National contest right here in Knysna

KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Canoe Polo Club will host the 2018 national championship at the Waterfront over the Easter weekend of 30 March to 1 April.

The interprovincial championship is traditionally hosted by the major provinces that compete in canoe polo – KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng and Western Province.

This year, the turn of Western Province, it was agreed that Knysna should play host because of the enormous amount of effort that has been put into the sport locally and the great facilities that the Waterfront offers, explains organiser Nelson das Fontes.

Eight teams from around the country will compete, he says, for the championship title in three divisions: seniors, u21 and u16.

The games will be played on two pitches in the Knysna harbour and will make for great spectator viewing.

On Friday 30 March from 17:00 there will be warm-up games, and the championship will start on Saturday at 08:00.

Sunday will see the finals being played from 08:00 until about midday.

According to Das Fontes, the sport, which is a discipline of the International Canoe Federation, has grown considerably in South Africa over the last decade and locally there are 20 seniors and 25 juniors who will compete.

“We have a strong group of players and two of our u21 boys – Coban-Dean Suttie and Daniel van Wyk – play for the national team, so we are hoping to upset at least one of the visiting teams.”

Growing interest
The local canoe polo club is part of the Knysna Canoe Club and has been promoting the game seriously for the last four to five years, investing in boats and equipment, coordinating regular training practices, and participating in interprovincial championships.

“The challenge for us is that we build up our young players and then they leave Knysna when they finish school,” says Das Fontes.

“But we have resigned ourselves to being a teething ground for the teams in other provinces.

“There’s definitely a growing interest in the sport because it’s not just fantastic for gaining confidence on the water and getting fit, but it’s also one of those sports that is great for families because seniors and juniors can practise together.”

Visitors to the Knysna Waterfront and fans of canoe water polo can expect a lot of action and excitement over the Easter weekend when Knysna hosts the 2018 national championship. Photos: Supplied

Das Fontes says he is grateful for sponsorship from the Knysna Waterfront and the Knysna Yacht Club and cooperation from The Featherbed Co, which has agreed to park the iconic John Benn ferry at the Featherbed terminal, from where it will operate for the weekend.

“I think that this will be a great spectator event and we’re hoping to draw lots of visitors to Knysna for the championship,” he says.

There will be great fun for all.

Fun for everyone
There will be a Dragon boat tug-of-war challenge for everyone, on Friday from 13:00 – a first and promising awesome fun, according to Das Fontes.

"Restaurants will be offering great deals for lunch so there will be something for everyone," he says.

Find out more
Facebook/Knysna Canoe Polo

Eight teams from around the country will compete.