Some tough decisions had to be made, resulting in some bold and interesting calls for the SuperSport Schools Hockey “Class of 2026“, which was announced on Monday afternoon.
The highly anticipated awards ceremony will span three episodes of Hockey on 216.
The winners in the girls’ section will be announced on Wednesday, 28 October, while the boys’ winners will be revealed on Friday, 30 October.
An expert team at SuperSport Schools decided who the nominees and winners would be, taking into account the players’ in-season form, their performances at the SASHOC National Weeks, plus other achievements that may have caught the eye this year.
In the U19 section, there are five categories for both boys and girls: Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Forward of the Year, and the prestigious Player of the Year.
There is also a place in the spotlight for U16 players, with the “Most Promising Player of the Year“, introduced in 2025, focusing on the country’s best up-and-coming talent.
Other awards include the Tournament of the Year, the Coaches of the Year, and the Teams of the Year.
THE NOMINEES (Note* – each category has three nominations)
BOYS
Player of the Year
Litha Kraai (SACS)
Ryde Brissett (Clifton College)
Mohlodi Maseko (SACS)
Forward of the Year
Luka Meets (Parel Vallei)
Luc Boyall (Northwood)
Caleb Cilliers (Paul Roos)
Midfielder of the Year
Mohlodi Maseko (SACS)
Ryde Brissett (Clifton College)
Luca Jordaan (Parel Vallei)
Defender of the Year
Kade Lottering (Jeppe)
Logan Lackay (Paul Roos)
Stephan Malan (Parel Vallei)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Arin Spiller (Rondebosch Boys’ High)
Ruan du Toit (King Edward VII)
Morero Gumbi (Pretoria Boys High)
Most Promising Player of the Year
Santiago Hykes (Hilton College)
Hlompho Morake (DHS)
Matthew Jung (Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge)
GIRLS
Player of the Year
Lenique Vogel (Waterkloof)
Kerrin Gillies (Collegiate)
Sarah-Ellen Groenewald (Rhenish)
Forward of the Year
Alanda Rademeyer (Paarl Gimnasium)
Jamie da Silva (St Mary’s DSG Kloof)
Daniella Grobbelaar (Oranje)
Midfielder of the Year
Lucy Holderness (DSG Makhanda)
Lenique Vogel (Waterkloof)
Sarah-Ellen Groenewald (Rhenish)
Defender of the Year
Kerrin Gillies (Collegiate)
Kirstin Booysen (Oranje)
Ella Bowyer (St Mary’s DSG Kloof)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Peyton Marais (Curro Durbanville)
Annika Kloppers (Menlopark)
Salome-Rose Oosthuizen (Collegiate)
Most Promising Player of the Year
Bonolo Madalane (Beaulieu College)
Charley-Rose Boyall (Our Lady Fatima)
Zintle James (St Anne’s DSG)
COACHES
BOYS
Michael Baker (Paul Roos Gimnasium)
Harald Siyaya (Westville Boys’ High)
Keegan Hezlett (DHS)
GIRLS
Michael Abrahams (Collegiate)
Morné Odendaal (Oranje)
Omari Pienaar-Geyer (Waterkloof)
Team of the Year
Girls
Collegiate Girls’ High
Oranje
Reddam House Constantia
Boys
Paul Roos Gimnasium
Grey High School
Northwood School
Event/Tournament of the Year
Fairtree Super 12
St Mary’s Waverley Festival
Hibbert Shield
Belgotex Girls Challenge
