The year that was 2022: Highlights on the sports fields
Taking a look back at local sports news that made headlines this year.
After two years of very little sporting action due to Covid-19 restrictions, 2022 saw a return to some sort of normalcy.
Sports people around Brakpan were happy to get back onto their fields and courts.
Here is a rundown of how the first half of the year went:
January
The year started in a big way for Brakpan’s Michael Amiras. The rugby player made his Currie Cup debut for Griquas in their match against Free State.
This was after spending 2021 playing in Russia.
February
February belonged to golf star Cassey Jarvis. He was part of the South African team that played in the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship in Leopard Creek. At the event, he became the first-ever player to win the championships for two years in a row as he showed his dominance.
The month also saw Dalpark’s Nathan Steyn relocate to Bloemfontein and sign with the Knights. The youngster was excited about having legendary fast bowler Alan Donald as his coach.
March
March saw the launch of Shotokan Karate Club. Despite not having premises the club went ahead and used the Brakpan Swimming Pool as their place to train.
April
Brakpan-based club Netball Freakz had three of their members selected for the Eastern Gauteng U23 team. Nicole Gertenbach, Zanry Gertenbach and Nonna-Jean Roets all played for Easterns.
Jarvis was, once again, selected for the national side. The State Mines Country Club player was selected as part of GolfRSA elite squad players who were to work with for future international tournaments.
May
Brakpan Netball Club won the women’s category of the Winter Bash Netball tournament at the local sports grounds. Villains won the mixed division.
Dalpark’s Chantal Siepker won the Miss Figure category of the International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (IBFF) Pro Diva competition. The victory meant that she is now licensed to compete professionally.
Jarvis was in the news again when he helped South Africa win the African Regional Golf Tournament in Angola.
June
CCC Brakpan Rugby Club started the season slowly but then thrashed neighbours Benoni 43-10 to get their Valke Peregrine League campaign going.
Martial Arts veteran Raymond Phillips was elected as the president of Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMASA). The local man, who also runs Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies, had been previously working as an interim president of MMASA.
Dan Triangle Club’s Christopher Thela received his Karate South Africa colours after putting on an impressive performance at the All Styles Championships in Durban.
Leachville Shooters dominated both the football and netball categories of the Youth Day Sports at the Brakpan Sports Grounds. They won all the age group categories except for the U11 part where Esanzalelo FC emerged victorious.
