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Maritzburg College rugby team ready for tour to England
In a few days’ time a squad of 25 eager Maritzburg College rugby players are departing for a two-week tour to England and four testing matches that will be an early measure of where the players and the first team group stands ahead of the 2020 domestic season in South Africa.
The men in Red Black and White have their last training session on Goldstones from 3pm to 5pm this Wednesday before jetting off to London at the weekend.
Martin Ashworth feature image: Maritzburg College first XV scrumhalf Henry Trodd will be aiming to create and exploit space in England.
“What we would like to achieve with the tour is to try out different combinations with the available players,” Maritzburg College first XV head coach Cameron Fraser told KZN10.com
Maritzburg College’s SA Schools lock forward Wandile Hlope will be eager to get into the opposition in the same fashion as he did during the domestic season.
“And also to create an environment where our senior players can positively influence and assist with the growth of our junior players.
“We wish to also promote the College brand and boost the international awareness of Maritzburg College abroad.
“In the ideal world our goal is 4 perfect efforts to create a solid performance platform for 2020.”
Maritzburg College first XV right winger Kaid Morsink will be looking to employ his electrifying pace & hunger for tries to good effect in England.
BIG GAMES ON TOUR
“Millfield (18 September) and Oakham (24 September) will be our toughest opposition, as they collectively fielded 3 England U18 players this season,” Cameron added.
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I am sure that all of you valued KZN10 supporters join KZN10.com website and social media in wishing the boys in Red Black & White everything of the best across the sea and safe return on September 28.
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#REDBLACKWHITE TOUR FIXTURES
Match 1: Eltham College near London 16 Sept
Match 2: Millfield School near Bath 18 Sept
Maritzburg College’s first XV flanker Brannan Webster will be looking to deny the opposition in England.
Match 3: Christ College Brecon near Cardiff 21 Sept
Match 4: Oakham School near London 24 Sept
The calm and collected Maritzburg College first XV flyhalf and goalkicker Sven Zunckel will be looking for further success in England.
MARITZBURG COLLEGE TOUR
Team
- Cebo Dlamini (LHP)
- Junior Mndaweni (HK/LHP)
- Tristan Trollip (THP)
- Wandile Hlophe (LK/FL)
- Chris van Heerden (LK/FL)
- Malwande Dlangalala (FL)
- Brannan Webster (FL)
- Henrico Corbett (8/FL/HK)
- Henry Trodd (SH)
- Sven Zunckel (FH)
- Khwezi Hadebe (LW)
- Jarred Hendrikz (IC/FB)
- Philani Simamane (OC)
- Kaid Morsink (RW/IC)
- Anele Nzimande (FB/FH)
- Reece Wilken (HK)
- Travis van Aardt (THP)
- Athi Matsheke (LHP/THP)
- Campbell van Rooyen (LK/FL)
- Michael King (8/FL)
- Thabo Mbatha (LK/FL)
- Matt Zunckel (LW/OC)
- Payton Elliot (SH)
- Kent Goedeke (FH)
- Reece Price (IC)
The Maritzburg College first XV’s adaptable Henrico Corbett can play at number 8, flank and hooker.
Staff
Head Coach: Cameron Fraser
Assistant Coach: Renard le Roux
Tour Manager: Ryan Kyle (admin & organisational)
Kevin Smith: Director of Rugby (College Rugby representative and administration)
Biokineticist: Jason Greeff (treatment and rehab of injuries)
Clear communication always wins the day. https://www.cellc.co.za/
Captain’s knock of 150 inspires Maritzburg College in JHB
Jacques van der Walt hit an unbeaten 150 and Tristan Elam 87 in a third-wicket partnership of 184 to stop a charging St Stithians on their home ground in the opening two-day Fasken St David’s Time Cricket Festival match for both sides, which ended drawn in Johannesburg.
