This Friday and Saturday, Selborne College will host the prestigious Sterrenberg and Milton Gates water polo tournaments at its facilities, as well as those of Selborne Primary. The annual event brings together top schools from the Eastern Cape and across South Africa, providing a vital developmental benchmark for Border water polo. Local coaches will use the tournament to test selected players ahead of the upcoming Inter-Provincial Tournament.
Selborne College's under-15A team will aim to retain the Sterrenberg Shield, while the under-14A side looks to defend the Milton Gates Plate. The Sterrenberg Shield is named after former Selborne pupil and water polo captain Ricky Sterrenberg, who passed away in 1982, and has been played for since 1987. The Milton Gates Plate was donated by the Gates family in remembrance of the late Milton Gates and has been played for since 2005.
According to Storm Siebert, Head of water polo at Selborne College, the tournament is significant for Border Water polo as it provides an opportunity for local teams to compete against strong opposition. He expressed his anticipation for the weekend's events, stating that it will be exciting to see the level of water polo being played and how the under-15 group fares against teams from outside the province.
The tournament will feature premier schoolboy teams from the Eastern Cape and beyond, including Grey High, Stirling High, and Woodridge in pool A of the Sterrenberg tournament. Pool B includes St Andrews, Northwood, Grey College, and Hudson Park. In the Milton Gates, Selborne U14 are grouped with Grey College, Kingswood, and Grey High.
Buffalo City Schools Water Polo chairman Vaughn Meecham indicated that the tournament will help coaches observe the strengths and weaknesses of the selected players for the upcoming IPT. He stated that the event provides a great opportunity for coaches to assess their players' strengths and areas of improvement.
Meecham also emphasized the importance of tournaments like this in the Buffalo City region, stating that they are vital for the growth and development of players. He noted that Buffalo City schools water polo has a history of producing quality players and running strong polo programs.
The tournament will commence on Friday morning at 9:00 am, with action taking place at both Selborne College and Selborne Primary facilities. The event serves as a crucial developmental benchmark for Border water polo, providing local coaches with valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of their players.
Key points
- Selborne College is set to defend its titles in the Sterrenberg and Milton Gates water polo tournaments.
- The tournament brings together top schools from the Eastern Cape and across South Africa.
- The event serves as a vital developmental benchmark for Border water polo ahead of the Inter-Provincial Tournament.
