Kingsway High School’s Nandy Mseleku gives her all as she defends against Amanzimtoti High School’s captain Paige Dean during the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. The event took place at the 3 Schools’ Trust hosted by Werda Skool on Saturday (April 12)
Image: VAL ADAMSON
Kingsway High School (KHS) came to the party at the Durban South Regional SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. KHS hoisted the trophy for the first time on Saturday April 12, at the 3 Schools Trust, hosted by Werda Skool in Hillary, Durban. KHS is the fifth team to earn a berth at the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.
Only nine players arrived for the tournament. It was not an easy voyage to the final for the eventual winners, after three hard-fought pool games. They only had 3 points on the board after levelling all of them in goalless draws against host school, Werda, New Forest High School and Port Natal. New Forest went on to top the log, and KHS were level on 3 points with Werda. They were tasked to take each other on in a penalty shootout to see who would advance to the semi-final. KHS won in sudden death, 3-2.
In the first semi-final, KHS met their next door neighbours, Kuswag Skool who have won this regional three times. Kuswag were first to attack and constructed various attacks, with a few surprise long passes to their player lurking on the post. Ten minutes in, one of these long passes caught KHS on the back foot. However, Paula Roodt calmly guided the ball into the goal.
Not having any of it, a determined KHS turned the play in their favour. Almost immediately with a zig-zagged run into the circle, 2 passes and then a no-nonsense shot by Keiyona Archary that took the score up to one all. At the final whistle, for the second time, KHS met their opponents at the penalty spot. They knocked in their two attempts, and wily keeper, Mercy Onwuama, managed to keep both Kuswag’s runs out. The second one, she over-enthusiastically trampled on, resulting in a penalty stroke. The final score, 2-nil to KHS, with their onward ticket stamped to advance to the final.
Here they met defending champions, and six times winners Amanzimtoti High School. They ended second in their pool 3 points behind Kuswag having netted 6 goals in total. They won 2 of their fixtures and drew in the other 2 playing against Durban Academy, Gelofte Hoerskool, Kuswag and Queensburgh Girls’ High School.
Amanzimtoti met New Forest High School in their semi-final. Following the trend, the game was decided through penalties after ending in a nil-nil draw. This was the first time New Forest had ever participated in a penalty shootout, and they learned quickly what to do. They drew 2 all in the first round, heading to a sudden death. In the first round, they levelled out but with the pressure mounting, missed their fifth attemp,t and Amanzimtoti pounced on the opportunity, taking the game to 4 - 3.
In the regional final, Amanzimtoti mounted various advances, including a long corner, and three short corners to KHS, and one short corner. The score at the final whistle, a deadlocked nil-nil. For the fourth time, KHS stepped up for their penalty shootout. Both teams missed their first opportunities and netted their second. Archary from Kingsway was third to go, running in and veering right, slotted in her attempt under a charging keeper, Revthi Singh from Amanzimtoti. The score was 2 - 1.
Amanzimtoti’s Nadine Smit set off, charging towards Onwuama. Onwuama snubbed the shot with her right pad, the follow-up attempt too, keeping the ball out and earning her team their very first victory.