DesDesignsDot feature image (file pic) – : Jacques van der Walt on his way to 100 vs Westlake of New Zealand on Goldstones during last year’s Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week (2 October 2018).
College lost the toss and St Stithians grabbed the opportunity to take first strike. As College first XI coach and director of cricket Kyle Nipper told KZN10.com last Thursday evening: “It was a good wicket for batting, quite flat with not much in it for the bowlers. We would also have liked to bat first.
The Saints batters progressed to 308/4 off 62.4 overs in their first innings before the Maritzburg College men went in on day one.
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“Our bowlers found it tough going on a pitch that was great for batting,” said Nipper.
St Stithians opener Jodi de Sousa (41) and fellow opener Cameron Rowe (37) got the Saints away to a good start before the two other top 4 batters Liam Mostert (124 not out) and Muhammad Manack (71) propelled the innings forward.
College pacemen Mondli Khumalo (1 for 67 in 13 overs) and Sanele Mbatha (1-59 in 12) plus off-spinner Chad Fortmann (2-60 in 12.4) got the Saints wickets.
College used 8 bowlers in a bid to make a breakthrough against the strong Saints batting line-up.
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“They batted really well. We had a few chances that we let slip but that’s part of the game. They capitalised on some poor bowling and punished anything loose,” was Maritzburg College coach Kyle Nipper’s summation of the Saints first innings.
It was now up to College in the afternoon on Day 1 to respond. Their first innings was in all sorts of trouble at 13 for the loss of 2 wickets before first XI captain Jacques van der Walt joined opener Tristan Elam.
Said coach Nipper after the close of Day 1: “Tristan Elam (74*) and Jacques van der Walt (44*) were superb with the bat, soaked up lots of pressure in the beginning when we were 13/2 but then shared an unbeaten 125-run partnership to get us back in the game.
“(On Day 2) we will look to get the 2 batters back in again and set up stall for a bit, then hopefully keep some wickets in hand to allow us to accelerate towards the back end of the innings and set up a first-innings lead”
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Elam eventually fell for 87 (131 balls, 11 fours and 1 six). The opener, together with his skipper, had put on a match-saving 184 for the third wicket.
Van der Walt was to eventually retire hurt of his own choosing, having developed a back strain after keeping wicket and then batting for a total of well over 100 overs. The captain’s unbeaten 150 came off just 175 balls and included 19 fours and 4 sixes.
Ross Klusener (53* off 45b, 4×4, 1×6) first with his captain and then Chad Fortmann (23*) steered College to declare on 352/4 in 65 overs; Saints having used 9 bowler, as College took a 44-run first innings lead.
St Stithians have a very good attack upfront and it was Tristan Brooks (3-72 from 14 overs) and fellow opener Matthew Lieberman (1-42 off 10) who got the wickets.
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“Day 2 saw (our) batsmen continue, scoring freely and with great control,” said Nipper. “After a partnership of 184, Elam fell for a well-played 87, while Van der Walt kept scoring with ease and reached his century. He would end his innings on a superb 150, retiring hurt due to a back strain.”
Nipper added: “Saints came out to bat (second innings) with their only intention to bat for the rest of the (second and last) day, which they did, to reach 235/3 with Michael King (2-18 in 5) being the pick of the bowlers. The match ended in a draw.”
Jodi de Sousa (121 off 153 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes) and Muhammad Manack (54*, 74b, 4×4 and 1×6) were the chief St Stithians second-innings run-scorers.
College’s Fortmann picked up 1 for 42 from 10 overs to join King as the wicket-takers in Saints’ second innings.
It was certainly quality time spent in the middle for a number of the players from both sides ahead of their participation in the 60th Oppenheimer Micjhaelmas Cricket Week, which starts in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas on 21 September.
