NORTHWOOD SCHOOL
Our Boys of KZN10 in SA Hockey 5s & Rugby 7s for Youth OG Qualifier
FIVE of the 8 players selected for the SA Fives hockey team to take part in the July 19-28 Africa Youth Games Qualifier tournament for October’s Youth Olympic Games are from KZN10 schools while DHS number 8 and captain Celimpilo Gumede is in the SA Sevens squad. The KZN10 hockey boys are Taine Bird of Northwood (Taine a recent feature article in KZN10.com), Guy Morgan (Kearsney College), Mphumelelo Maphumulo and Jared Campbell (both Maritzburg College) and Matt Lewis of Clifton College (KZN10.com knows how to pick ’em – Matt is another recent feature on your favourite website). And to top it all, Kearsney head coach Sihle Ntuli will be the man in charge.
Feature image: DHS captain and number 8 Celimpilo Gumede in SA 7s squad.
Northwood and SA 5’s shot-stopper Taine Bird is outstanding on the indoor hockey arena and Astro surfaces… a great base for Hockey Fives best practice.
The Africa Qualifier event is in Algiers, Algeria and the rugby and hockey winners go to The Big Show – the Youth Olympic Games in the City of Super-Friendly Beautiful Girls (trust me on this one, the Argie girls love SA guys) – Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Kearsney College captain Guy Morgan is heading to Algiers with his SA Hockey 5s team-mates for their shot at qualifying for The Big Show in Buenos Aires.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg
Ahem… We gotta qualify first… Yes, dear KZN10.com fans, it’s make or break in Algiers as it is the single opportunity for South Africa to make it to The Big Show in the stunning South American country that is Argentina.
Mphumulelo Maphumulo’s laser-sharp target is the Africa Qualifier Hockey 5s gold medal with the SA team in the Algerian capital city of Algiers July 18-29.
Photo Matt Marshall
The Youth Olympics is for players age 14 to 18. The 2014 Africa qualifier was in Gaborone, Botswana which featured over 50 African countries. The inaugural Games were in Morocco in 2010.
The pace off a standing start and stick-ball dexterity of Mphumulelo’s Maritzburg College team-mate Jared Campbell will ensure that the Red Army flag flies high in Algeria.
Photo Matt Marshall
TEAMS FOR ALGERIA
RUGBY SEVENS
Christoffel Grobbelaar, Christiaan Pretorius, David Kellerman, Celempilo Gumede (DHS), Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Ross Braude, William Rose, Jacobus Hattingh, Muzilikazi Manyike, Diego Appollis, Ofentse Maubane, Ethinique Adams, Albertus Horn, Juandre de Klerk, Lional April, Remy Engelbrecht, Campbell Willemse
* Squad of 17 to be trimmed to 12 ahead of departure.
Management: Marius Schoeman, Sandile Ngcobo
Clifton College match-winner Matt Lewis will be a massive weapon from penalty corner and field play for the SA Youth team in Algiers.
Photo Terry Lewis
HOCKEY FIVES
Taine Bird (Northwood), Guy Morgan (Kearsney College), Cody Postumus, Mustapha Cassiem, Mphumelelo Maphumulo (Maritzburg College), Matt Lewis (Clifton College), Jared Campbell (Maritzburg College), Peter Jarvis, Luke Wynford
Management: Sihle Ntuli (Kearsney College)
Highly regarded Kearsney College head coach Sihle Ntuli will be the guiding force driving SA Hockey 5s’ trophy quest at the Africa Youth Games next month.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg
Shedders’ holiday High Performance cricket camps a game-changer
ANDREW Shedlock has taken the art of cricket coaching to the next level. Two High Performance Shedders Cricket Academy camps, to be held in Durban North from 25 to 28 June and 9 to 12 July could be the turning point in KZN schoolboy cricketers’ lives. Critically, in my opinion, each camp is limited to a maximum 20 boys.
If I was age 13 to 17 again this would have been the catalyst in turning a (so-I’m-still-told) talented top-order batsman with a sound technique (thanks to Digby Rhodes, Vince van der Bijl and others) into a far better batter.
Although I captained the Maritzburg College first XI and made some runs, as a perfectionist I found myself so frustrated with the technical and mental aspects of surely – next to golf – one of the most complex ball sports around. The frustration at knowing I was not making any progress in taking my game to the next level resulted in (later much-regretted) giving up the game a couple of years post-school.
Enough of that. Coming across the Shedders ad, the first instinct was to have a look, as Andrew Shedlock and I go back 42 years, as opponents and friends. So what has Shedders got on the menu, I thought. Well, it blew me away.
Shedders, a University of Stellenbosch sports science graduate and internationally respected coach and cricket-specific fitness and conditioning consultant with the CV to prove it, has in my opinion nailed down the key to cricket success.
Featured image: Shedders has worked with legends of the game. Here’s Shedders with Sri Lanka cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara, the elegant left-hander and wicketkeeper who scored a total of 28 000 runs for his country across all formats and retired with a Test average of 57.40. Shedders’ direct contact with some of the world’s best cricketers has been of enormous practical benefit to his coaching skill set.
