u18 quartet out to impress for SA u21s
The annual South African Hockey Senior Inter-Provincial tournament, which kicks off this coming week in Johannesburg, will see some of the country’s best battling it out for the title.
The event is being hosted at St Stithians College and it runs through until Saturday, with the final happening at 16:20.
The action will be LIVE on DSTV Channel 207 and SuperSport Schools.
Among the many talented players set to take to the turf are four schoolboys who have delivered exceptional performances this season and excited hockey enthusiasts around the country.
They are Litha Kraai, from SACS, Paul Roos Gimnasium‘s Reuben Sendzul, Lumi Matwele, from Durban High School (DHS), and Matthew De Oliveira, from Kearsney College. They’ll be representing the South African u21 team.
The quartet secured their places in the squad after impressing recently appointed head coach, Guy Elliot, and the u21 selectors at a training camp held at St Alban’s College in July.
They’re no strangers to the competitive and intense level of senior hockey, having represented their clubs from a young age.
Kraai and Sendzul, both from the Western Cape, have been two of the standout players this year and helped their teams to massive success, often garnering the spotlight despite playing on very talented squads.
Kraai, who was a member of an exceptional SACS team last season, once again helped his school finish the season as the top side in the country. He’s been in prolific goalscoring form, both from the field and at penalty corner time. He’s also an imaginative player, with the ability to make something out of nothing, capable of turning the tide in a match with his skill and finishing.
Sendzul also enjoyed a magnificent season. It started slightly slowly, but once he hit his straps he slotted plenty of goals, helping Paul Roos to once again battle SACS for the number one position in South Africa. He’s quick, strong, aggressive, never gives up, and plays with what could be described as the “mamba mentality”. Sendzul is also blessed with big match temperament (BMT), which is a valuable asset for any coach.
The two KZN boys, Matwele and De Oliveira, also enjoyed superb seasons. DHS star Matwele operates in the midfield, although he, too, can play up front. He is remarkably composed on the ball, with superb individual skills and the ability to execute difficult skills seamlessly.
He was at the forefront of another strong season from DHS, which has become the primary contributor to KZN Coastal provincial teams.
Matthew De Oliveira was selected for SA Schools for a second year in succession and captained Kearsney College to an excellent season. He’s a workhorse in the midfield, effective on both ends of the park, and his engine is second to none. De Oliveira is also a tough tackler, a good distributor, and a regular goal-scorer.
He provides good leadership, too, and captained the KZN Coastal A side to a third-place finish at the SASHOC National Week. That leadership on the field stems from the example he sets as a player.
The SA u21 men’s team has been drawn in Pool B along with Southern Gauteng, Eastern Province, and Northern Blues.
They will open their challenge in the final match on Monday when they face the hosts, Southern Gauteng, at 19:30.