TAKE THE TIME TO HAVE A READ THIS and direct your queries to info@futurasports.co.za
With Day 1 of Maritzburg College’s 60th annual Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week just 17 short days away I was clearing out my cupboard and came upon a December 2018 feature I wrote on Mike Bechet, the outstanding SA schoolboy cricket (and hockey) coach. The upshot is that my cupboard is still not cleared up… as I spent the next hour before going to the office reading and reminiscing on a remarkable man I came across for the first time in 1981.
Here are some of the SA School Sports magazine excerpts from that fascinating interview with Bech. Can’t wait to catch up with this legendary Durban-born DHS Old Boy and Jeppe first XI coach in the iconic Kent Pavilion on Goldstones.
Feature image: Mike Bechet with one of his Maritzburg College players who have made it big on the world stage and the SA sports star who inspires him the most – David Miller – pictured here at the SA Cricket Awards Evening in 2016.
Impressive schoolboy cricket coaching credentials of Mike Bechet.
So what does Bech – the longest-serving member of the SA Schools and SA U19 selection panel – look for in a schoolboy cricketer?
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Bech, is Gauteng schools cricket stronger?
Arthur Wormington played hockey at club and possibly provincial level with Mike Bechet and is your expert when it comes to UK property investments. ‘We align all the movables to create the perfect UK property investment.’ Contact the London-based Arthur at arthur@megaprop.co.uk
‘Our school structures are arguably the best in the world’
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The Mike Bechet you don’t know.
When it comes to great getaways look no further than the 5-star Fordoun Hotel Spa and Restaurant in the leafy peace and quiet of Nottingham Road. Use Fordoun as your base to explore the delights of the KZN midlands. Go to https://www.fordoun.com/
Bech’s thoughts on the life skills that cricket teaches schoolboys.
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So what is it about schoolboy coaching that drives Bech?
Mike Bechet is director of cricket, head of boarding and a teacher/coach at Jeppe. So Bech, the teacher/coach or professional coach dilemma?
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‘Surround yourself with the right people’ – Mike Bechet
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Mike Bechet pays tribute to his family.
A sticky wicket makes for messy backyard cricket. Take action before it’s too late. Contact Mike Bechet’s fellow DHS Old Boy on 082 337 2049.
Four of the best. Guess who played first team cricket too?
Mike Bechet is probably the most successful schoolboy hockey coach in SA history. Here’s Mike with just a few of his Maritzburg College players who went on to play for South Africa (from left) Tommy Hammond, Peabo Lembethe, Taine Paton and Tyson Dlungwana during a 2018 international series at Randburg.
The success of a coach is built on clear communication. https://cellc.co.za/
Saints & House kick off Schools T20 Big Bash today
This year’s Coca-Cola Schools T20 National Franchise finalists St Charles College take on Michaelhouse: UKZN PMB Varsity Cricket Club’s Schools T20 Big Bash kicks off at 4pm on the PMB Varsity Cricket Oval in the Peter Booysen Sports Park off Golf Road in Scottsville this afternoon.
Let’s hope the Peter Booysen Sports Park off Golf Road draws plenty of support from the two schools’ Old Boys, parents, boys and staff – plus you the school sports enthusiast – as we’ll be basking under the Varsity Oval floodlights on a beautiful Spring evening in just a few hours’ time.
@kirstyspix feature image: Michaelhouse and KZN Inland 17 batsman Jared Meiring hits a massive six for his Zulu Kings franchise during a recent Dolphins Premier League T18 match at the City Oval in Pietermaritzburg.
Tomorrow’s 4pm Big Bash start sees 2018 Coca-Cola Schools T20 National Franchise finalists Hilton College up against long-standing rivals Maritzburg College – another schoolboy cricket clash to savour.
Several of the cricketers in today’s clash have already spent fruitful time in the middle – be it for the KZN Inland U17 squad versus Zimbabwe, for their respective teams in the Dolphins Premier League or during pre-season friendlies for their school first teams.
The 4pm Big Bash Twenty20 action continues next week – this time on the Tuesday and the Thursday – when Saints tackle Maritzburg College (4pm on 10 September) before Hilton cross swords with the busy Saints (4pm on 12 September).