Apart from comprehensive batting and bowling sessions with top-class professional coaches that on its own will establish a solid platform for the upcoming cricket season (starting as early as the third term in KZN), Shedders has also teamed up with Durban North-based optometrist Glen Nugent and sports fitness and talent identification educationist eta College in offering a three-pronged approach to his camps.
I phoned him, wanting to know more.
“Thanks Jono, always good to chat. I’ll never forget that U13A game on Leeches at Maritzburg College when you were College skipper and I was DHS captain. Great memories.”
A deep thinker on the game, Shedders is constantly looking for the edge that turns “good enough” into best. The research and success-in-practice of Shedders’ internationally-acclaimed fellow University of Stellenbosch sports science graduate Dr Sherylle Calder’s EyeGym programme inspired one section of the three-pronged content of the upcoming camps. Dr Calder pinpointed Visual Intelligence training as a key tool in making a better player.
Shedders says, “a batsman’s ability in making the transition from seeing the ball to immediately processing that split-second information into employing the correct cricket stroke can make or break an innings. This is just one aspect of transferring vision into decision.”
“Sherylle worked with the 2003 World Cup-winning Australian cricket side, as well as David Miller in enhancing performance and clearly Dave and the Aussies reaped the rewards, as did the England (2003) and Springbok (2007) Rugby World Cup-winning players.”
Known for his get-in-the-trenches work ethic, one of the Andrew ‘Shedders’ Shedlock mottoes is: “Cricket is a verb not a noun so get training!”
“I’ve identified the much-talked-about but little understood hand-eye co-ordination aspect as one of the keys to unlocking the mysteries behind why talented KZN high school cricketers struggle to deliver consistent performances. I constantly hear things like ‘you can’t teach it, you’ve either got it or you haven’t’, and ‘he’s naturally gifted’. My response? A cricketer as gifted as David Miller benefited from visual intelligence training, Dave saying that it provided him with the extra edge to perform at a high level. Every cricketer, be it a batsman, bowler, wicketkeeper or fielder, constantly searches for consistency. That’s why I see this aspect as a vital function of the camps.”
To this end, the Shedders cricket camps’ optometrist, Glen Nugent, will conduct an eye and vision assessment for each player and provide the boys with follow-up cricket-specific exercises and drills to work on.
Fitness is another key indicator of success or failure. The ability to concentrate without distraction in turning a quality 50 into a match-winning hundred… or converting a useful 3-fer into a match-deciding fifer can, in my opinion, be best-judged by whether a schoolboy has the mental and physical stamina to maintain best-practice and accuracy whatever the outside influences and circumstances may be.
Shedders says this is where eta (exercise training academy) step into the camp package: “eta will conduct fitness testing services to assess current athletic abilities and to identify physical attributes and areas in need of improvement. Baseline fitness testing allows for the setting of goals and testing at regular intervals. It helps track a cricketer’s progress towards those goals.”
The fitness assessments/tests to be completed will include:
* Functional Movement Screening
* Body Composition Assessments
* Flexibility Assessments
*Agility Assessments
* Power and Speed Assessments
* Balance and Hand/Eye Co-ordination Assessments
* Power and Speed Assessments
* Cardio-respiratory Assessments
* Muscle Strength/Endurance Assessments
*Nutritional/Dietary Assessments
Clearly there is not going to be much idle time for the camps’ young cricketers. No doubt there wasn’t much idle time for a just-out-of-school Hashim Amla when Shedders was head coach of the Dolphins Cricket Academy. Hashim Amla is quoted as saying that Shedders is a coach who had a positive influence on his cricket career.
To sum up: I’ve seen Shedders in action – no “only-observe-from-the-sidelines” coach, he’s not afraid to get in the trenches. Ask Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener, to whom Shedders must have each pitched a thousand-plus throw-downs during his time with the Dolphins.
Shedders has the sports science background, world-level sports-playing (he’s also a former Springbok water polo player) and international cricket title-winning experience to appreciate what it takes to succeed.
Shedders is the kind of guy I’d go to war with. He’s a leader who is never afraid to push the boundaries harder and further in every sphere of cricket excellence.
My only regret about Shedders? His June/July cricket camps weren’t around when Jono Cook the aspirant teenage cricketer needed them. After a good first term, I had a shocking fourth term.
I’m convinced it would’ve been different if Shedders’ camps had been around in my time.
Unlike me, today’s KZN high school cricketers have got that opportunity.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
LIMITED TO 20 BOYS PER CAMP
Camp 1
Mon 25th to Thurs 28th June
Camp 2
Mon 9th to Thurs 12th July
Ages: 13 to 17
Time: 2pm to 4.30pm daily
Venue: Shedders Cricket Academy Durban North
Contact Shedders at 083 791 7646
or shedders@worldonline.co.za
Northwood keeper Taine Bird a shot-stopper of note
HIGHLY-REGARDED Northwood first team hockey goalkeeper Taine Bird is enjoying another successful season. KZN10.com talks to the Durban North-based shot-stopper.
