Pretoria High School league low down
May 23, 2008 in Gauteng, High School, News
By Neo Mothiba-St Mary’s DSG sports co-ordinator
The Pretoria School’s league started with a lot of enthusiasm. There was new leadership and new vision.
General
The new committee started off with changes in the league format. The format which the league had been using for the past 10 years was put aside and the new format put in place. The main issue was that the Centralised venues denied other schools the opportunity to host league matches as all matches were hosted by PBHS, PHSG and St Mary’s DSG. The main reason for this centralized venues was that, the schools were central and were previously the only schools who could host a great number of matches in a single weekend.
The new format has brought a few challenges. With the central venues the league committee could control the games better than when they are hosted all over the place. The question of money that has to be paid by the schools to take all teams around Pretoria.
The League
This year we have a huge increase in the number of teams per age group. That was emphasized the previous year by the committee that each school needs to atleast enter a team in all age groups. The numbers grew from 71 to 88 teams. The emphasis being oon the U14 and U15 age groups.
The league finaly got on the way and the speculation surrounding dominance that PBHS and St Albans used have on the league was faiding away, with schools like Willowridge and Rosina gunning for the most prestigious prize in Pretoria school’s basketball. The ladies section is a tough one to call in all age groups from U14 till Open. St Mary’s DSG seem to have regrouped and gone back to the drawing with Acquisition of new coaches like Welcome Mokoena and Bulelwa Zondi of TUKS under the leadership of Neo Mothiba. PHSG have been hard at trying to bring their old girls to come and help out with the coaches while The Glen High School is relying on the tried and tested coaches.
Most of the teams are iun their few last matches and all are anxious to see who they are pitted against in the Semi Finals which will held on the 6th of June and the Finals on the 7th of June. Will the finals follow the same patern as last year or will the new school take over and lay their claim. School’s basketball always brings suprises.
SEMI FINALS @ St Mary’s DSG and PBHS on Friday 6 June 2008
FINALS @ St Mary’s DSG INDOOR on Saturday 7 June 2008
Last years Standings
Boys Open
1st BEES BC
2nd St ALBANS COLLEGE
3rd PBHS A
Girls Open
1st The GLEN HS
2nd JAFTA MAHLANGU
3rd PHSG A
Boys U16
1st PBHS A
2nd BEES BC
3rd PBHS B
Girls U16
1st PHSG A
2nd St MARY’S DSG
3rd WILLOWRIDGE HS
Boys U14
1st WILLOWRIDGE HS
2nd PBHS A
3rd PBHS B
Girls U14
1st The Glen HS
2nd St Mary’s DSG
3rd PHSG A
