KZN Coastal A capped off an incredible week by lifting the U16 boys’ SASHOC National Week title in Hilton on Sunday.
The KZN outfit defeated Boland A 1-0 in a penalty shootout after the final finished in a 2-2 draw after regulation time.
The win capped off an unbeaten campaign for coach Keegan Hezlett‘s side, who had ended the group stage atop Pool A with four wins and a draw from their five matches.
Boland A was also unbeaten in pool games, but they couldn’t replicate the feat achieved by the class of 2024, which claimed top honours in Bloemfontein.
On their way to the title game, both teams were dominant over the first four days of the tournament.
In the semifinals, Coastal A met their provincial rivals, KZN Inland A, and overcame a 0-2 deficit to win 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Boland, meanwhile, edged out Western Province A 3-2 in another entertaining final four encounter.
After those gripping semi-finals, hopes were high that the final would deliver fireworks. In front of their home supporters, KZN Coastal made a cracking start and opened the scoring in the sixth minute, with captain Cameron White scoring from a penalty corner.
Itani Doyi made it 2-0 for coach Hezlett’s troops in the second chukka, but Boland was quick to register a response, with their captain, Luke van der Merwe, replying five minutes later.
Momentum swung back and forth in the second half, with both teams creating opportunities in the third chukka, but unable to add to their scores.
With time ticking down, Boland levelled in the 58th minute, with Skyler Goodwin scoring against the run of play, to make it 2-2.
Neither side was able to conjure up a late winner, which sent the contest into a penalty shootout.
With goalkeeper Bonga Dlomo performing heroically in the Coastal goal and pulling off some brilliant saves, Boland couldn’t convert any of their five shootout attempts.
Coastal also struggled in the shootout, but Luke Lambert netted, and that was enough to seal the win.
In the bronze medal match, Western Province A edged out KZN Inland A 1-0 thanks to a strike by Max Fourie in the second chukka.
Eastern Province A placed fifth after a comfortable 3-0 win over Southern Free State A.
Last year’s champion, Southern Gauteng A, mustered only seventh place, while Northern Gauteng B was relegated after losing 0-2 to KZN Inland B.
Results
KZN Coastal A (1) 2-2 (0) Boland
Western Province A 1-0 KZN Inland A
Easter Province A 3-0 Southern Free State A
Southern Gauteng A 4-1 Northern Gauteng A
Southern Gauteng B 3-1 Western Province B
KZN Inland B 2-0 Northern Gauteng B
Individual awards:
Most valuable goalkeeper: Reynardt Breytenbach (Southern Free State A)
Most valuable defender: Thomas Henn (Boland A)
Most valuable midfielder: Hlompho Morake (KZN Coastal A)
Most valuable striker: Santi Matroos (KZN Inland A)
Player of the tournament: Santi Matroos (KZN Inland A)
SA Schools u16A
Ryan Willis (Northwood, KZN Coastal), Luke Lambert (Westville Boys’ High, KZN Coastal), Bonga Dlomo (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Cameron White (Northwood, KZN Coastal), Oxolo Ntlali (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Hlompho Morake (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Ithani Doyi (Glenwood High, KZN Coastal), Thomas Henn (Paarl Boys’ High, Boland), Eli Baxter (Paarl Boys’ High, Boland), Luke van der Merwe (Paul Roos Gimnasium, Boland), Konrad Gouws (Paul Roos Gimnasium, Boland), Jess Sauls (Hilton College, KZN Inland), Santi Matroos (Hilton College, KZN Inland A), Matthew Jung (Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge, Southern Gauteng), Tanner Napier (Home schooled, Southern Gauteng), Neo Nkoane (Jeppe High School for Boys, Southern Gauteng), Michael Meiring (St Alban’s College, Northern Gauteng A), Reynardt Breytenbach (Grey College, Southern Free State).
SA Schools u16B
Tyler Morilly (Fairmont High, Western Province), Seth George-Louis (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province), Luke Presence (SACS, Western Province), Cayden Williams (SACS, Western Province), Samuel Woods (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Michael Gillies (Grey High, Eastern Province), Athi Tungata (St Andrew’s College, Eastern Province), Sbusiso Mbamba (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Unako Swana (Durban High School, KZN Coastal), Ahluma Stefane (Westville Boys’ High, KZN Coastal), Zayd Mohanlall (St Alban’s College, Northern Gauteng A), Shaun Sibiya (Grey College, Southern Free State A), Delon Blignaut (Jeppe High School for Boys, Southern Gauteng B), James Buys (Michaelhouse, KZN Inland), Nthabiseng Ntshingila (Maritzburg College, KZN Inland A), Ryan Bezuidenhout (Paul Roos Gimnasium, Boland), Bryan Hardine (Paarl Gimnasium, Boland), Justin Fairley (St John’s College, Southern Gauteng).
