Ferndale High School can boast a prolific year of sporting achievements, where one success was followed by another.
In particular, the rugby, soccer and chess teams can boast three achievements that pupils and staff will not forget for a long time.
Rugby has not been played at the school since the 90s, but this year staff thought to revive the sport. “In our first year back, the U16 boys won the Buffalo Rugby League, beating Northriding High School in the final, and now we have been invited to play in the Vuka Rugby League next year,” smiled the proud coach, Ndumiso Maseko.
He put the success down to dedicated coaches, and the players’ willingness to quickly learn how the game works.
The school’s 1st boys soccer team won the Johannesburg Central Soccer League, and then went on to a knockout competition for the winners of the league’s four divisions, and won that too. “The boys showed great teamwork and determination – it was not easy, they put a lot of time into it,” said coach, Xolani Ngwenya, who added that they hope to win it again next year.
Because everything good comes in threes, the school’s junior A chess team put on a good show in the junior division of the Johannesburg North West High School Chess League. The junior division is divided into five sections and Ferndale won their division, section D, and was promoted to Section C for next year. “We have been playing since 2012 and never came close until now,” said coach, Rakgadi Shai.
“It was not easy but the team persevered.”
According to the principal, Bahiya Manuel, the school’s sporting success was a spill-over from pupils working hard to achieve academically. “The pupils are all aiming to do well at school and vying for the top 10 in their grades. They can see they are going somewhere. It is truly an all-round achievement,” she said.
Details: info@ferndalehigh.co.za; 011 886 1234.
