Semi-final places confirmed at u16 SASHOC National Week
The 2025 edition of the u16 SASHOC National Week is reaching its business end, which was brought into focus on Thursday when four teams secured their places in the semifinals.
The event, being hosted at Hilton College, St Anne’s DSG, and St John’s DSG, culminates with the boys’ and girls’ finals on Sunday.
The opening two days produced some thrilling action on the turf, lots of goals, and upsets, which has made for great viewing.
Heading into day three, Eastern Province (EP) A and Boland A, last year’s finalists, were in commanding positions in Pools A and B, respectively. Both were unbeaten and intent on securing their places in the last four.
EP, led by coach Keanon Geldenhuys, took on KZN Inland A and picked up from where they left off on Wednesday, powering their way to a 5-1 victory.
It was a clinical performance from the Eastern Cape boys, who led 3-0 at the break, courtesy of goals by Vuyo Mazwai, Dante Elkington, and James Chree.
Santiago Matroos pulled one back for Inland in the third chukka, but further goals from Luke Mason and Logan Meyer completed a convincing win for EP.
That victory left EP atop Pool B with the maximum haul of 12 points from their four matches, ahead of their final pool match against Southern Gauteng A on Friday morning.
Whatever happens in that game, Eastern Province’s progress to the semi-finals is assured.
Speaking of Southern Gauteng, the boys in yellow sit are in second spot behind EP, with nine points after three outings.
On Thursday, they mustered a 5-3 win over Southern Gauteng B.
On Friday, they play twice. The equation is simple for coach Siya Sityana‘s boys. They need at least one point from their remaining two matches to progress.
If Southerns lose both matches, they could still make it into the semi-finals based on goal difference, even if KZN Inland A wins their final match against Northern Gauteng A.
Inland A needs to beat Northerns by six or more goals and hope that Southerns doesn’t score in either of their games. That’s an extremely unlikely scenario.
While the situation in Pool B is mathematically not yet complete, Boland A and Western Province A, in Pool A, will head into Friday’s schedule knowing their semifinal places are secure.
Boland, after a hard-fought 4-3 victory over KZN Coastal A, leads Pool A with 12 points, with four wins from four matches, while WP, following their 2-1 defeat of Western Province B, have 10 points, also after four outings.
The table-topping neighbours square off on Friday in their final pool game. The winner of that fixture will finish in first place while also grabbing Western Cape bragging rights. Of course, a draw is possible, too.
It promises to be a thrilling day four, and all the action will be LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
Day 3 | Results and scorers
Western Province A 2: Zach Hillman, Daniel de Wet. Western Province B 1: Troy Loots.
Boland A 4: Stephan Malan (2), Caleb Cilliers, Christiaan Fouché. KZN Coastal A 3: Dylan Forbes, Luc Boyall, Daniel Rea.
Southern Free State 3: Eben Stander, Isak van der Merwe, Kamo Mohlomi. KZN Coastal B 3: Ryan Willis (3).
Southern Gauteng A 5: Blaine Candy (2), Matthew Jung (2), Kgotsofalang Lehloenya. Southern Gauteng B 3: Mpilo Chabe, Endre Ludick, Thoriso Motsepe.
Northern Gauteng A 3: Zeann Marais, Luke Payne, Kean Cornelissen. KZN Inland B 1: Luthando Shelembe.
Eastern Province A 5: Vuyo Mazwai, Luke Mason, Logan Meyer, James Chree, Dante Elkington. KZN Inland A 1: Santiago Matroos.
KZN Coastal A 4: Matt Potgieter (2), Luc Boyall (2). Western Province B 0.
Boland A 3: Luke van der Merwe, Jamie Kock, Khumbulani Nongogo. KZN Coastal B 1: Aaron Blackburn.
CLICK HERE TO SEE DAY 4 FIXTURES.