The PMB Varsity Oval scoreboard could be working overtime this evening. PMB-based Clox Scoreboards will never let you down. http://clox.co.za/
Then there is a 20-day break until play resumes when Maritzburg College meet Michaelhouse (4pm on 2 October) followed by Michaelhouse vs Hilton 24 hours later (4pm on 3 October).
The third/fourth place playoff is the following week (8 October) before the grand finale title match 2 days later (10 October).
See you there!
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Expert insight into the sports injury-healing process – Jason Greeff
AS we go into the latter part of the year, it’s perhaps time for KZN10 sportsmen to reflect on what they did well and what they can change.
But during this relative down time, especially for the winter sport aficionados, a degree of conditioning training will be expected – as the cricket, basketball and water polo seasons are already upon us.
Jono Cook feature image: Maritzburg College biokineticist Jason Greeff.
For the rugby, hockey and even the football programmes there will be a cooling off period for most, with rest and rehab thrown into the mix.
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The biggest bugbear of every sports-mad KZN10 schoolboy is injury: the seasons are short, compact and extremely intensive; a few weeks out of action, less-than-ideal rehab and suddenly the rugby (for example) season is done and dusted; and potential has not come close to being realised.
What’s even worse is that for the grade 12s it’s the last time they will ever have the unforgettable opportunity to play KZN10 schoolboy sport – you want to leave school with great sporting memories, not “what-might-have-beens”.
So let’s take a look at what the KZN10 schoolboy sport medical specialists’ views are; general pointers to guide KZN10 schoolboy athletes whatever their primary sports code may be:
A while ago, KZN10 asked Maritzburg College biokineticist Jason Greeff, who works closely with physiotherapist Mike Denton, to enlighten us on some of the processes.
Jono: Jason, you have honours degrees in both biokinetics and sports science, and extensive work experience in elite sport, including KZN10 sport, what has always intrigued me personally is how do the bio and physio work together?
Jason: “Jono basically the difference between a bio and physio is that the physio handles the initial phase of injury, while the bio takes over from the physio so that the athlete can to return to play.
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“Physios handle the acute injury – they deal with chronic injuries as well, but acute being the initial injury once it’s occurred. Physios handle the fibro-blast repair phase, which is the inflammation; they help the muscle heal, the swelling, the initial healing.
“Once the ‘wound’ has healed and there is pain-free range of motion, there will be a handover from the physio to the bio. Those muscles have atrophied; they have become weaker because they haven’t been used.
“So the biokineticist’s job is to strengthen those muscles to make sure that (a) the injury doesn’t re-occur and (b) also to get the player up-to-speed with his fitness so that he can get back into the match arena.”
Jason certainly knows his stuff, having completed his internship at the Sharks under the guidance of the legendary Jimmy Wright, a man with 30-plus years’ experience in the field in dealing with professional athletes.
Jason: “Yes, Jono, from Jimmy I learnt so much; every time I sat with Jimmy there was something new to take away. I was privileged in having that exposure at such a high level and it laid the foundation for my working with schoolboy teams.”
An interesting aside is that Jason is a big fan of athletics; the sports code being a vital component in the physical development of athletes no matter their sports code of choice, that is, their sports code that involves running as a specific skill in the sport.
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Jason: “Jono, in many sports codes it’s essentially all about the mechanics of running. And that is where the sport of athletics comes in.
“From a young age, most [KZN10] boys haven’t been taught how to run efficiently, so from a bio-mechanical point of view more emphasis on athletics in the first school term would definitely aid speedwork, fitness and injury prevention, while the benefits of cross-over training into, for example, the rugby, hockey and soccer seasons, to name but three, will go a long way towards minimising needless injuries.”
Jono: Thanks Jason, certainly much food for thought, and in your employers’ case, Maritzburg College is perfectly placed to take advantage of this insight now that an internationally accredited athletics stadium lies literally a hop, step and jump from the school precinct in Princess Margaret Drive.
