Reinach (Garsfontein), Jana Seebach (Garsfontein), Lenique Vogel (Waterkloof), Lize Wiltz (Waterkloof).
Northerns u18B: Katelynn Blokpoel (Menlopark), Larona Gaoraelwe (PHSG), Elaine Haycock (Waterkloof), Lisa-Mari Jonker (Affies), Adrienne King (PHSG), Blanca Kotze (Curro Hazeldean), Oyama Mjobi (St Mary’s DSG Pretoria), Thato Mpshe (Cornwall Hill), Milandri Muller (Waterkloof), Siyazingca Nthoesane (St Mary’s DSG Pretoria), Nicole Smuts (Waterkloof), Kyra van der Walt (Waterkloof), Kathleen van Rooyen (Menlopark), Kaylee Vermeulen (Midstream College), Owethu Zulu (Tyger Valley College).
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