Taine, as the last line of defence, a unique burden – or perhaps “responsibility” is a better word – rests on the goalkeeper’s shoulders. It can be a weight that is overly onerous – especially on one of a first team’s most critical players (2 shots can mean 2 goals and a 2-1 loss despite overall match domination) so how does it affect the Northwood number 1?
Featured image: Northwood and KZN Coastal U18A’s Taine Bird will stop at nothing to keep a clean sheet.
“It brings out the best in me as I thrive under pressure, which boosts my performance in a game,” is Birdy’s quick response.
Giles Bonnet, who captained the 1982 Michaelhouse, Natal Schools and Schools hockey teams before adding the SA men’s captaincy, head coach of the SA men’s and women’s side and more to his illustrious career in the game, once said – when I was reporting on the SA women’s side on behalf of then-sponsors Investec Bank – that a consistently successful hockey team is built on 3 things – a striker who can score and create goalshot chances, an excellent penalty corner attack and defence, and a quality goalkeeper.
With that comes the responsibility of those three facets performing at peak level as often as possible – especially the keeper.
“It’s important to have a cool head during pressure situations,” says the Northwood vice-captain. “I enjoy pressure, taking on responsibility, helping to run a smooth show. It adds value to the team and gives my teammates less stress to cope with during a match.”
Taine’s representative recognition to date is virtually faultless: In outdoor hockey – KZN Coastal U13A, 14, 15, U16 (2 years) and U18 (2017/18) as well as SA U16 (2 years) and SA U17. On the indoor hockey front, Taine was selected for the SA All Stars age-group side and plays in the Northwood first side.
At men’s club level, Taine plays for the Crusaders 1sts in the KZN Premier League.
With 59 first team matches under the belt, the last Northwood match in 2018 being an emphatic win at home against St Benedict’s over the weekend, has the knowledge earned during those fixtures helped improve Taine’s game between the posts?
“The number of earlier first team matches helped me settle down in the position and find my feet. I feel I have developed tremendously since my first match, as I now know more about my own game and my role in the team than I did 2 years ago.”
As the Northwood vice-captain, what are Taine’s thoughts on the first team’s skipper?
“Marco Valle-Dove has done an outstanding job leading the Northwood 1st XI. Marco is so passionate; he’s open and honest with all the boys in the team and does his best to resolve any issues that may arise. As a defender, Marco is a brick wall at the back; not much gets past him! In the general sense, Marco is an outstanding player.”
The Northwood first side of 2018 have experienced highs and relative lows; some matches haven’t gone their way, but Taine feels that the bare stats don’t tell the whole story: “We have had our ups and downs, we haven’t won all our matches but that doesn’t describe our season.
“As a squad we try to measure ourselves on our match performance rather than just the result. We are determined to play our part in further enhancing what is already a very good hockey culture at Northwood. We have had a relatively good season.”
Northwood first team head coach Shaun Baker warms up his keeper Taine Bird.
Apart from his Northwood first team journey now at an end, it is also Taine’s last year in schoolboy representative hockey.
“One of the major challenges coming up is the Interprovincial Nationals tournament during the July holidays as it is my last schoolboy IPT. I’m looking forward to playing a part in securing the gold medal with my KZN Coastal U18A team-mates.”
So how did the Taine Bird hockey adventure begin and who has guided him on his journey?
“I started playing hockey in grade 6 at Northlands Primary. Mr Clive Beetge was my first KZN age-group coach and left a long-lasting impression. Mr Darryn Gallagher (previously Northwood, currently director of hockey at Hilton College) has also had a great influence, as has Mr Michael Wiggett (Northwood hockey coach and chiropractor at Northwood Sports Medical Centre). They have moulded me into the hockey player I am today and have helped in every way possible.
“As much as I appreciate the input of the coaches mentioned, I would have to say that (the current Northwood first team coach and director of hockey) Mr Shaun Baker has had the greatest influence. Mr Baker is constantly helping me improve and wants the best from me. Mr Baker is an excellent coach and while we have the utmost respect, Mr Baker is also able to understand us boys on our level, which leads to a stronger coach/player relationship and is beneficial towards the team.
Playing goalkeeper can all-too-often be a lonely place as, to adapt the well-worn cliché coined by former U.S. president Harry Truman, the buck certainly stops with the, ahem, shot-stopper. Apart from the support of coach and team-mates when the going gets rough, as it always will in a sportsman’s life, who else is there to offer a heads-up to Taine Bird?
“At the end of the day, the support of my family has been what keeps me going… just the thought of that makes me want to perform even better; to make them happy as well as myself.
“I would not be where I am today without the help of my mom (Mel ), my dad (Russell), sister (Saxon), grandmother (Margaret) and my girlfriend ( Hannah ) – and also my friends. They are always there to watch my games when they can and are constantly supporting me in everything that I do. Sometimes I think they are even happier than I am when I make a representative team, which is a major positive to me. I am just extremely grateful for these amazing people in my life.”
It’s been a busy season, so which has been the match that sticks out most>
“The most memorable game for me has to the one with Maritzburg College. We, as the Northwood squad, put on the performance of a lifetime – we played as one. For me, it was our best performance.”