Roll on the rest of 2019 – and, of course, a bright new start with the year 2020 not far away. KZN10.com can barely wait.
Clear communication is the key to success. https://www.cellc.co.za/
Busy 64 days for Maritzburg College first XI cricket
The Maritzburg College first XI have an active schedule of 17 fixtures ahead of them over the next 64 days, starting with the annual 50-over match with the Maritzburg College Old Boys XI on Goldstones tomorrow (31 August) and ending on November 2.
The team list of what is a powerful Maritzburg College Old Boys XI has just been released (1.55pm) to KZN10.com by Maritzburg College director of cricket Kyle Nipper and is as follows:
Maritzburg College Old Boys XI
The Maritzburg College first XI Class of 2019 will play 2 two-day double innings matches, 4 Twenty20 matches and 11 matches in the 50-over format.
Featured image: Maritzburg College first XI captain Jacques van der Walt.
The T20 matches form part of the much-anticipated (4pm start) day/night T20 Big Bash League (hosted and presented by the UKZN PMB Cricket Club) that also includes the Hilton College, Michaelhouse and St Charles College first XI’s (more about that in an upcoming article).
So, the next 64 days are certainly something to look forward to for captain Jacques van der Walt and the Maritzburg College team. Check out the fixtures below.
Mondli Khumalo will be targeting a memorable 64 days after experiencing a frustrating first term hand injury. The 2017 SA Schools fast bowler has much to look forward to before year-end. Photo:DesDesignsDot
MARITZBURG COLLEGE FIRST XI FIXTURES
31 Aug vs Old Boys (Goldstones)
3 Sept T20 Big Bash vs Hilton (4pm at Peter Booysen Sports Park, UKZN PMB)
Fasken Time Cricket Festival (hosted by St David’s Marist Inanda)
(two 2-day double innings matches – max 105 overs first innings)
5/6 Sept vs St Stithian’s College (St Stithians Main Oval)
7/8 Sept vs St John’s College (SJC’s Burger Field in Houghton)
10 Sept T20 Big Bash vs St Charles College (4pm at UKZN PMB)
14 Sept vs Westville (Bowden’s)
60th Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week (all on Goldstones)
21st Sept vs PBHS
22nd vs Grey College
23rd vs St Alban’s College
24th vs Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies)
2 Oct T20 Big Bash vs Michaelhouse (4pm at UKZN PMB)
5 Oct vs DHS (Theobald’s)
* 8 Oct (possible) T20 Big Bash 3rd/4th place playoff (4pm at UKZN PMB)
* 19 Oct (possible) T20 Big Bash final (4pm at UKZN PMB)
12 Oct vs Northwood (Robin Smith Oval)
19 Oct vs Hilton (Jack Hart-Davis Oval at Hilton)
26 Oct vs St Charles (Goldstones)
2 Nov vs Clifton College (Goldstones)
Batting, bowling, catching and fielding is about confidence, so set your mind at ease with a vision test. www.hilliarandgray.co.za/
DHS boys have a seasoned rugby brain in their midst
Durban High School appear to have struck gold in their recent appointment of Nico le Roux as director of rugby.
The glowing credentials of new DHS rugby boss Nico le Roux speak for themselves and there is likely to be much to celebrate for the boys both on and off the field.
Nico has served as Impala Rugby Club in Rustenburg’s director of rugby for the last 4 years, until the 2019 Gold Cup-winning final.
Impala RC won the event twice and were silver medallists once.
New DHS director of rugby Nico le Roux.
In earlier years of a distinguished coaching career that had begun in 1994, the-then All Blacks coach John Mitchell employed Nico as his technical advisor.
In his 26-year coaching career Nico has also worked in various capacities across the coaching spectrum.
In no particular order here, these include roles from technical adviser, High Performance analyst, HP manager, attack coach, course presenter, coach educator and head coach.
