VAALPARK – The boys of Hoërskool Vaalpark are on cloud nine after making history by winning the prestigious Virseker Cup League recently.

The school battled it out against teams from four provinces before emerging as champions in a victory that has put Vaalpark rugby firmly on the map.

Jubilation erupted at the school as players, coaches, teachers and supporters celebrated the historic achievement.

For Head of Sport and Marketing Shane van Sittert, the victory means much more than just lifting a trophy.

“We are all excited, from the players to the coaches. As a small school, to achieve what we did is remarkable. It will lift up the boys in the school who don’t do any sport. Vaalpark’s name is back on the map,” he said.

Van Sittert said the team’s hunger and commitment played a major role in their success.

“The team was committed and dedicated. The hunger was there to achieve something we have never done before,” he said.

He said the victory was the result of years of hard work, sacrifice and the growth of rugby at the school.

“Going from two rugby teams to having three teams was built up over many years. Our rugby has grown so much in the last four years. The coaches’ dedication and caring about learners contributed,” he said.

But behind the celebrations was plenty of sweat and sacrifice.

“We are not only coaches to these kids, we are a family. Many tears of joy were shed when we lifted the trophy, and putting that medal around our necks has been nothing but pride and joy,” Van Sittert said.

The team also went through intense training sessions as they prepared for the crucial matches.
“Practices were not always easy. We stayed motivated as coaches and focused,” he added.

Van Sittert singled out Zozi Luthango and vice-captain Bafana Ntuli for helping keep the team together throughout the campaign.

He also praised Jaydon Delport, who produced a match-winning moment by slotting a penalty in the dying minutes.

“They kept the team together throughout the course. We would also like to give a special shout-out to Jaydon Delport, who slotted the penalty in the last minutes to win the game,” he said.

Now that the celebrations have settled, Vaalpark is already looking ahead.

Van Sittert said the school hopes the historic victory will inspire more learners to take up rugby and help grow the sport even further.

“We hope to get more learners involved in the sport. This special win certainly changed players’ lives,” he said.

For the Vaalpark boys, the cup is more than silverware – it is proof that a small school can dream big, work hard and beat the odds.