By Luando Magwaza and Wandile Shange
With the end of the 2021 academic year drawing to a close, so too did the Winter Season. A time in the school calendar that excites many College boys, with the flair on Papes Astro and the “big hits” on Satan’s Table being on display. The final fixture was set to be played against Glenwood, and this finality stretched more to the 6th Form of 2021, as it would be the final fixture where they would get the chance to play with the Large White Badge on their chest, and support the 1st XI and the 1st XV as College Boys.
With this in mind, we thought it would be special to document what some of those with the honour and privilege of representing College on Papes and Goldstones respectively, may be thinking or feeling leading up to the game and straight after:
Callum Osborne (1st XI Hockey Captain; U18A Inland)
With this being a return fixture and Glenwood being the “underdogs” heading into the game, does that affect your mentality as a team heading into the game in any way?
“Well seeing as we had a tougher game last week and it didn’t go the way we wanted it to go. We left things to the last minute and got away with a 3-2 victory but other than that, our mentality stays the same. We stay focussed on our process that we’ve built up this week and we give it a bash for our last game of the year.”
What qualities and strengths does your team possess that you think will best help in your performance today?
“As much as we are driven by our practices, the boys have strong minds and big hearts. They play with their hearts and they never give up until the final whistle, so I am sure that the boys will pull through.”
Are there any fond memories you have of the 1st XI led by Brad Sherwood in 2017, having been a waterboy for them back in 2nd Form?
“My first memory from that year was walking into the prefects’ study and having Sherwood and the team standing in front of us looking rather intimidating, and then to watch them win against DHS with Sherwood himself scoring 7 goals and the team winning 15-0, was a very high standard that they set for us.”
Ayakha Mthalane (1st XI Hockey Vice Captain; U18A Inland; U21 SA Hockey)
What is your favourite “mantra” or something of the sorts and how is it motivating you going into this game?
“My favourite mantra is, ‘Your attitude determines your altitude.’ This basically means that our attitude going into this game has to be positive and it will ultimately determine how far we go in this game. We also don’t want the opposition to get as close to us as they did last week in terms of goals.”
Having faced a few setbacks and disappointments in your last two years at College, how important or how much did it mean to you to be invited to the SA U21 Hockey Camp?
“It definitely is a great achievement especially since I’m only 18 and this is an U21 squad. It also makes it an even greater achievement to know that I’m trusted enough to go to the squad and perform at an international level. It was unexpected obviously but it is an opportunity I’m really grateful for.”
On that point of having recently been invited to the SA U21 Hockey Camp, do you think that the calibre of the College 1st XI compares in any way to the talent you came across?
“I think in some aspects it does (compare well) because there are old College boys in the camp like Grant Pio, Jared Campbell, Sihle Ngcongo. I’ve played with some of these guys when I was in grade 10 so that did also help me in terms of playing better.”
Thomas Conolly (1st XI Hockey Vice Captain; U18A Inland; Deputy Head Prefect)
Being what many would describe as the epitome of what a College Boy is, how have you managed this year in the 1st XI, with the added difficulties and complications of COVID?
A College Boy is simply someone who loves his school in all aspects and I believe that at this point, that’s exactly what we matrics are, and it’s what I’ve been from the very first day I walked into this school. I remember being in 2nd Form, supporting the 1st Team from the sidelines and praying that one day, I’d also be in the position to be wearing that 1st XI jersey. Up till now, that’s what has driven me. It’s what has driven me to play my very best, even in the face of adversity.
Unfortunately, we haven’t had much of an opportunity to play, what with our season being cut short and whatever else, but ultimately, it is what it is. We’ve made the most of it and it is a journey I’ve been proud to take.
Who inspired you most in the 1st XI of 2017, how do you model your game after him and what qualities would you want a member of the U14A to model after you?
I remember, very strongly, from when we were in 14A, Jared Campbell, who was a Grade 11 at the time and went onto becoming a Deputy Head Prefect in his matric year. With regards to his hockey, one thing I strive to do which he did exceptionally well was being a hard-worker. If you work hard, you leave EVERYTHING out on the field and give it your all, you really are showing your pride in and dedication to the school and I think that’s a very important thing.
With him becoming a Deputy Head Prefect and having known him personally a little bit, I also saw through him that being a good person comes first, and your hockey or any success that comes with it – that comes second.
If there’s something that I want some 14A boys to learn from me and my hockey, is to play with passion, to play with pride, to play while giving it your all so that you are leaving everything out on the astro but before all this, to know that being a good person comes first.
What is a favoured anecdote you can share from your time playing hockey here at College that never fails to bring a smile to your face?
Well, the thing is, there is too many, we might quite literally be here the whole day if I were to try and pick just one special memory.
Three that do come to mind are:
- I remember early on in our journey that we were a good U14A side but we went through a rough patch during that year. And we looked to improving our fitness to rid ourselves of it, because good fitness for a team can fix almost any problem a team has. So, I remember our whole team having to meet at five o’clock in the one morning, out on the steep hill that is Princess Margaret Drive and before even starting our fitness, Mr Emerson, our coach, pointing to a tree and saying, “That’s the ‘chunda’ tree, meaning that if you become too sick from running, that’s where you’ll go to vomit…” and a few of us visited that special tree during our fitness time. Even though it was horrible in the moment, I look back now and smile because of the work we all put in and how because of it, we overcame our rough patch.