It was a 1-1 draw against one of the top handful of teams nationally, in which Taine reportedly made in the region of 15 goalsaves – a healthy number of which were apparently quite remarkable.
The Clifton College first team are another squad that stand out for Taine. “Clifton are one of the best and most challenging sides to play against in KZN. Clifton have also proved themselves outside the province. They have come such a long way – the calibre of hockey that they are putting out against the traditionally big schoolboy sides.”
Northwood hockey guru Shaun Baker last year; the Genesis of his chosen career inspired by SA schoolboy hockey coaching legend Mike Bechet – whose achievements are without peer – Bakes was captain of Maritzburg College during Bech’s unprecedented 700-plus matches as the Red Army’s guiding light.
Northwood director of hockey and first team head coach Shaun Baker on Taine Bird: “I am Taine’s biggest fan, I believe that he possesses the right stuff to become a world class goalkeeper. He moves in his kit like a field player and this makes him exceptionally hard to predict.
“His eye is excellent too, which brings his stick saves into play more so than the average goalkeeper. However at times he relies on this a little too much and can let a ball through that he could have gloved – when he gets this right, he will be a real big force to beat in the sticks.
“Taine’s ability to understand a game plan and basic hockey principles makes him an excellent communicator and drill sergeant. He understands the game so well that I even had him coaching the U14C team – a team which lost their coach just after the Easter break. Taine took over and had an excellent season with them, only losing two matches out of nine.
Taine goes the extra mile, he is in matric, offered to coach a team that trains three times a week, the 1st XI trains minimum three times a week with a video session on top of that. He played outfield for the 3rd XI – scoring 6 goals for them, as well as making every single goalkeeper session at 05h45 on Fridays with SA goalkeeper Richard Curtis. He did not miss a single session, all without detriment to his marks (which I kept a close eye on).
“This shows the character of this young man. He is bigger than just being a goalkeeper. He will be sorely missed next season as the value he adds beyond his saves is irreplaceable.”
Wow! Praise indeed.
A quiet confidence… hard-earned by way of diligent attention to detail and consistent, daily effort.
KZN10.com wishes Taine Bird, who has had an outstanding record this season in the crucial penalty-corner-save aspect of goalkeeping, as well as an excellent percentage of shot-saves from field play, everything of the best for next month’s Interprovincial Nationals.
Taine Bird in 20 seconds
Nickname – Birdy
Birdy in 1 word – Perseverance
Favourite breakfast – Pancakes
Favourite food – Pizza
Actor – Ryan Reynolds
Actress – Megan Fox
TV show – Narcos
Holiday destination – Bali or Hawaii
Board game – Jungle Speed
Car – Camaro SS
3 Desert island must-haves – Hockey Astro, personal chef, good WiFi signal
4 Things I can’t live without – Family & loved ones, hockey, friends, food
Favourite quote – Do something today that your future self will thank you for
If I could attend any sports event – Olympic Games
Down time – gym, chilling with friends
On your screensaver – “Prove them wrong”
*****
Taine Bird did-you-knows
* Age 8 he could read music & play piano
* Paige Challis Chandler, a then teacher at Northlands Primary (now at DPHS) gave up her school holiday to introduce Taine to goalkeeping
* His main focus going into high school was cricket – wicketkeeper/batsman
* Made SA U16 age 14, turning 15 on 17 July
* Keeper (age 15) in 2016 KZN Premier League promotion- winning Crusaders 1st team
* First Premier League Game age 16 – possibly the youngest keeper to do so
* 2018 Founders Week (Dale College) played keeper 1st half vs Potch Gym, scored a goal as striker 2nd half, making Northwood Sport 1st team history
* Scored T20 100 for Northwood 5ths vs Westville (Friday social team)
* Still age 17, one of Birdy’s current focus points is SA selection for Africa Youth Games (Algeria-July 2018) then Youth Olympic Games (Argentina-Oct 2018)
* Currently 20-odd hockey training sessions a week
* Trains @ Movement X Cross-fit when possible
* Term 1 2018 – 3 A’s, 3 B’s & a C.
Jono Cook footnote: Passion and energy like this, wish I could buy a piece.
*****
Clive the Knight vs SCC’s Saint Brak on Northwood Old Boys Day!
JUST 31-24 to Northwood on Old Orchards in Harwin Road. St Charles College first XV want to turn that result on it’s head come 3pm Saturday on Reece-Edwards in Durban North.
It’s Northwood Reunion Weekend & Old Boys’ Day, folks… read Knights’ head coach Torsten Sorensen & Saints’ director of rugby & 1st XV co-coach Petrus du Plessis‘s take on The Big Show that’ll play out on Reece-Edwards… with mascot Clive the Knight and his Saints counterpart Brak willing their heroes on.
In short, it’s Acquit ye like Men Quisque Sibi Verus (to thine own self be true) of Northwood versus Fideli certa merces (to the faithful one a certain reward) of St Charles.
Northwood first XV number 8 Ranger Mfakado and his fellow loosies will be a threat to Saints in all facets.
Here’s Torsten – “Hi Jono, preparations this week have been a challenge with our fields being out of bounds due to preparations for the festivities but we have planned ahead and trained at Crusaders RFC.
