Bumper week at Sarel Cilliers High as top sports stars receive their awards

Sarel Cilliers High School hosted a gala dinner on Saturday evening to raise much-needed funds and support for the school. Dignitaries from far and wide honoured the occasion with their presence, as did many local business owners from Dundee and Glencoe.
The dinner was graced by the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Buzabazi Zulu (third son of His Royal Highness the late King Zwelethini Zulu) and his partner Ndlunkulu Mtshali; as well as Member of Parliament Maliyakhle Shelembe, who spoke eloquently about the importance of education and providing scholars with a safe learning environment.
Other prestigious guests included DA Ward Councillor Saleem Abdul and Endumeni Municipality Mayor S Ndlovu. Both made erudite speeches, pledging their support to the school. Cllr Abdul promised to make every attempt to expedite water delivery to the school hostels, which have been struggling during the water crisis to meet the needs of the learners and staff.
Sarel Cilliers Sports Awards:
It was a busy week for Sarel Cilliers, as the school had their annual Sports & Culture Prize-Giving on Thursday evening, where the teams and individual girls and boys received certificates and trophies.
The school was proud to welcome 2018 head boy and rugby captain Menzi Mabaso back to Sarel Cilliers to hand out the certificates for sporting achievement. Menzi is currently studying Business Administration at UKZN and plays eighth man for the Impis rugby team, often receiving media coverage for his exploits.
Certificates for culture were handed out by local sporting celebrity, South African and Commonwealth Games boxing champion Phiwokhule Mnguni, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games and was recently crowned ‘KZN Sportswoman and Personality of the Year’.
A seven-time South African boxing champion, Mnguni encouraged the learners to always aim for being the best and said that it’s only through hard work and discipline that one achieves great results. Dave van der Westhuizen, who has been the sports master and an educator at Sarel Cilliers since 2006, was the guest of honour who was given the task of handing out the sports trophies to the top sports stars of 2022. Mr van der Westhuizen, who will retire at the end of the year, has had a huge influence on the success of rugby at Sarel Cilliers and has been a guiding influence for many of the learners.
The evening ended with the presentation of tokens of appreciation to the guests of honour, as well as the presentation of a framed first XIV rugby jersey to Orange Grove in thanks for their committed and generous sponsorship of the Sarel Cilliers rugby teams.
Some of the top prize and trophy winners were…
Rugby awards: Most improved U/15 player – Manqoba Mkhize, Most Improved U/14 player – Samkelo Ntombela, U/15 Player’s Player of the Year – Adriaan De Beer, Best Forward U/14 Player – Khwezi Chamane, Most Outstanding Junior Player – Thando Mnisibest, Performance as a Junior Rugby Team during the year 2022 (U/14 team) – Nzuzo Lembethe, Best Performance as a Senior Rugby Team (first team) – Unathi Hadebe, Top Scorer in the First Rugby Team – Leonard Kruger, Most Improved Senior – Mpilwenhle Zulu, Best Back-Line Senior Player – Thandolwethu Msane, Beste O/16 Voorspeler – Mnotho Khumalo, Best Back-Line U/16 Player – Fisokuhle Ndaba, Captain of the Year – Olwethu Radebe, Best Forward Senior Player – Afrika Mathebulo, Top Scorer in the U/14 Team – Samkelo Ntombelo, Most Exciting Player of all teams – Qiniso Thabethe, Most Outstanding 7s Player (senior team) – Ntando Makhaye, Most Outstanding 7s Player (junior team) – Adriaan de Beer, Most Promising Girls’ Rugby Player – Layla Nyembe, Top Scorer in 7s Rugby (senior team) – Ntokozo Rikhotsho, Trophy for Top Scorer in 7s Rugby (junior team) – Thando Mnisi, KwaZulu-Natal Country & District U/18 Team represented KZN CD team at VKB Week in the June holidays (Gold Scroll) – Thabiso Xulu and Afrika Mathebula (he was selected for SA ‘Platteland’ invitational team that will be touring Ireland in December), KZN Country & District U/16 Team represented KZN CD team at the VKB Week in the June holidays (Gold Scroll) – Mnotho Khumalo and Fisokuhle Ndaba, KwaZulu-Natal Country & District Girls’ Team (Gold Scroll) – Lethinjabulo Nyembe, Member of the Hockey U/16 KZN Country & District Team (Gold Scroll) – Simphiwe Zuma, Member of the Hockey U/18 KZN Country & District Team (Gold Scroll) – Lungelo Ndlovu, Club 100 Trophy for most Promising Sports Boy and Girl 2022 – Afrika Mathebula and Akheelah Griffiths, Trophy for True Dedication – Sethabile Zulu, Trofee vir Mees Veelsydige Dogter – Amahle Vundla (Hockey, Soccer, Choir, Talent Show), Most Versatile Boy – Leonard Kruger (Wrestling, Rugby, Athletics, Drama).
Well done to all the award winners!