20 February 2023
Durban High School opened its Blue and Gold Astroturf on Friday evening. After an 18-month build, the school finally has its own on-campus hockey venue.
Set against the Durban night sky, beneath its burning spotlights, the appropriately coloured blue surface of the Astro looked right, as if it was always meant to be there.
The facility was officially opened by DHS Headmaster Tony Pinheiro, Stella Maris Headmistress Joan Schmidt, CEO of the DHS Foundation Damian Judge, and Peter Rawson, the Marketing and Sales Director of Trellidor, as representatives of the four primary fund-raisers for the Blue and Gold Astroturf.
Then, the honour of playing the first game on the Astro went to the DHS staff who faced off against Trellidor. After that, it was the turn of Maris Stella to take on a Maris Stella Old Girls team. Finally, DHS faced off against a DHS Old Boys team.
Another exciting chapter
This marks the beginning of another exciting chapter in the story of DHS hockey. In recent seasons, it has been on a rapid ascent under the excellent leadership of the Director of Hockey, Michael Baker.
A record 36 boys were selected for KZN Coastals team in 2022: one at under-13 level, 13 at under-14 level, 14 at under-16 level, and eight at under-18 level, including Leruo Ditlhakanyane and Bagcine Gqweta, who were both selected to attend the South African men’s under-21 camp. Both also represented South Africa under-18 A against Namibia, while Othembayo Ndondo was chosen for the SA under-18 B side.
Mr Baker, who was coach of the KZN Coastal under-18 A team, was, in addition, named as trainer of the national under-17 side. Meanwhile, five DHS coaches served as KZN reps in 2022.
Blessed with a hard-working, strong coaching staff, bucketloads of talent, and now a superb on-campus playing venue, DHS hockey is set to continue to reach new heights. That record of 36 players that represented KZN Coastal teams in 2022 might not last long.
Striving for new heights
The advantages of having a state-of-the-art on-campus Astroturf will, no doubt, reap benefits for DHS. It will also serve as further motivation for an already highly motivated hockey playing community to strive for new, previously unattained heights.
DHS, in rapid fashion under the leadership of Michael Baker, has already become one of the elite hockey playing schools of South Africa. Don’t expect the players or coaches to be satisfied with that status, however. There is too much talent and too much drive for that to be the case. They’re aiming for the top.
Damian Judge, of the DHS Foundation, commented, half tongue-in-cheek: “DHS has produced more test cricketers than any other school in South Africa, with one cricket field. Imagine what it can do with its own Astroturf! This development is a historic movement for the school and the DHS Foundation Trust is proud to have been able to support the project.”
Speaking on behalf of Trellidor, Marketing Manager Bronwyn Littley said: “Durban High School is one of the last traditional government schools to install its own hockey Astroturf. The Trellidor team is extremely proud to have been part of the drive to provide the DHS boys and Maris Stella girls with the same access to sporting opportunities as other schools.”
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