KwaZulu-Natal Inland‘s u18A team will aim to make waves and, should matters go according to plan, possibly challenge for the title at the SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) to be hosted by Hilton College, St Anne’s, and The Wykeham Collegiate (TWC) from 29 June to 4 July.
The hosts, who finished in eighth place last year, will be hoping to punch above their weight and improve on that showing, which produced three wins, one draw, and three losses.
The team, under Phillip Smerdon‘s capable stewardship, features several familiar faces. Five of their 16 players – Annabelle Balmer, Chanel Dennis, Emma Williams, Holly Hofmeyr, and Siphokazi Mpontshane – represented KZN Inland u18A last year. Their experience will be vital this time around.
The hosts will also lean on Hofmeyr, who has been exposed to international competition, turning out for the SA u17 team that defeated Zimbabwe in a test series last year before travelling to Malaysia for the Dato Mirnawan Cup, where her star shone brightly.
The trio of Anna Schulze, Taylor Tretheway, and Willow Crawford competed in the B section of the tournament with KZN Inland u18B in 2025. The squad also features the talents of Iminathi Ngxola, Beayu Chiang, Jade van Breda, and Owami Mthethwa, who helped the u16A team clinch a fourth-place finish at the IPT last year.
The squad includes players from five schools: Epworth, St Anne’s, St John’s DSG, TWC, and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High (GHS).
Epworth has the greatest representation with five players: Anna Schulze, Chanel Dennis, Elihle Mchunu, Owami Mthethwa, and Siphokazi Mpontshane.
St Anne’s provides four players – Beayu Chiang, Holly Hofmeyr, Iminathi Ngxola, and Willow Crawford – while St John’s is represented by Annabelle Balmer, Emma Williams, and Jade van Breda.
The last four spots are equally divided between GHS and TWC. Athi Radebe and Mika Khumalo will run out to the cheers of the GHS faithful, while Georgina Hatton and Taylor Trethewey will give TWC fans a reason to follow the team’s progress.
Khumalo, who has excelled in goal for GHS this season, will serve as the last line of defence. In front of her, she’ll have Van Breda, Dennis, Hatton, and Trethewey offering protection.
Schulze, Mchunu, Williams, and Hofmeyr will be at the heart of the midfield battles, while the St Anne’s duo of Chiang and Crawford provide the hosts with additional flexibility in the middle of the park, playing as either defenders or midfielders, depending on the team’s needs.
Last year, Inland’s forwards produced only nine goals. The quintet of Balmer, Radebe, Ngxola, Mthethwa, and Mpontshane will be hoping to improve on that output.
The hosts face a tricky fixture against Northern Gauteng A in the opening match. Last year, when the sides met in a Group B match, Northerns claimed a tight 3-2 win.
Squad:
Anna Schulze (Epworth), Annabelle Balmer (St John’s), Athi Radebe (GHS), Beayu Chiang (St Anne’s), Chanel Dennis (Epworth), Elihle Mchunu (Epworth), Emma Williams (St John’s), Georgina Hatton (TWC), Holly Hofmeyr (St Anne’s), Iminathi Ngxola (St Anne’s), Jade van Breda (St John’s), Mika Khumalo (GHS), Owami Mthethwa (Epworth), Siphokazi Mpontshane (Epworth), Taylor Trethewey (TWC), Willow Crawford (St Anne’s).