“The boys are very excited, it’s been a great week building up… the Knights’ Old Boys have been visiting the school with words of encouragement and sharing some war stories from past years. The school is certainly buzzing a bit more than usual and today’s Old Boys’ Assembly was special.
‘We must ensure that both teams have fun, learn and enjoy’
“Some goose bumps and even a lump in the throat for a few who really enjoyed the war cries and school song. We look forward to a great day of sport against St Charles and look forward to welcoming them to our fine school.
“We’ve had to look after a few players who sustained bumps and bruises from last weekend’s match against Clifton. We are at full strength this weekend and are looking forward to a solid team performance.
Come the 3pm kick-off on Reece-Edwards field in Durban North Saturday, elusive Saints fullback Prince Mazeka will be planning to keep Northwood Knights’ flyhalf JP du Preez at arm’s length. It was Knights 32 Saints 24 in the match-up on Old Orchards.
Photo Martin Ashworth
“St Charles are a resilient team, well coached and mentally tough. Our win margin was close in the first encounter so they will have some confidence coming into this game. We expect a very hard game. We had a hard but honest review of our performance in the first game and we felt we were soft on defence at times, which gifted St Charles a few tries.
“We’ve worked really hard on a few areas of our game since then and have had to change a few things for this game. All we as coaches can ask is that each player plays to his best ability; that they stay true to our team values, protocols and goals, which were cemented in place at the start – and live those things each day.
“We’ve been really proud of the boys up till now. With the added pressure of a very large crowd and the expectation to win, Saturday will be a massive mental challenge. We’re in the business of education first and foremost, and it’s very important that we focus on processes and outcomes in a learning environment without a win at all costs approach.
“Win or lose tomorrow, we must ensure that both teams have fun, learn and enjoy the experience.”
Saints euphoria: The St Charles College boys will be intent on celebrating touchdown time on Northwood Old Boys’ Day.
Photo Martin Ashworth
The Blue & Silvers’ war cries can expect an equally spirited challenge from Brak’s Boys of St Charles, although Saints’ ranks – way smaller in numbers – will be far outweighed by the host school’s complement of 1 200 boys .
Co-coach of the SCC first XV Petrus du Plessis says the Saints’ flagship team’s trainings this week have been short, sharp and solid.
“With half term we only had three practices this week, but we did manage to lift the intensity a bit more. We are at full strength. Our outside centre Mark Tedder, who was out with a finger injury since the Easter festival, returns this week. Mark acquitted himself well for us last year.”
‘We need to be great in the little things’
As to what Petrus expects Northwood to bring to the party in terms of strengths? “They have a very strong wing, who runs hard and fast… we expect them to move the ball to his side quite a bit.”
And what are Petrus and first XV co-coach Nick Jackson asking of the Saints lads? “I’m looking for my boys to work harder in general play to get into position. We need to be great in the little things.
“The Saints boys are excited to play on Northwood Old Boys Day… Very excited! They want to rewrite the books for this game.”
To the Northwood Knights, their Old Boys and the travelling St Charles College contingent, KZN10.com says, “Here’s to a wonderful spectacle of rugby!”
140 Adelaide Tambo Drive here I come!!!
‘This derby is certainly a highlight for the Durban North community’
“WE’VE certainly won the week with regards to our preparation,” says Northwood first XV head coach Torsten Sorensen. “The boys have really been exceptional. The fact that we never got to play Michaelhouse last weekend (a lightning warning forced the match to be abandoned before kick-off) has given the boys renewed energy and focus.”
The preparations Torsten refers to were towards getting on the front foot from the kick-off in the once-a-year Durban North derby against Clifton, which kicks off at 1.10pm on Riverside Sports Club’s premier rugby paddock.
‘There’s a healthy rivalry due to our proximity… the boys know each other well’
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith (left) with Northwood 1st XV head coach Torsten Sorensen.
“Our team medical officer Richard Tyler and strength and conditioning head Simon Vickers have been outstanding in this regard and those injured players have followed a strict and rigorous process in order to return quickly but, more important, safely.
“We have our 8th man Ranger Mfakadolo (featured image) back from a 2-week injury layoff as well as our winger Lina Majola. Both add tremendous value. We have sadly lost our loosehead prop Aston Sparks to a concussion two weeks ago.”
This is Torsten’s first derby as head coach. The rugby man through and through that is Torsten-Erik Sorensen (of Danish heritage) was assistant to Grant Bashford in 2016 and Dick Muir in 2017.
Intensity & focus will be among the watchwords for Clifton College first XV captain Josh Brown and team today.
Clifton College first XV inside centre & headboy Jack Koch will be looking to create space in the derby at Riverside today.
For a man so passionate about the sport, coaching was clearly the next avenue, the journey taking him to Westville Boys’ High in 2006 – where he stayed until 2015. The Great Dane coached the Westville 1st XV in the years 2012 to 2014. The move to Northwood came in 2016, as an assistant to Bashy (Grant Bashford) then Dick Muir.
“I was appointed head coach by Dick when he left to join the Sharks last year.”
