Momentum crucial : 2017-02-27
Jan Abraham Venter (Maties No12) getting tackled by the NMMU – 2017 Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff, FNB and STEERS. Monday 20 February 2017
FNB MATIES vs FNB NNMU-Madibaz at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Photo by: Liam Hamer Nel
After four games in the Varsity Cup series Maties are on top of the standings.
Maties and Shimlas both have 14 points after four matches, but Maties are first thanks to a better points difference. After the defeat against Tuks in Pretoria, Maties won matches against Wits, Pukke and NMMU.
Braam Venter, captain against Pukke and inside-centre for Maties believes it was very important to build momentum with the three consecutive home games. “In addition to the momentum we have built as a team with the victories, it also helps a lot with the players’ confidence with the three away games that now comes. It was not only important to win the three games, but we also really wanted to win in-front off our home crowd.”
Since the first match against Tuks the Maties sustained multiple injuries. Venter was captain against Pukke, because Beyers de Villiers had to retire after he sustained concussion against Tuks and Craig Barry was injured against Wits. Fortunately Venter brought an end to the captain’s jinx and Barry was back in action this week.
“Regular injuries in different positions does break the momentum, but the guys on the bench are more than ready and able to replace the injured player. We are privileged with a lot of depth in our squad.”
Maties’ next match is Monday against Ikeys on the Green Mile. For both teams it is always more than just another game. “What happened before and scores of the past means nothing. Everyone brings something extra for this game,” Venter said.
After the match against Ikeys two more road games against Shimla and CPUT and the last game before the semi-finals in the Danie Craven Stadium against UJ.
Maties oorheers eerste Varsity Sports-bergfietsuitdaging : 2016-10-03
Photo credit Robert Ward
Fietsryers van die Universiteit Stellenbosch het albei dae van die eerste Varsity Sports-bergfietsuitdaging wat die afgelope naweek in die Kaapse Wynlande aangebied is, oorheers.
Maties het hard gewerk op dag een en moes Sondag net hul voorsprong verdedig om seker te maak dat hulle met die louere wegstap. Die finale uitslag het die Stellenbosch-studente se oorheersing weerspieël: Maties se kumulatiewe tyd oor die twee dae was 4:47.50, met UP-Tuks in die tweede plek (4:53.33) en die Universiteit van Kaapstad derde (4:56.14).
Die Maties se spankaptein, CP van Wyk, en Ian Lategan het Sondag eerste oor die wenstreep gery met “Dis altyd lente in die Boland” wat in die agtergrond speel. Hul derde spanmaat was Jacques Lloyd.
Van Wyk het die resies geniet en dink hulle het goed as ‘n span saamgewerk. Hy is baie opgewonde oor hierdie geleentheid vir studente-fietsryers om uit te blink.
Maties se vrouespan – wat bestaan het uit Vera Adrian, Mariske Strauss en Nicky Giliomee – het die wenstreep saam oorgesteek en was baie entoesiasties oor die ervaring.
“Dit was ‘n ongelooflike resies in ‘n baie mooi omgewing en dit was baie lekker om in hierdie formaat saam te ry,” het hulle gesê. Hulle tyd oor twee dae was 5:32.34, met UP-Tuks in die tweede plek (6:26.28).
Maties Sport-bestuurder Candice Appollis William is baie trots op die Maties-fietsryers. Die Matiespan het vroeër vanjaar ook die USSA-kompetisie gewen en het nou hul reputasie as een van die beste universiteitsfietsryklubs in die land bevestig.
“Die manier waarop hulle die kompetisie oorheers het, bewys dat ons hoëprestasie-fietsryprogram werk,” het sy gesê.
Sean Surmon, hoof van Maties Sport se Hoëprestasie-eenheid, was ook by die La Paris-wynlandgoed om die fietsryers te verwelkom.
“Hierdie fietsryers is uitstekende ambassadeurs vir Maties Sport,” het hy gesê.
Alumni en ander ryers kon ook aan die kompetisie deelneem en ‘n universiteit benoem om punte vir daardie universiteit te verdien. Maties het hierdie kompetisie ook gewen.
Photo credit Robert Ward
MHP Player/Athlete Profile: Erin Hunter : 2015-05-28
Erin Hunter
This is the first in a series on profiles of MHP Athletes/Players.
Erin Hunter has been playing for Steinhoff Maties first team since 2011. She has represented the South African u21 team for three years from 2011 to 2013.
