KPS hockey tournament beats the cold weather

KNYSNA NEWS - Despite the cold and rainy weather, Saturday's hockey festival held at the Knysna High School sports grounds was a runaway success and a celebration of youth hockey along the Garden Route.

The Knysna Primary School (KPS) hockey tournament welcomed teams from across the region, with participation from U7 to U13 age groups.

Over 580 hockey players took part, representing a wide geographical range, including St Dominic's Priory (Port Elizabeth), Laurus Primary (Oudtshoorn), Outeniqua Primary (George), Greenwood Bay College, Plettenberg Bay Primary, Sedgefield Primary, Riverwood Primary and Knysna Primary (KPS).

Excitement
"The excitement among the young players was infectious - their enthusiasm and energy lit up the field," said Knysna Primary School hockey coach Marandré Brits. She said the enthusiastic cheering from supporters, including parents and coaches, created an encouraging atmosphere that made the day even more special.

Brits admitted it was a daunting task to organise the festival, but said it was wonderful to see such passion and community spirit fuelling every match.

Annual event
KPS aims to establish this tournament as an annual hockey day and encourages all schools to continue supporting the event. "Please diarise the date for next year - we're already looking forward to an even bigger and better day of hockey, fun and connection," said Brits.

"A massive thank you to every staff member of KPS - from teachers and coaches to admin and ground staff - for pouring hours of hard work and dedication into making Saturday's hockey festival such a success.

"The long hours, early mornings, and team effort did not go unnoticed - together, we make a fantastic team."Girls from Outeniqua Primary School in George clean their boots before entering the Astroturf field.