“Our brand is high tempo and skillful. We are very fortunate to have Grant Bashford as our director of coaching. His vast experience at Super Rugby level as well as his great relationships with many of rugby’s top current coaches around the globe have allowed us to be at the cutting edge of the modern game.
“From our training regime, to our conditioning and patterns of play we are very up to date with what many of the top New Zealand franchises are doing. Just this week we were rubbing shoulders with the Chiefs coaches and conditioning staff and this reinforced our belief that what we are doing is right.”
When it comes to today’s opponents, is it clear that the Northwood head coach has much respect for the school.
“I admire the Clifton ethos and the culture of individual excellence that they drive. Their boys are always extremely well mannered and proud of their school. They have a very experienced coaching staff, many of whom I’ve worked with in the past. “(Clifton head coach) Ross (Saayman) has lots of experience and has been with Clifton for many years now.”
Clifton College director of rugby Grant Bell (left) and first XV head coach Ross Saayman are held in high respect.
“I’ve worked under their current director of rugby Grant Bell whilst at Westville Boys… Grant is an astute, experienced coach with a tremendous rugby brain. We certainly will not go into this game complacent. We can expect a well-coached team.”Thanks for your time, Torsten – the much-appreciated insight into Northwood’s prep for today’s derby as well as the respect you have for Clifton.
KZN10.com wishes Northwood and Clifton all the best for today’s Durban North derby.
‘It’s a high-profile hockey match for both schools,’ says Clifton head coach
Clifton director of hockey and first team head coach Keegan Pearce is widely respected for his bigger-picture thinking.His thoughts on the Saturday, 16 May 2018’s Durban North derby with Northwood that launches at 11.15am on the Riverside 2 turf:
“Preparation this week has been tough with the flu hitting 4 of our boys really hard,but fortunately we are at full strength for the derby barring Alex Kerr our regular centre back who has been out for over a month with glandular fever.”
“Fortunately we get to play at home, which for us is Riverside. We are really blessed with a great group of boys at Clifton, and they have nominated this as one of their compulsories, so we are expecting over 400 boys to crowd around the Astro to cheers the 1st team lads on. ”
The Clifton hockey man will have his first team assistant coach Andrew Dunn alongside to help steer the ship.
Clifton 1st hockey team assistant coach Andrew Dunn will be supporting his head coach all the way during the Durban North derby today.
The Clifton first hockey team will appreciate every ounce of support from their schoolmates today…
As to the brand of hockey Clifton aspire to play: “Our focus this year has been on trying to manipulate space in certain pre-identified areas when we have the ball. Defensive pride and identifying our shape in counter-defence has been of high importance for us. Accountability and intensity have been focus areas at training and that understanding has filtered into our games during our down phases – and we really have absorbed pressure well.
“We have a strong PC (penalty corner) attack battery that includes two KZN U18A (drag) flickers … and we have balanced out our PC and field goals nicely, which is great to see. We defended nine PC’s in our 2nd half against a competitive Glenwood team to not concede, so hopefully our PC defence is another strong area for us today.”
Keegan has a lot of time for his opposition’s hockey: “Northwood have produced some clinical results this season, and under Bakes (Shaun Baker) they are sure to be well structured and immensely aware of their individual and team responsibilities. They have brilliant young talents and I’m sure they will bring a great game plan and intensity to today’s encounter.
Ace Northwood shot-stopper Taine Bird will be properly tested by the Clifton College penalty corner machine.
“KZN is blessed with talented hockey schools and every local derby is evenly contested, Today should be no different and the atmosphere at Riverside is going to be extremely special.”
Well said Keegan.
KZN10.com wishes Clifton well for today’s special occasion in Durban North and KZN hockey.
Northwood’s hockey director & head coach on today’s Clifton derby & more
NORTHWOOD director of hockey Shaun Baker has played the game at a high level – while at school and post-school.
Captained Maritzburg College under the tutelage of schools (and more) hockey coaching legend Mike Bechet, and played and coached in a number of countries across the globe.
His thoughts on the much-anticipated 11.15am Durban North derby 19 May 2018 between the Knights and KZN top 10 hockey neighbours Clifton College on Riverside Turf 2:
“Thanks Jono. Preparations this week – hasn’t been an ideal week of preparations as quite a few boys have had this tummy bug and flu that is doing the rounds. However I am pretty much at full strength.
“I have only been in charge and head coach for one other Northwood vs Clifton derby, which was last year and we drew 0-0 at Northwood.”
‘Clifton head coach Keegan Pearce has a great eye for the game’
“The attraction with regards to the derby is, I think, due to the fact that many of the local prep school boys either go to Northwood or Clifton, so there is a seriousness from their side. The Clifton match is definitely a big one…”Bakes says he’s excited to see what the Clifton 1st XI produce on Game Day:
“They are a very well-rounded team with some real quality in their ranks. The likes of Matt Lewis (a phenomenal hockey player), Kyle Whiteboy and (Matthew) Montgomery alone are incredible hockey players who lead that side this year.”
The Northwood hockey leader says that Clifton’s hockey as a whole has grown impressively in recent years.”I know that a big part of that is due to (Clifton hockey director and head coach) Keegan Pearce.
