St Anne’s eyeing a bright future after positive 2024 campaign
St Anne’s Diocesan College capped off the 2024 hockey season with a 2-1 win over Menlopark at the Fairtree Super 12 tournament. A victory is a good way to close a chapter.
The use of the word chapter is not accidental. Morné Odendaal, the St Anne’s coach, views his tenure like a book.
All seasons are connected. They are all part of a single process geared towards the growth and development of the St Anne’s hockey programme.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that St Anne’s was the youngest of the teams that contested the Super 12. “The girls were a little short on experience, but they dug deep and delivered an impressive performance, finishing 11th,” Odendaal said.
“They made us all incredibly proud, showcasing remarkable grit and skill. Special recognition goes to Lucy Porril for her outstanding leadership in Lebone Sibiya‘s absence, and to Belle Hofmeyr, who proved her exceptional talent to the entire country.”
While proud of how his side acquitted themselves at the elite annual event in the absence of their captain, Lebone Sibiya, who sustained an injury just before the tournament, and star player Ella Shuttleworth, who was injured in the first game, Odendaal is more impressed by his charges’ performances throughout the season.
“We had a very strong start to the season but had a little bump in the middle. Coming third at the St Anne’s Cup was a massive highlight of our season,” Odendaal shared.
The midseason dip affected their momentum, but the KZN Inland school managed to arrest that slide. They recovered and elevated their performances again, which led to their impressive run at the inaugural St Anne’s Cup.
It was a busy season, with St Anne’s playing 58 games. They scored 131 goals, more than double the 56 goals that they conceded.
Two of their 37 wins were over Eunice, one of the best sides in the country. St Anne’s faced the Bloemfontein school, which finished as the runner-up at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival, four times this year, winning twice and losing twice. In total, Odendaal’s side lost 11 matches and drew 10 times.
The Hilton school’s 2024 campaign was built on the back of reliable and outstanding performances from Shuttleworth, Belle Hofmeyr, Holly Hofmeyr, Jasmin Kelly, Jade Kelly, and Kgabiso Morafo.
“I think Kgabiso was our most improved player this year,” Odendaal said. “Last year, she was picked as the third-choice goalkeeper for the u16 team, and in 2024 she played first team and made the SA u17 side,” he explained.
The coach took away many positives from the season. There were numerous highlight moments, but those he will file among the good memories and lessons learned because he is already working with his side on the next chapter.
In an early season chat, Odendaal said the first step he took when he accepted the position at St Anne’s was to establish a year-round hockey programme.
“This approach provides players with more opportunities to enhance their skills and reach their full potential. So, we leveraged all available resources and implemented a five-day-a-week hockey programme throughout the year,” he shared.
That means Odendaal and his charges have little time to bask in their accomplishments from this season.
“We started preparing for the 2025 programme today, 13 August,” he said. “We have a group of players that want to change their story. Next year, we want to be the best we can be, grow as a hockey programme, and win some trophies.”
The coach understands that trophies won’t come easily. It will take hard work and dedication. But Odendaal and his side are committed to putting in the hard yards.
