Parktown Boys’ close out a season of growth and resilience
Though they ended their campaign with a tough 2-5 defeat at the hands of an unbeaten Jeppe High for Boys, Parktown Boys’ High School can look back on a season filled with progress, pride, and memorable moments.
Parktown played 28 matches during the season, securing 10 victories and five draws against some of the country’s top hockey schools, while suffering 13 defeats. Captain Zeyad Davids believes the numbers only tell part of the story.
“On paper, the results may not fully reflect the quality of hockey that we played. In several games, we completely outplayed our opponents but did not take our chances. That, more than anything else, was what cost us at crucial moments,” Davids said.
The skipper, who represented Southern Gauteng at the SASHOC Nationals, was proud of the collective strides his side made throughout the year.
“Looking back, I believe we had a great season. There were plenty of ups and downs, but what stood out most was how we continued to improve as a team. We faced tough opponents, including one of the strongest Jeppe sides we’ve seen in years, and had hard-fought draws against schools like Rondebosch and Selborne. Despite the challenges, I’m incredibly proud of the boys and what we achieved.”
Their final fixture against Jeppe, played on August 9 under a special theme to raise awareness against gender-based violence, was a spirited battle. According to Davids, the team entered the clash with heaps of confidence.
“Facing a team like Jeppe is never easy. They enjoyed an outstanding Aitken tournament and boasted several players who represented Southern Gauteng A, which gave them a lot of momentum. Still, we went into the game confidently
and excited to test ourselves.”
Juan Martin opened the scoring for the visitors with a superb flick from a short corner. Parktown equalised swiftly, before Jeppe edged ahead again just before halftime. During the second half, Jeppe’s quality shone through as they scored three more goals, sealing a 5–2 win. Parktown’s final goal came from a penalty stroke, converted by Davids.
Reflecting on the season’s highlights, Davids pointed to moments that defined the squad’s character and achievements.
“Highlights included three of our matric players and two Grade 11s reaching 50 caps – a massive achievement. Drawing with Paarl Gim and beating Glenwood on their home turf were also standout moments,” he said.
As the curtain comes down on the season, the captain expressed heartfelt gratitude.
“To Mr. Grace and Mr. Bailey, thank you for being incredible coaches. Your support, belief and motivation pushed us through the toughest moments and helped shape us not just as players, but as people.”
He also shared some parting words with his teammates:
“Thank you for the memories, the friendships and the resilience we showed together. We faced every challenge head-on, and I’ll always be grateful for this journey. Best of luck to everyone for the future.”