“I have coached against him at school and club, played against a team of his… he has agreat eye for the game and has good structures in place to develop more than just a good team or player.
“I am a huge fan of his and we have spoken on several occasions about the game and picked each other’s brain. I really do have a lot a respect for him as an opposition coach.”
Bakes, KZN10.com wishes you and the Northwood lads all the best for today’s derby.
Northwood Old Boy on today’s Durban North hockey derby and more
“IT’S wonderful to see that the leadership of the two schools have finally allowed this fixture to take place on a regular basis as it allows boys who grow up in the Durban North area to compete against each other on the sports field.”
The words of former Natal and Springbok hockey goalkeeper Wayne Philips – a brilliant nationally-selected indoor keeper to boot – The Northlands Old Boy has put in an incredible amount of time, effort, coaching acumen and organisational skill into growing the sport in and around his home turf, Durban North as well as further afield.
Wayne is a student of the game and one of the most progressive thinkers on the sport you’ll find anywhere. So, as to Saturday 19 May’s much-looked-forward-to Durban North derby between Northwood firsts and their Clifton College counterparts, which sees the push back at 11.15am on the Riverside 2 Turf, the Northlands shot-stopper of 1979 and 80 vintage has this to say:
“There have, I think, only ever been two previous hockey matches between the two, including last year. The game that I recall was the derby around 5 years ago that saw the cracker Northwood team – top 3 in SA coming through 3-0. Matt de Sousa was the talismanic Northwood captain of that team – and the difference between the two teams on that particular day. Matt scored twice I think and set up one in the 3-0 victory. The two teams were evenly matched on the day save for two or three moments of Matt’s brilliance that separated the two teams. Clifton were very early in their cycle as a focused hockey school at the time of that game. Then politics seemed to intervene and this fixture has I am almost certain not been played since, until last year.”
Wayne has high praise for the respective directors of hockey and first team head coaches.
“There are some exceptional individuals currently moving into the KZN Coastal (Durban) sports structures and Shaun Baker/Keegan Pearce are not exceptions. Both are visionary sports and specifically hockey people with international experience and vision who seem to be taking a long-term view. They both understand the bigger picture of school sport which is to develop players by working the process and not always focusing on results.
“Both recently joined their respective schools (early in 2017) although Baker probably had more of a re-building job to do than Pearce when he joined? It is exciting to watch the talent under their tutorship within the two schools developing and benefiting the local clubs Riverside, Varsity College and Crusaders – and in turn hockey in general.
“(The Clifton captain) Matt Lewis began his career at Riverside when he was six years old, went through our mini (11 and younger) and youth (14 and younger) hockey ranks, then started in our men’s senior 5th team and is now in the 1st team, so has been through the club’s ranks.
Clifton first team hockey captain Matt Lewis closes in on St Charles College skipper Matt Mortimer in the Durban school’s 4-0 on Saints Astro last Saturday.
“Hockey as a sport is growing globally and Durban North is no exception, it’s difficult to believe that as recently as 20 years ago, Durban North never had one KZN Premier league team – both Crusaders men’s and women’s teams as they were at the time (subsequently to become Riverside HC) being promoted to KZN Premier League in 1989 and 1991 respectively. Now there are four out of eight teams in each Super league – men and women – from Durban North! So undoubtedly the growth of hockey within and amongst secondary schools in the area – like Clifton, Northwood, Danville and Our Lady of Fatima is benefiting the sport.
“One further comment. I was never really a top-achieving school hockey player – made KZN U14 in my first year then never played for KZN Schools again! The club game really bit me – initially introduced to Gongs HC while at school by Keith Hosken my school hockey master at the time and played in teams captained by Gordon Bradfield, and then Varsity hockey by Gerry Latouf – and that is where I began to make strides. Hence my passion for club hockey!
“But I was Northlands/Beachwood/Northwood’s first ever SA hockey player. Seems like I got in just in time as a whole lot – Kevin MacNaughton, Gregg Clark, Ken Forbes, the Paton brothers and a few others – all followed quickly after that, probably once Durban North club hockey began to gain traction I reckon?”
Thanks Wayne, you have provided much insight into the then and the now – the remarkable growth of the sport in the Durban North community. Be that as it may, I am sure you will be anticipating a contest of note today!
Northwood hockey’s Knight
Jono Cook talks to the man at the helm of Northwood hockey
AT Northwood, a boy ascends from being a squire to the ultimate accolade, a Northwood Knight – a proud member of the Durban North schools’ community of Old Boys.
In the Middle Ages, a knight was an Englishman who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armour.
In a sense, that is the part being played in the service of Northwood hockey by this talent factory’s director of the sport, a position he got his teeth into this year.
Shaun Baker, one could imagine, is the right man in the right place at exactly the right time. And like so many good stories, it began with a realisation, then a dream, followed by a plan…
The Shaun Baker hockey tale began as a six-year-old in a fun tournament in Estcourt, the town where he grew up. The George Forder seven-a-side tournament was where the love affair was born.
