Top KZN hockey teams equally matched?
The 2024 boys’ hockey season is going to be one of the more closely fought in years, with the top KwaZulu-Natal boys’ hockey teams all being well prepared, well coached, and up for the challenges.
The Westville Boys’ High School vs Michaelhouse first team hockey match will, no doubt, be a real humdinger with both teams eager to set the tone and standard for the season.
What will differentiate these U18A hockey teams?
Former Hoërskool Garsfontein first team coach, Nick Bérichon, is excited about his charges’ first match at the home of the Griffin, with push back at 11:15 on Saturday morning. He and Lwando Saunders are the new first team coaches for Michaelhouse.
Bérichon is quietly optimistic, stating that the Michaelhouse first team players have set high standards for themselves, and they are confident they can put together controlled and exciting performances. He expects the experienced Cam Mackay and his Westville support staff to be sharp and well organised all over the pitch.
Brunton Bigalke, Sithsaba Simukonda and Thandanani Zuma played for KZN Inland u16A last year, with Zuma also being selected for the SA u16B squad. They are some of the youngsters in the Michaelhouse lineup and will be led by quality senior players, with the talented Pat Lambert appointed as the captain of hockey for 2024.
Cam Mackay, meanwhile, reflected on a disrupted pre-season, which saw a large number of elite cricketers unable to fully participate in the preparations. It was a case of not overloading the boys.
Owen Slack and Josh Beck represented KwaZulu-Natal Coastal u18A last year, and Nic Ackerman played for the KZN Coastal u16A team.
The Westville Director of Hockey anticipates a tough season opener, especially with Nick Bérichon now at the helm of the red and white quarters.
“He’s got a winning mindset and a great mentality; I think we are just always trying to improve from year to year and be competitive in every game we play.
“We have some great new permanent coaches at WBHS, with Harold Siyaya and Wandile Ngcungama joining us, so we can only hope for another successful year,” Mackay said.
TEAMS
Westville Boys’ High School 1st team
1. Ameron Moses (GK), 2. Max Robertson, 3. Kaeden McAllister, 4. Nicolas Ackerman, 5. Owen Slack (c), 6. Curt Rogers, 7. Josh Beck, 8. Sibusiso Cele, 9. Heath Stott, 10. Caleb van Loenen, 11. Seth Simpson, 12. Misbah Nair, 13. Thabo Dlamini, 14. Roxton Payne, 18. Tyhil Naidoo, 19. Bo Mokoena
Michaelhouse 1st team
1. Luke Camerer, 2. Nicholas Fearnhead, 3. James Bigalke, 4. Sebastian Hofmeyer, 5. Keaton Porrill 6. Benjamin Heuer, 7. Christopher Angel, 8. Thandanani Zuma, 9. Tristan Roques, 10. William Gilson 11. Patrick Lambert (c), 12. Sithsaba Simukonda, 13. Murray Hall-Jones, 14. Gordon Deutsch, 15. Pikolomzi Nkompela (GK), 16. West Mitchell-Innes