- Then, moving up the ranks, a memorable moment would have to be my first 1st Team Cap since I looked forward to it since the day I arrived at College, to put on that jersey with the White Badge. It was a fixture against Northwood in my Grade 11 year and man, did we play a fantastic game, we won 4-1, probably should’ve been 4-0, but that’s not the point. The point is that it was a hugely memorable game for me in which getting a debut goal was the cherry on top. The debut for the Red Army will always be a special memory for me.
- And then lastly, earlier this year, we faced Hilton, up at a tournament, very early on in the season in fact and we were the underdogs going into the game. It’s their 150th next year, so of course they’ve put a lot of effort, and money, into building up their 1st Teams and defying all the odds, we won 2-1. I think that’s one of the biggest wins, accompanied by one of our best performances where we showed true College passion and fire.
Corbin Thunder (1st XV Rugby Captain; U18 Craven Week)
With this being a return fixture and Glenwood being the “underdogs” heading into the game, does that affect your mentality as a team heading into the game in any way?
For my team and I, it doesn’t necessarily affect our mentality. We’ve got the same mind-set we had going into the game last week, it’s Glenwood after all, and on the day, whoever wants it more, gets the victory. There’s a long history between College and Glenwood and I’m sure it will be a good game on Goldstones today.
For this particular game, with it being the last of your College Career and everything else associated with this fixture, how are you getting your boys fired up for the battle?
It’s my job as the captain to get the boys’ mind-set right but with it being the last game, the last dance, the last time we’ll be going onto Goldstones wearing the College jersey, that in itself is enough to motivate the boys to do their very best.
Going into the season, how special was it for you to be the second Thunder to be leading the 1st XV onto Goldstones and with it being the end of the season, what do you want College to remember about Corbin Thunder?
For the first part of that question, about being the second Thunder to lead the 1st XV, it means everything to me. I remember thinking to myself as a little boy, 11 or 12 ish, seeing my brother lead the 1st Team out, that that’s where I want to be when I’m in matric so it’s a very, very special season for me and is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
On the second part, I don’t necessarily want College to remember Corbin Thunder, I want College to remember my family name: Thunder. That’s my identity and I carry the Thunder-flag high, and along with remembering my surname, I want the College history books to remember the 1st XV of 2021.
James Beauclerk (1st XV Rugby; Head Prefect)
Much like Ross Williamson and Ntuthuko Mchunu before you, as the Head Prefects, how does it make you feel that with that privilege, you are also a pivotal player for the 1st XV?
“I think just like those two fine gentlemen, being the head prefect of Maritzburg College is something that every boy dreams of and to be in this position is absolutely honourable. Playing in the 1st XV and having people that look up to you in the team is a privilege and I pride myself in the fact that I can offer a calm head in the team and give the boys some reassurance.
As we matrics fondly remember the #10 for the 1st XV during our 2nd Form year, Jaco Truter, what is something that you want this year’s 2nd Form to remember about you or what is something that you would want to impart unto them, in how you play, how you carry yourself or anything along those lines?
“Well, being a role model to the youngsters is something that we 1st team players take very seriously. We are often being told by the coaches that the person who you are off the field will have a big impact on who you are on the field. At the end of the day, rugby is a team sport and nobody is going to want to play with someone that they don’t get along with.”
What are a few words that you would like to share with our 6th Form brothers in our “Final Act” of Goldstones Rugby?
“It’s been a good innings, a good five years, I’d say. I can still remember the early days of shouting on Basher Ridge and throwing our bashers in the hot sun and now we’re here and I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. I think we just have to cherish these last few moments that we have together because these are the memories that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives.”
Siphozola Radu (1st XV Rugby; U18 Craven Week)
Coming from the Eastern Cape, what were the biggest changes that you saw with College and Goldstones Rugby and the atmosphere surrounding the two?
“Coming from the Eastern Cape, I’ve had to adjust to a lot of changes since I’ve been here. A big one is the level of intensity surrounding rugby. The boys of College are seriously passionate about the game of rugby.”
How did making your debut last year for the 1st XV pave the way for your season this year?
“Coming from the 2nd Team and making my debut appearance off the bench was a really special moment. There were quite a lot of setbacks for me as well and I believe that setbacks set you up for major comebacks so that really paved the way for me and drove me to work harder and now I’m in the starting XV and it feels great.”
When you arrived during our 4th Form year, obviously having a successful season in the U16A rugby side and being one of the regulars, did you imagine that you would garner as much success wearing the White Badge, being one of the crowd favourites and recently, being named in the U18 Craven Week Squad?
“I really didn’t expect it but as time went on this season, I kept on believing in myself and working harder and the results speak for themselves as I’ve made the U18 Craven Week squad. I never really imagined that it would happen but I thank God for everything that I have and all glory to Him.”
“In true College Hockey fashion, the 1st XI didn’t disappoint, they played their game superbly and comfortably won against the Glenwood hockey team 5-0. In front of all the boys, particularly us matrics, Captain Osborne and the Red Army made us truly proud and made this final game, one to remember.
On Goldstones, none of us were prepared for the fate that befell our rugby heroes as they suffered a narrow loss to Glenwood in the final seconds of the game, 17-19. Although inevitably having the embers of their fire snuffed out at the end of the game, we as matrics can attest to that the 1st XV brought the fire to the game. From the get-go and throughout the entire game, Captain Fantastic and his battalion of soldiers took the fight straight to the Glenwood team, never failing to excite the boys on Basher Ridge with their passion and hunger for victory. The scoreboard may say that Maritzburg College lost, but those who were there on the day know and unequivocally agree to that the 1st XV were the winners on the day, winning our hearts for the last time.”