KNYSNA NEWS - Eight youngsters from Knysna are already dreaming about their stint in the World Canoe Polo Championships in Ireland later this year after shining in the SA Championships in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) recently.
The Eden Canoe Polo Ladies team came within a whisker of a major upset on the weekend of 9 and 10 March at Shongweni Dam in KwaZulu-Natal when they went down to the KZN ladies in the dying seconds of extra time during the semifinals.
The heated encounter, in which players from both sides received yellow cards as tensions reached fever pitch, was drawn 3-3 at the end of normal time, forcing extra time playoff.
Strong challengers
The much-favoured KZN ladies appeared shocked by the strong challenge from these young rookies from the Southern Cape whose oldest player is just 16 years old. Showing a composure normally exhibited by vastly more experienced teams, the Knysna-based combination matched the physicality and astuteness of their upcoast opponents stroke for stroke, ball for ball.
It took the KZN women, fielding players who have represented the country in the national team at World Championship level, the whole of normal time plus all but 15 seconds of extra time, to find the winning goal.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, the Knysna girls were rewarded a bronze U21 position and all those catching the eyes of the national team selectors gained a place in the SA U18 team to represent the nation at the World Championships later this year.
Locals in SA team
Eden players in contention are Carla Collins (Knysna Montessori School); Taya and Kyla Hanton (both at Oakhill School); Tineke Cooper (York High School); and Jade Das Fontes (Glenwood High School).
Meanwhile, the Western Cape U21 boys, featuring three Knysna players, successfully defended their U21 title as SA champions beating KZN in the final of the same championship. Joshua Smith (Oakhill), Aiden Carr (Knysna Montessori) and Jack Ligeti (Oakhill) all notched high up in the individual seeding and will also be in the SA U18 team.
With the unavailability of Knysna's stars Daneel van Wyk and Corban dean Suite, Nelson das Fontes was the only Knysna A player selected for the Western Province (WP) team this year. Highly rated as a goalkeeper, Das Fontes helped the WP team secure a bronze medal in the men's open division.
20% growth in the sport
The event organisers had to map out a second pitch in the Shongweni Dam because of the huge number of entries for the event. There were eventually 65 games played with 19 teams and 129 players, making it the biggest ever SA Championships. The organising committee was delighted to report that the discipline of canoe polo continues to grow year on year and there was a 20% increase on entries from last year.
This amazing group of kids is organising different activities to raise funds to be able to attend the World Championships in Ireland as there are no official funds available for this. They are organizing the Zombie Run (22 March), a Dragon Boat & Spitbraai with wine auction evening, and they also have tickets to an amazing raffle to the value of R25 000 that involves kindly donated vouchers from different Knysna-based businesses such as Caffe Mario, Ocean Odyssey, Pezula Hotel, Featherbed Co, Drydock, and Garden Route Animal Sanctuary.
If you would like to help them with the fundraising, please contact Tim 071 683 4133 or Nina 082 562 6810.
In the SA team to play in Ireland later this year are Taya Hanton (Oakhill), Tineke Cooper (York High), Joshua Smith (Oakhill), Carla Collins (Knysna Montessori), Aiden Carr (Knysna Montessori), Jade das Fontes (Glenwood High), Jack Ligeti (Oakhill) and Kyla Hanton (Oakhill). Photo: Supplied
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