Local school hosts annual sporting festival
“We are very proud of how it has grown and we are glad to see youngsters on the field, playing sports, enjoying the day and building new friendships.”
Fifty-nine teams came together when they competed in the annual rugby sevens and netball festival hosted by Saheti School.
The event, which has become known as the traditional winter sports season-opener for schools in Johannesburg, attracted schools from far and wide as approximately 644 learners from 22 schools took to the fields and courts.
The festival held on March 1 and 2 saw teams compete in a pool format followed by bowl, plate, shield and championship divisions.
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The following schools and clubs participated: Curro Aurora, Dainfern College, Jeppe High School for Girls, Mondeor High, Reddam House Bedfordview, Redhill School, St Benedict’s College, St Dunstan’s College, Curro Thatchfield, Alma Mater International, Grace Trinity, Roosevelt High, Beaulieu College, St Peter’s College, Hyde Park High School, Pinnacle College Waterfall, Pinnacle College Founders Hill, Noordwyk Secondary School, Kingsway High School, Panthers Rugby Club, Soweto Eagles Rugby Club, and Saheti School.
Besides being a day of sporting fun, it was also a day of remembrance as the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.
During the festival, the school conducted the naming of the main rugby field after one of the school’s founding rugby figures and primrose-born George Catrakilis.
Chairperson of the Saheti board Anthony Katakuzinos thanked all the schools, clubs and players for attending the 29th edition of the festival.
“We are very proud of how it has grown and we are glad to see youngsters on the field, playing sports, enjoying the day and building new friendships.”
Describing George, Antony described him as a man who came from a humble family and grew up enjoying various sports such as cricket, rugby and soccer.
At university, he represented Wits on the rugby field and played for the younger former Transvaal rugby sides. He also enjoyed a career in club rugby playing for the Diggers and several others in the Transvaal League.
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Anthony said George was passionate about the school and put a lot of effort into growing it, specifically sports.
Starting with football, George grew the school’s team before becoming involved as a rugby coach. He developed a rugby culture at the school.
“George spent more than 15 years on the side of this field coaching and developing our teams into something we can be very proud of.”
George passed away last year.
Former professional rugby player Demetri Catrakilis said the naming of the field in his father’s honour was emotional for the family.
“This is the field where I grew up from the age of four. This was my second home and this is where my love for rugby started,” said Demetri.
He said it was an honour to have the field named after his father.
Waiting for results from Saheti