“As far back as I can remember, hockey dictated my life … and continues to do so with my career. I played for KZN Midlands [now KZN Inland] U13 and soon found myself at Maritzburg College where my passion for success in hockey grew and was nurtured, particularly by Mike Bechet. I was lucky enough to have played for four years under Bech, from grade nine as a bench boy/water boy/ bag carrier/ball collector to my matric year in 2002 where I had the honour of captaining the Red Army.
“Bech taught me many of the skills I own and have developed in my coaching and playing career. He is undoubtedly one of my role models and I can’t thank him enough for the support I continue to receive from him.”
Post-school, Baker’s teaching degree was part of the plan – a plan that he was ultimately going to coach professionally down the line. The journey began in earnest when Bakes played and coached at several clubs, schools and in the KZN provincial teams before deciding to further his career as a player and coach in the UK.
“It was there where I gained so much from the experience life had to offer both on and off the pitch in many different countries through playing, coaching and travelling.”
A director of hockey position at Bryanston School ensued in 2012. A season in the Brisbane Premier League and a coaching stint in the Gold Coast Premier League in Australia added to the Bake hockey armoury. But home is where the heart is.
“I made the decision to move back to South Africa for the most important people in my life, my parents. Seeing them at most once a year, was just not good enough. Things fell into place and I was fortunate enough that the Northwood family saw the value I could offer … the decision was an easy one.”
So what has this hockey soldier’s time in Europe and Australia taught him?
“My time over there has broadened my mindset on many factors of life in general and this has filtered through positively into my coaching. In 2009, I went over assured and confident in my abilities as a coach but I was very quickly eaten alive by some of the best coaches England and Australia had to offer. It was a sink-or-swim moment in my career, particularly in Australia where the style of hockey and the perception of the game is so different to anywhere else I have experienced.”
The effect was that it made Mr Baker question his coaching structures, planning of training sessions and opened his eyes to a new way of seeing the game.
“I now see the game so much more simplistically and have a better understanding for it - and a higher respect too. I am up there with the biggest hockey nerds in the world and I am always trying to test my limits, learn new ideas from other coaches at every opportunity I get.”
Having been away for some time, what does he see in the current SA schoolboy hockey set-up?
“I believe there are two main points I have seen with fresh eyes, coming in after eight years out of the circuit …
“South African schoolboy sport in general is too focussed on the national ranking for their schools and are therefore results-driven rather than performance-driven. It is no different in hockey, many players and coaches only care about the win/draw percentage rather than how well their team played. Process-based hockey will reap profitable rewards and I experienced this in both the UK and Australia.”
An example of this can be found in these comments: “Our matches with Maritzburg College (2-2) and Jeppe (0-1) were two of the best games of hockey I have seen at school level. The Rondebosch (2-4), SACS (3-1) and Paul Roos (4-2) matches at Founders Festival were high-end performances from both us and our opponents as well.”
Baker is pleased with the speed that his players’ hockey outlook is evolving.
“I have changed the way my Knights think about the game. It’s been in a short space of time and it is showing in our performances; they understand that if they play, well the
experience is enjoyable regardless of the result. I used to have a win-at- all-costs mentality myself but that is not how life works. Hard work and a good performance - even when the result doesn’t favour you - is way more powerful to any team and coach, if it is understood and harnessed.
“Willingness to share coaching ideas and plans. South African coaches by nature do not share ideas and coaching techniques yet we have some seriously talented coaches. Again, this was my approach but, being involved in two internationally established hockey playing nations, I learnt to share. It is a major part of the national development for coaches to share coaching ideas, structures, team building ideas etc with coaches from other clubs, schools and academies.
“When I was at the KES Easter Hockey Festival this year, I asked several coaches of teams that Northwood played if they were happy to share their game plan they implemented when playing us, for the most part, their facial expressions were priceless! I wasn’t asking to know how their respective schools play structurally, I wanted to know where they were trying to exploit us or limit our strengths.
“That provides me with knowledge of potential ‘blind-spots’ that I can then develop and eliminate in areas of weaknesses and develop and grow areas of strength. I am happy to sit with any coach and go through how we played against them and why, all it means is that the next time I face that coach, I have to be that much better. Surely that is a good thing?”
What is your ‘game plan’ to attract the rich talent that Durban North has to offer when the quality of KZN schools is so good?
“Haha …! So you are using my above answer to make me share my biggest secrets? Clever! Durban North is a community and communities look after and out for each other. That will be my catalyst to attract boys from within the community to Northwood. The fact that Northwood is literally in the heart of the Durban North community should make it the school of choice, which for many Durban North parents’, it is not.
“I understand that there will be allegiances to other schools because dad or brother went there etc, however, I will create a legacy through Northwood Hockey and Northwood School that will attract players because they want to be a part of something special, not because they were offered the biggest scholarship because they were the superstars of the local prep schools, but because they see the value in what I plan on doing for the school over the next 5 years.
“There are misconceptions about Northwood, however, being in the trenches myself and an employee of the school, I speak the truth when I say they are just that, perceptions without substance. For me, that is a great starting point, as I know how many families already send their boy/s to other schools based on this, it is therefore my priority to show the Durban North community the truth about this fine institution that is Northwood School.”
Best wishes to a fine hockey man.