HeronBridge College hosts second invitational and development day

The invitational brought double the number of teams, compared to last year, for a competitive sporting festival.

April 11, 2023

Khomotso Makgabutlane 1 minute read

Dainfern College player Hannah Wells passes the ball forward. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

HeronBridge College recently hosted more than 40 schools for a second year of sporting action.

Krugersdorp High School hockey player Onewang Mogatle keeps possession of the ball on the astroturf. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Logan Trace Marupen and Eleni Zigiriadis from St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls are ready for their next hockey match. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

The 2023 edition of the Standard Bank HeronBridge Invitational saw schools such as Fourways High School, Beaulieu College, Dainfern College, and Roedean School participate in hockey, netball and rugby.

Zaakir Stemmet attends the 2023 Standard Bank HeronBridge Invitational sports festival. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Alma Mater International School wing defender Zoe Ndlovu rushes to grab the ball. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Connor Harper goes to block Rebaone Motshepe of Krugersdorp High School. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

The festival games were not the only activities taking place. Close to 300 preparatory school learners from several under-resourced schools participated in a sports development day. Well-known national rugby, netball and hockey players facilitated the day with many activities. These included rugby players Mac Masina and Henno Mentz, hockey’s Owen Mvimbi and Siya Nolutshungu, and former Proteas netball captain Erin Burger.

Hockey players from St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls are in high spirits for the 2023 Standard Bank HeronBridge Invitational. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Seleka Tau from Fourways High School dribbles the ball past Krugersdorp High School defenders. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Festival coordinator from Eva Travel, Karen Erasmus, marketing consultant at HeronBridge College, Natasha Marot, head of commercial marketing at Standard Bank, Darius Rasool and head of marketing at HeronBridge College, Candice Gibson at the 2023 Standard Bank HeronBridge Invitational. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

The head of commercial marketing at Standard Bank, Darius Rasool, applauded the school’s efforts in their involvement of children at a grassroots level. “There are many sports festivals all over South Africa but there are very few that are as intentional about sports development as the HeronBridge Invitational,” he said.
“Getting into the grassroots of sports development is what we want to be part of, and we are proud to be associated with a sports festival that is changing young lives through sport.”

HeronBridge College learners Danielle Driessel and Emily Stevens. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

High school learners Agapé Ledimo, Kim Sitoe and Oprah Ugbobuaku show support for their schools at the 2023 Standard Bank HeronBridge Invitational. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

In the festival itself, hockey, netball and rugby matches were fiercely contested. There were also scouts keeping their eye on prospective future sports stars.
First-team rugby head coach at HeronBridge College Flash Malinga said, “I think the turnout has been excellent. The standard of rugby has been of great quality.”

Fourways High School sports players Gia Reynolds and Jordan van de Werken are ready for their sports matches at HeronBridge College. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Timothy Reynders and Rebekah Warren from HeronBridge College. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

The head of hockey at HeronBridge Sherilee van Coppenhagen said, “We’ve had 39 teams for the festival. We have a team from Eswatini [formerly Swaziland] which brings an awesome international vibe. There are also teams from Paarl, Welkom and Durban that are here too.
“It’s just been a good quality of hockey. Most of the teams are first teams here and some are second teams as well. It’s been a competitive atmosphere between all the teams.”