Apart from Impala RC, among his notable employers and teams have been the Lions, Blues and Chiefs Super Rugby franchises, the All Blacks, the junior All Blacks, SARU and the Investec Academy (Elite player group).
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To complete the package, Nico holds a B.Comm honours degree in sports management.
The DHS rugby boys and coaching staff appear to be in good hands – and then some.
Source: SchoolofRugby
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MTN PMB FA Cup soccer outcome impossible to predict
The scene is set for the 8th annual MTN PMB High Schools Football Association Cup, to be held at Howick High from Friday to Sunday this weekend and one can argue with conviction that it’s anyone’s ballgame.
Having watched a number of the teams this year it is a lottery as to who emerge with the trophy.
The strength of the teams in Pietermaritzburg (PMB) and KZN midlands boys’ high school football is so evenly-matched this year.
The unpredictable nature of the outcomes this season means that it’s impossibly hard to determine with any semblance of accuracy, who the finalists will be, come the aftermath of the 3pm trophy match on the Howick High School turf on Sunday.
Manchester City trialist Costi Christodoulou will be going for an unprecedented third consecutive MTN PMB FA Cup title after winning with the Hilton College teams of 2017 (Costi in grade 9) and 2018 (Costi in grade 10).
What is absolutely dead-certain as we draw close to Friday afternoon’s opening exchanges is that there are 20 schoolboy first teams with gold medals on their mind and nothing else.
Any of the usual big guns could win it, as they have all beaten each other over the course of the season. The tournament kicks off at 1pm on Friday, with the boys’ final scheduled for 3pm on Sunday.
Hilton College are the two-time defending champions and are looking to become the first side to win the trophy three times – 2017 winners, 2018 winners, 2019 winners.
They beat Maritzburg College in an excruciating penalty shootout in last year’s final and the boys of the RedBlackWhite will be pushing to go one better.
It has certainly been a trophy season for the Maritzburg College lads, having already picked up the PMB A League and the Primo League titles in 2019.
Leaky defences don’t make for winning teams. St Charles College dad John Smithers has got your back.
St Charles College – the most dangerous of sides – were one of last year’s semi-finalists.
Saints bowed out to Hilton in yet another agonising penalty shootout, penalties that were so masterfully managed by ace Hilton College keeper Costi Christodoulou, last year’s SA U17 soccer captain and Manchester City trialist.
Haythorne made up the 2018 semi-final quartet. And like the French rugby team, one never knows which Haythorne brand of football will turn up on the day – it can be inspirational stuff that feeds off the moment, or it can be rather disappointing.
Of some of the other teams, Carter are never to be trifled with in Cup football while I personally have a great deal of time for the Michaelhouse team.
Terrific strikers, a solid pair of central defenders, intelligent distributors of the ball – and the most committed of captains in goalkeeper Noah Stanger, the Men of House are, in my opinion, in with a very real chance to wrest the trophy away from their Hilton rivals.
Maritzburg College’s experienced goalkeeperThandolwethu Zondi has been in match-winning form this year. Photo Justin Waldman
Alex have had a rather disappointing season to date and will no doubt be thirsting to prove a point, as will first-time entrants Eastwood, who won the PMB B League this year and will want to show that they thoroughly deserve their promotion to The Big Show.
Last year was my first taste of MTN PMB FA Cup football and it was a fabulous eye-opener.
The Howick High School set-up is great and the organisation of what is an extremely time-pressured schedule by Uraisha Haswell and her team is second to none.
This weekend Hilton College are going for their third MTN PMB FA Cup soccer title in a row. Here are the recollections of a Hilton dad whose son was in this 2017 Hilton team. https://kzn10.com/pmb-fa-cup-2017-the-effect-it-had-on-a-rugby-cricket-dad/
From humble beginnings, this tournament has become the most popular and most intensely-fought-for accolade in the Pietermaritzburg and KZN midlands region.
