Western Province the undisputed champs at SASHOC National Week
“Excellence” – That is the word Western Province u18A head coach Jody Erasmus used to describe his side after they successfully defended their SASHOC National Week title in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
Province, better known as the Blocks, defeated Southern Gauteng A 2-1 in the final, on the iconic Pape’s AstroTurf, at Maritzburg College.
The boys from the Western Cape put together a clean record, going undefeated and untied in Pool A, securing a maximum of 15 points while scoring a whopping 31 goals in only five matches.
Then, in the semi-finals, on Friday, they met Northern Gauteng A and put five past them, courtesy of a Litha Kraai hat-trick and further goals from Zachary Gibbon and captain Jo le Roux.
Southern Gauteng, meanwhile, brushed off Western Province B 3-1 in their semifinal to set up a repeat of the 2023 final, which was played in Bloemfontein.
Western Province were the hot favourites to win after they outplayed Southerns 5-1 in one of their pool matches.
It was a dogfight early on, with both sides trying to exert pressure on their opposition, but their defensive systems held firm.
After 12 minutes, though, Province opened the scoring through their skipper, Jo le Roux, who converted from a penalty corner opportunity to break the deadlock.
Aidan Blatch had a chance to pull one back for Southerns when he received an inviting ball inside the circle with an open net in front of him, but he fired wide.
It was even stevens for the rest of the half. After the break, though, the tempo of the contest went up a notch.
The battle became increasingly heated, with both sides becoming more aggressive. Discipline cost Southerns, with captain, Ethan Kapanda, and Juan Martin being shown yellow cards within a minute of each other.
Province, however, failed to capitalise on their two-man advantage and it was still only 1-0 as they headed into the final chukka.
They started the last quarter brightly, though, and won a penalty corner. With the game on the line, they turned to their dangerman, Litha Kraai, and he fired a thunderbolt into the back of the Southerns’ goalbox to extend the Western Province lead.
Southerns had issues with their goalkeeper, Khotso Mabona, who went down injured a couple of times, but, at the other end of the turf, they pulled one back through Kapanda, who converted a penalty stroke.
With the gap back to only one goal, Southerns pushed hard to find an equaliser, but Province kept them in check and held on for the win.
The victory was a fifth in succession for Western Province at the SASHOC National Week. They last lost a match at the tournament way back in 2018.
“We are very grateful, firstly, to have the opportunity [to compete for the title] and for the team we have – the players, doctor, staff, and parents,” coach Erasmus told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“We have a special group, and we prided ourselves on our values, and it showed.
“I think it was a tight game for us, but also a very good test. Southern came hard at us, and we enjoyed it.
“Our focus was on defence because that wins championships, and that was the mindset for the boys.”
Erasmus was not involved in the Western Province coaching setup last year and last took charge of a provincial side in 2023. Back then, he was the head coach of the u16A side that won gold in Bloemfontein.
On a personal level, winning the u18 SASHOC National Week title was a massive achievement for him, he admitted.
“This is very big for me. My last experience of u18 was in 2016, before I moved with the u16 boys in 2023.
“It’s a special opportunity, not just for the coaches but for the players. It’s such a big part of a young player’s life, and to be part of that facilitation and development is amazing.
“But it also tests me as a coach. It’s so special to be here and represent Western Province as a coach again.”
Other matches
Northern Gauteng A walked away with the bronze medal after beating Western Province B 2-1 in the third/fourth place play-off match.
Boland A, after reaching the final in 2024, had to settle for sixth place after they went down 2-3 to KZN Coastal A on the final day.
Eastern Province A finished in seventh, above Boland B, while a 4-2 win for KZN Inland A against Southern Free State A secured the hosts ninth place.
KZN Coastal B defeated Southern Gauteng B 2-1 in the relegation match.
Day 6 | Results and scorers
Western Province A 2: Jo le Roux, Litha Kraai. Southern Gauteng A 1: Ethan Kapanda.
Northern Gauteng A 2: Johan Pieterse, Luken Brunette. Western Province B: Jacques van Dyk.
KZN Coastal A 3: Ben Loxton (2), Christopher Abrahams. Boland A 2: Ruben Gouws, Luka Meets.
Eastern Province A 2: Keegan Le Roux (2). Boland B 2: Rikus de Kock, Ryan van der Merwe.
KZN Inland A 4: Gordon Deutscher (3), Lynton Fitz. Southern Free State A 2: Gianni Tyropolis (2).
KZN Coastal B 2-1 Southern Gauteng B
Final Standings
Western Province A
Southern Gauteng A
Northern Gauteng A
Western Province B
KZN Coastal A
Boland A
Eastern Province A
Boland B
KZN Inland A
Southern Free State A
KZN Coastal B
Southern Gauteng B
