Teams for the 2026 Kovsie Smash
The third annual Kovsie Smash, hosted by Hoërskool Fichardtpark in Bloemfontein, will, alongside the Cubs Week in Stellenbosch, be the first official schools’ cricket week to usher in the new year.
This year’s edition will see 19 teams competing for the title previously held by Hoërskool Wesvalia of Klerksdorp.
The tournament will begin on Monday, 5 January and conclude on Friday, 9 January, with a new champion set to be crowned at the end of the week.
Defending champions Wesvalia will not be in attendance this year. However, Hoërskool Kalahari from Kuruman, strong contenders and finalists at the 2025 edition, will return and are expected to feature prominently once again.
Two new entrants will add further intrigue to the competition. Hoërskool Eldoraigne, a heavyweight from the Titans region in Pretoria, and Potchefstroom Volkskool, led by Christiaan Verster, will both join the action across the City of Roses in 2026.
Groups:
Group A: Jim Fouché, Transvalia, Witteberg, Oos-Moot, Merenky.
Group B: Fichardtpark, Lightenburg, Hoërskool Sasolburg, Duineveld, Pietersburg.
Group C: Sentraal, Eldoraigne, Voortrekker, Driehoek, Potchefstroom Volkskool.
Group D: Goudveld, Trio, Overvaal, Kalahari.
The Teams:
Voortrekker: Vlag Janse van Rensburg, Paul Naudé, Thys Parsons, Teboho Matsoso, Thato Nthebere, Jayden Strydom, Abi Tshonti, Jordan Buitendag, Ruan Heunis, Janno Olivier, Andries Rautenbach, Fourie Scheepers, Vuyo Maqhubu.
Hoërskool Driehoek: Divan Dreyer, Luicius Goosen, Ruan Hattingh, Jaden Heckler, Durandt Lubbe, Drikus Meiring, Louis Pieterse, Chris Snyman, Christiaan Schoeman, Janco Smit, Duan Taljaard, Ian van der Westhuizen, Leonardo Visser.
Duineveld: Wilmar Myburgh, Marnus Myburgh, Kian Naudé, Niekie Smit, Joshua Visagie, Xander Oliver, Xander O’Connell, Duwayne Olivier, Sevreano Lackay, Derick Cloete, Du Preez Faber, André van Niekerk, Pieter Coetzee.
Eldoraigne: Luan Oosthuizen, Vince Lotz, Angus Meyers, Benyael Morkel, Ruan Steyn, Juan du Randt, Rowan McClaren, Logan Early, Matthew Sampson, Niclas Moller, Ruan Boshoff, Heinrich Klue, Juandré Badenhorst.
Fichardtpark: Diederick de Vos, Davyd Oosthuizen, Damian Mulder, Daniël Badenhorst, Heinrich Kemp, Jaden Geldenhuys, Juan Mostert, Neven Olivier, Tristan Beukes, Aiden Britz, Henco Thompson, Christiaan Myburgh, Dillan Geringer, Ziaan van Heerden.
Goudveld: Damian Nieuwenhuis, Delan van Zyl, Christiaan Swart, Edrich du Pessis, Louw Fouché, Zandré Zietsman, Waldo van der Westhuizen, Kamohelo Moloke, Kellan Kleinhans, Juandré Ferreira, Justin Swaine.
Jim Fouché: Niel Wilken, Benco Olivier, Franco de Necker, Cobus Wilken, Jodan Vorster, Ruan Kleyn, André Kleyn, Johan van Dyk, Christiaan Odendaal, Jareth Scott, Jean van Schalkwyk, Neyden Viljoen, Wihan Paulsen, Adriaan Engelbrecht.
Hoërskool Kalahari: Janko Noeth, Carl Thole, Louhan Noeth, Shane Corner, Liam Liang, Myburgh de Klerk, Kopano Mosienyane, Kabeli Pisoyakgosi, Wilrigh Mostert, Warko Smith, Franco Louw, Strauss van Heerden.
Lichtenburg: Johan Duvenhage, Dovhan Wiese, Jurgen Hess, Ruan Botha, Miquel Goncalves, Hanro van den Heever, Juwan van Tonder, Oratile Mmasa, Guilaume Nel, Reinhard Cronje.
Merensky: Schalk Rossouw, Waldo Mouton, Yogi Brahmbatt, Muhammed Khan, Vir Patel, Altus Vorster, Daan Vorster, James Durant, Hanru Venter, Reuben de Beer, Conrad Venter, Wynand Benade.
Oos-Moot: Liam du Preez, Chrisjan van Staden, David White, Marnus Broodryk, Luke Vender, Christo van Heerden, Ian le Roux, Ian Labuschagne, Kevin Liddle, Elmar Theron, Ruben Erasmus, Henco Erasmus.
Overvaal: Zander Olivier, Ethan Kruger, Luann le Roux, Rouche le Roux, Austin Coetzee, Alex Banes Jacobs, Llewellyn Labuschagne, Cemeron van der Westhuizen, Ruwan Pieterse, Vaughn van Vuuren, Janco de Lange.
Pietersburg: Stephan Swanepoel, Hanru Marais, AJ Swanepoel, Willem Viljoen, Hennie Schoeman, Duan van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Boneschans, Jordan du Toti, Alex Thomson, Christiaan van der Merwe, Marinus Boneschans, Rolando Caroto.
Porchefstroom Volkskool: Christiaan Stoop, Christiaan Verster, Nolan Roets, Jacques Oosthuizen, Eizer Behrens, Hanru Combrink, Damian Pretorius, Drikus Calitz, Evan van der Merwe, Benja Calitz, Pierre Joubert, Callum Campbell.
Hoërskool Sasolburg: Liam Singleton, Jan-Hendrik Espach, Joshua Ford, Stephan Roets, Lwanele Khubeka, Nathan Bower, Dean Harris, Adriaan van der Merwe, Henco Roets, Lindo Radebe, Tyron Roux, Tiaan Swarts.
Sentraal: Daniel Pienaar, Juan van der Walt, Erik Prinsloo, Janré Bornman, Jaco Buys, Willem van Staden, Riwan van der Westhuizen, Damian Smith, Danny Botes, Herkie Malan, Reshé Wales, Ruardt Kleunkleynhans, SJ Janse van Noordwyk.
Transvalia: Declan Steinmann, Janco Jacobs, Ashton Cachia, Marco Jacobs, HJ Heyes, Kriegler Botha, Eduann Raubenheimer, Jeandré Barnard, Waldo McLean, Aden Matthee, Divan Knietze, Floris Pretorius, Ethan Stroh, Abrie Botha.
Trio: Zayne Williams, WJ van Niekerk, Myburgh Jacobs, Anthonie Pelser, Henrico van der Merwe, Lwan du Plessis, Pedrie Wilken, Chesline Mogasi, Zothile Zane, Jaden Malherbe, Dylan Young, Robbie van der Vyver.
Wittebrg: Anru Erasmus, Dumesani Johnson, HJ Eksteen, Janco Botha, Kyle Nel, Lwazi Mosea, Mila Oerson, Heiken Venter, Pieter Wessels, Tian Jordaan, WJ Gildenhuys, Xander Fourie.