This year, there are a total of 36 teams participating: the 20 boys’ teams, as mentioned earlier, and 16 girls’ teams.
In the girls section, Edendale Technical College have ruled the roost of late and are two-time defending champs but they were pushed all the way in last year’s final by hosts Howick, who will be determined to lift the trophy for the first time, on home soil.
Ixopo and Carter will also expect to be in the final stages – or perhaps there could be a surprise from the likes of GHS or from the spirited Kokstad College girls.
It’s been a long wait.
The last time Maritzburg College won the MTN PMB FA Cup was when the much-heralded Ryan Moon was the key in the team. Read his thoughts here: https://kzn10.com/maritzburg-college-old-boy-soccer-star-ryan-moon-on-pmb-fa-cup/
Now the waiting is over.
It’s time.
It is imperative for coaches to know what works for you, the player. Get in the driving seat with the tried and tested. Contact Trish right now at info@trishsutton.co.za
DHS appoint new director of rugby
Durban High School is pleased to announce the appointment of the School’s new Director of Rugby, Nico Le Roux.
Nico, a former technical advisor to the New Zealand All Blacks under coach John Mitchell, has worked with, among others, the Blues, the Chiefs, the Junior All Blacks, in addition to the All Blacks.
He has enjoyed a long and successful career coaching rugby, which began back in 1994 when he was appointed as the Lions High Performance Manager.
His career took a huge leap in 2001, when he was appointed as the Technical Advisor to the Chiefs Super Rugby Franchise.
Nico was then appointed by the Waikato Rugby Union as their Technical Advisor.
His period in New Zealand also included working as Performance Analyst for the Blues Super Rugby Franchise and the North Harbour Rugby Union.
The highlight of his stay in New Zealand was when he was appointed as Technical Advisor to the All Blacks.
In 2009 Nico returned to South Africa and was appointed as the Attack Coach for Boland Rugby Union.
From the Boland, Nico was appointed by SARU in their Coaches Education Department. He also consulted for the Bulls.
In 2014 Nico joined the Investec Rugby Academy as a course presenter and Head Coach of their Elite players group.
He was appointed as Director of Rugby of Rustenburg Impala Rugby. As the Head Coach, he has taken the team to several prestigious finals including the Community Cup and Gold Cup competitions.
Nico holds a B.Com (Honours) in Sports Management.
The DHS community welcomes Nico and his family to Durban.
Text source: DHS
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Kearsney’s Josh Steytler has an Olympic dream
Josh Steytler, who won gold at the recent 2019 South African and African Duathlon Championships held in Cape Town, has just signed a 12-month contract to run for Hillcrest Villagers’ Athletic Club’s Elite running team.
The Grade 11 learner from Kearsney College will represent HVAC in the Junior Men’s category at running events until mid-2020.
Josh has been actively involved in competitive sports from a young age, playing club rugby (Hillcrest Villagers’ Rugby Club) and club soccer (Westville Soccer Club) from the age of seven, and made a KZN soccer age-group team at 12, when they won the SAFU League Championship.
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His passion for road running saw him win the U19 junior Men’s category at the Forest Hills Spar 10km road race last month in a time of 35:03. He finished 11th overall.
But triathlons are his first love, so Josh stopped playing club rugby and soccer this year, in order to compete seriously in triathlons and duathlons.
Josh’s dream is to compete in triathlon at the Olympic Games. Last year he was awarded full provincial colours in both duathlon and triathlon and was the HVAC Junior Runner of the Year.
Earlier this year he won silver at the SA and Africa Triathlon Champs in Durban, before winning gold at the SA and Africa Duathlon Champs in Cape Town.
At these Duathlon Champs in Cape Town, Josh competed in the sprint class – a 5km run, a 20km cycle and a final 2,5km run – which he did in 16:47, 31:06 and 09:26 respectively, recording the fastest 5km run time in the U17 and U19 male categories.
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