Nine players from the Southern Free State (SFS) have been selected for various South African schools’ hockey teams following the recent U18 Interprovincial Tournament (IPT) hosted in Bloemfontein.
While the SFS was unable to reach at least the semi-finals of the respective boys’ and girls’ tournaments hosted at the astro fields at the University of the Free State, Eunice Girls’ School, Grey College, St. Andrew’s School, and St Michael’s School, nine players managed to impress enough to warrant national colours.
Bianca Rees-Gibbs of Eunice was named in the South African U18 girls’ team and is the only player of the region to be selected. She ended the IPT as the joint-leading goal-scorer with six goals to her name, of which five were from penalty corners. Arista van Zyl of Northern Gauteng also scored six goals, of which five were field goals.
Rees-Gibbs’ Eunice and Free State teammate, Georgia Kambanis, in turn also had an outstanding tournament and she was selected for the SA U17 girls’ team.
The duo from C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, Anriëtte Otto and Mia Schimper, in turn, were selected for the South African U18B girls’ teams.
Meanwhile, five boys from the Southern Free State A team were selected for the national sides as well. Wildré Lloyd, Luke Mosala and Anyanda Ngxaki, were all selected to the South African U18B boys’ team following their solid IPT’s.
What is very exciting for boys’ hockey in Bloemfontein and the Southern Free State is that two players were selected for the South African U17 boys’ team. While they didn’t crack the nod for the SA U18, it is a good foundation with the eye on next year’s IPT and national teams.
Neilyandro van Schalkwyk and Matthias Visser were both selected for the SA U17 team and their impressive tournaments truly warrant their selection. Visser, in particular, is a player to keep an eye on for the future. The youngster is deadly when it comes to penalty corners and this was on full display during their 4-1 win over Eastern Province. In the match, Visser scored a hat-trick of goals in the space of 8 minutes from penalty corners as they fought back for the win. He finished as the third-highest goal-scorer in Section A of the boys’ competition with six goals.
All five of the boys’ selected for the respective national teams attend Grey College and this certainly bodes well for the schools’ hockey programme.
The U13 IPT is being played in Bloemfontein this week, while from 28 June to 3 July the U16 tournament will be played. – MORGAN PIEK
