Springbok legend Andre Venter looks forward to St Mary’s Hockey Festival
The annual St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival not only brings together some of the top girls’ teams from around the country, it also draws some renowned sporting icons.
The popular event, which runs from 3-6 April in Johannesburg, draws big crowds, including an abundance of hockey enthusiasts, supporters, and parents, from all walks of life.
A legend who will also grace the Nathan Field and Howell Hub AstroTurfs with his presence is former Springbok loose forward Andre Venter.
Venter represented South Africa on 66 occasions from 1996-2001 and, in recent years, has followed schools’ sports, and hockey in particular, with a keen eye.
He is no stranger to the fence of an Astro, and that’s due to his daughter, Anebel Venter, who plays for the first team at Eunice High School, one of the country’s traditional hockey powerhouses.
“I think school sports is very healthy in South Africa, and it doesn’t matter if it is rugby or hockey,” Venter told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the St Mary’s Festival. “It’s so competitive, and the amount of time and money schools and parents invest in their children is incredible.
“The facilities are top-class. If you look at the turfs at St Mary’s, it’s next level, and it seems like school sports are getting more professional. That is a good thing, but as long as we don’t take it too far because kids still need to be kids.”
Venter also attended the Synsport Greg Beling Festival last month in East London. There, he witnessed Eunice record four victories in their five matches, which included his daughter scoring some outrageous goals.
He said he was impressed with the level of hockey on show and stressed the importance of big tournaments in helping young players develop. “Greg Beling showed that the level of hockey is amazing, and it was good seeing how they play and respect the game.
“Tournaments like that help kids write their own stories, make memories at the school level, play against top schools, and be competitive. It just gets the best out of everybody.”
Venter said he’s looking forward to watching high-quality performances from teams across the country at the St Mary’s Festival. He’s also relishing the opportunity of meeting old friends, making new ones, and cheering on his daughter from the sidelines.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” he said. “It’s a massive tournament and a highlight in all girls’ hockey careers during their school days. It’s also big for us as parents and for the spectators.
“It’s not just the hockey but also the camaraderie and meeting people.”
Venter’s support will be strongly behind Eunice at St Mary’s. The Bloemfontein school has started the season well and lost only against Rhenish Girls’ High School at the Greg Beling Festival in a tight contest.
In 2023, Eunice won the St Mary’s Festival, and Venter said they, as parents, are optimistic about the 2025 team’s chances but are aware it will come down to fine margins.
“We are believers and positive that the girls can do it. They have a good team, but there are many good sides, and it will depend on the day.
“When it comes to the semifinals and final, it could come down to sudden death, and there can be only one winner.
“I think it will go down to the wire but, as parents, we are just privileged for our girls to be a part of such a tournament,” he concluded.
Eunice has been drawn in Pool B and will face Bloemhof Girls’ High School, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria, St Andrew’s School for Girls, Hoërskool Garsfontein, St John’s DSG, Roedean School, and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School.
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