Oranje heads into the Fairtree Super 12 tournament, which they host from 6 August to 9 August, on the hunt for their fourth title of the year, after previously claiming the St Mary’s Waverley Festival, St Anne’s Cup, and All Girls’ Festival trophies earlier in the season.
“There is no easing into the tournament. Every match matters. Every moment counts. Every decision can influence the journey ahead,” Morné Odendaal, the Oranje coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
The gaffer hopes to inspire his charges to a record-breaking seventh Super 12 title. Oranje last lifted the trophy in 2022, shortly before his departure. He returned to the school this year, and they’ve flourished under him, producing a memorable campaign.
The Oranje side features many provincial players and several who have earned selection for national teams. Kirstin Booysen and Marlene du Plessis, who were included in the SA u18A team, headline that list. The duo of Kayla du Preez and Daniella Grobbelaar made the SA u17A squad, while Ellé Cloete and Dané Janse van Vuuren cracked the nod for the SA u16B outfit.
Their only missing star will be Xylia Choene, who will be in Kenya with the SA Fives team during the tournament. However, Oranje has enough depth to cover her absence with a player of quality.
“We are incredibly proud of every one of them,” Odendaal said. “Representing your country is never an individual achievement. It reflects the environment created by teammates who challenge one another every day, coaches who invest in their development, and provincial teams that have pushed each player to new heights.”
This year’s tournament presents the competing teams with a unique challenge. Most of them have players who made the SA u18A team, and they will be needed for the U21 Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT), which runs from 10 to 15 August.
The Super 12 format has been adjusted to accommodate the IPT. It features four pools of three teams. Once those group matches have been completed, the competition will go directly to knockout games in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. That format demands intensity and consistency from the very first whistle.
Oranje is in Pool A, where they take on DSG Makhanda and St Cyprian’s.
“The girls have invested countless hours throughout the season. They have approached every training session with purpose. We are in a good place. Over the past few weeks, we have continued to build on the foundations we established earlier this year while adding new layers to our game. The excitement now comes from seeing those pieces come together against the strongest opposition in the country,” Odendaal said.
Oranje’s success this year and their trophy drought over the past few years add an extra layer of expectation on the team. However, instead of being distracted by the pressure, they aim to use it as fuel.
“Pressure is not something to fear,” Odendaal reckoned. “It is something to embrace.
“It is a privilege earned through preparation and the opportunity to compete against the very best. We have prepared with intent, and now we have the chance to measure ourselves against outstanding teams from across South Africa.”
While lifting the title is foremost on the agenda for Oranje, it is not the only thing they hope to take away from the tournament. Odendaal views the event as an opportunity for every player to discover a little more about themselves, a chance for them to embrace pressure, trust their preparation, and to compete with courage and humility.
“If we do that, regardless of the final result, we will have honoured everything this tournament stands for.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to Oranje for what promises to be an unforgettable few days of exceptional hockey,” Odendaal concluded.
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