The former learner from Rand Park High School in Randburg, Johannesburg has played provincial hockey at all age groups and on a senior level.
In 2014 Hunter graduated with a BSc Chemistry and Polymer Science with mathematics at third year level and currently she is doing her Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) also at the Stellenbosch University.
Hunter made her senior national debut on 18 January 2014 against the best team in the world, Holland. Sadly she got injured when she tore both quad muscles in the game and was out for about five months. She did manage to get 12 since recovering from her injury though.
Hunter was a key member of the Maties team that finished fourth at the Varsity Hockey Tournament. Maties are also the current USSA champions. She was also part of the Maties team who has won the Western Province Grand Challenge title for the past few years.
Along with achieving more success with Maties in the 2015 season, Hunter has her eye on a spot on the national team as well. Hunter hopes to make the squad for the World League tournament in June. She will be focused on securing her permanent place in the national team to get her first taste of the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.
Hunter has been chosen for the SA team for the World League.
Varsity Hockey big learning curve for Steinhoff Maties Women : 2015-05-28
Quanita Bobbs
Not being able to successfully defend their Varsity Hockey title is a big disappointment for the players of the Steinhoff Maties Women’s Hockey team, but coach Jenny King is already looking forward to the future.
Maties lost in the semi-final of the Varsity Hockey tournament to Kovsies on Monday night in Johannesburg. Maties finished fourth overall in this year’s tournament. Kovsies will play against UJ in the final. “The team hates loosing, but I am not particularly disappointed in the semi-final result as the team played top hockey, the Kovsies are far more experienced and a better team than us, so a great performance on the night sets us in good stead for our USSA preparations. We have also identified areas we need to improve in order to match their strengths and this we will do over the next 50 days,” said King.
According to King the big difference between the two teams – Maties and Kovsies – was experience. “Kovsies are at the end of a five-year cycle and the experience of their players showed. Maties was a relatively inexperienced side (hence inconsistent performances) – we had 8 first years. We will have to work at sustaining top performances over eight matches,” said King.
The second weekend of Varsity Hockey was a rollercoaster ride of performances from Maties. “The team’s performances were inconsistent with regards to level of play and focus, this we will have to address through the league matches ahead. However the team played their best hockey when under pressure to perform and the tournament has given us a good idea of where we lie nationally with regards to University Sport.”
The next big challenge for Maties will be the national students tournament where they are also the defending champions. The tournament will be held in Pietermaritzburg from 29 June to 3 July 2015.
AFRIKAANS
Varsity Hokkie groot leerkurwe vir Steinhoff Maties Vroue
Om nie hul Varsity Hokkie-titel suksesvol verdedig nie, was ‘n groot teleurstelling vir die spelers van die Steinhoff Maties Vroue-hokkiespan, maar afrigter, Jenny King is reeds besig om te fokus op die toekoms.
Maties het in die halfeindronde van die toernooi teen Kovsies verloor. Die Vrystaters speel nou teen UJ in die eindstryd. “Die span haat om te verloor, maar ek is nie besonder teleurgesteld in die uitslag nie. Die span het goeie hokkie speel. Die Kovsies is baie meer ervare en ‘n beter span as ons. Ek is positief met die oog op USSA. Daar is natuurlik areas waar ons moet verbeter en daarop sal ons fokus oor die volgende 50 dae,” het King vertel.
Volgens King was die groot verskil tussen die twee spanne – Maties en Kovsies – ervaring. “Kovsies is aan die einde van ‘n vyf-jaar siklus en die ervaring van hul spelers het gewys. Maties is ‘n relatiewe onervare span – ons het 8 eerste jaars. Ons sal moet werk aan die handhawing van top prestasies oor agt wedstryde.”
Die tweede naweek van Varsity Hockey was ‘n wipplank-rit van vertonings vir Maties. “Die span se vertonings was nie konsekwent nie met betrekking tot vlak van die spel en fokus, dit sal ons moet aanspreek deur die ligawedstryde wat voorlê. Maar die span het hul beste hokkie gespeel toe hulle onderdruk was. Die toernooi het ons ‘n goeie idee gegee van waar ons nasionaal is met betrekking tot Universiteit Sport.”
Die volgende groot uitdaging vir Maties sal die nasionale studente-toernooi waar hulle is ook die verdedigende kampioene is. Die toernooi is in Pietermaritzburg van 29 Junie tot 3 Julie 2015.