Toti in the Grand Finals mix
AMANZIMTOTI High School became the fourth side to qualify for the Grand Finals of the 2017 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge when they defeated Kuswag Skool 1-0 in the final of the Durban South regional tournament played on the 3 Schools Trust Astro last weekend.
It was the third year in a row that the South Coast school has won this regional tournament and they join Ferrum High from Newcastle (KZN Northern Region) and two Maritzburg schools, St John’s DSG (PMB Central) and St Anne’s Diocesan College (PMB North) for the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG Kloof in July, with six more regional tournaments to be played.
The Durban South Regional was packed with incident and it was anyone’s guess who the winners would be right up until the last game of the day with seven schools in action: Amanzimtoti, Kuswag, Kingsway, Grosvenor Girls, New Forest, Queensburgh Girls’ High and Werda.
Kuswag Skool topped the final log at the end of the round robin and had a guaranteed place in the final but a penalty shoot-out was required to decide who their opponents would be as Kingsway High and last year’s winners, Amanzimtoti, had identical records and were joint second on the log.
The shoot-out got under way with Toti goalkeeper Nomcebo Maseko charging off her goal line to meet Leoni de Beer of Kingsway at the top of the circle and successfully block her. (0-0)
Mvelo Mthombeni put Amazimtoti into the lead when she slotted her shot past the Kingsway goalkeeper Teneze Csouros (0-1) and Kingsway’s Nosipho Mngadi made it 1-1 at a retake after Maseko had played the ball outside the circle.
It was then the turn of Anani Xozwa of Toti whose shot at goal was thwarted by the courageous Csouros, leaving the teams still on level terms. (1-1). Erin Main (Kingsway) managed to slip past a flying Maseko but with an open goalmouth in front of her she saw her shot go agonisingly just wide of a post, narrowly missing the official photographer.
Toti captain Phiwo Myeza also missed when her shot sailed over the crossbar (1-1), sending the shoot-out into ‘sudden death’ mode with Mngadi stepping up to the spot for a second attempt, only to have her shot blocked by the right boot of a charging Maseko who sent the ball flying out of the circle.
However, Myeza remained cool, calm and collected and found the back of the net to take her team into the final.
The 20-minute final between Kuswag and Amanzimtoti had loads of action but it was mostly played in the middle of the field. It was Myeza again who managed to capitalise on an opportunity to score the only goal of the match. Kuswag never gave up but they were unable to penetrate the Toti defence.
The award for the Most Promising Umpire went to the Durban South regional umpire Kalvin van Rensburg representing Kingsway High School.
The MD for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva, said: “The girls are to be congratulated for putting up such a fine display of hockey despite the hot and windy conditions. Well done to all!”
The SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge continues next weekend with the Durban North Regional on March 25 hosted by Crawford College La Lucia and the Durban Central Regional on March 26 at the 3 Schools Trust Astro in Glenwood hosted by Durban Girls High School.