Danville ready for SPAR schoolgirls’ hockey challenge

MAKING their third appearance at this year’s Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Danville Park Girls’ High School hockey team are hoping to leave their mark on the tournament.

The finals, which take place at St Mary’s DSG on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23 will feature 10 of the province’s best schools who won their respective regional contests.

For Anqobile Nkayi, captain of the Danville hockey team, the goal is to make it out of the group stages, where they face four-times winners of the Grand Finals and defending champions, Durban Girls’ College (DGC).

Grouped in Pool A, the Durban North school also faces PMB Girls’ High, Grantleigh College and Ladysmith High School.

“We’ve only played two teams in our group before, Durban Girls’ College and PMB Girls’ High, so the other schools are unknowns for us. Having said that, we are ready to overcome any challenge, and we believe in ourselves. That was proven at this year’s Durban North Regional where we went unbeaten through the tournament. We set the tone in our first game with a 5–0 win, and it’s that belief I feel will take us a long way at the Grand Finals.

“We’ve been working hard as a team during the school holidays, and we’ve set the goal of making it out of group stages. I think we see ourselves as the underdogs in what is ultimately a tough group. We really trust in each other as a team, and we are there for each other no matter the challenges we face,” she said.

Anqobile, who has played for the first team since Grade 10, said she was honoured to lead Danville at the tournament.

“It is always an honour to lead the team and one I don’t take lightly. I feel as captain, I need to be the bridge between the coach and my team. I aim to lift the team up and motivate them when the going gets tough. The make-up of our team, and the support I receive from everyone around me, really helps my task to lead this team easier,” she said.

Speaking on the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Anqobile was full of praise for the annual tournament.

“The SPAR schoolgirls tournament is extremely beneficial, especially in terms of our development and self-belief. We often don’t get the opportunity to play some of the schools from other parts of the province. We are super stoked to be a part of the Grand Finals, and we certainly see the tournament as one that will help us all grow as players,” she said.

The weekend’s action will all be live-streamed on the SuperSport School’s mobile app and website.

For more info, like the tournaments’ Facebook page (Spar KZN School Girls Hockey Tournament) or follow on Instagram (@sparkznhockey).

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