Since Jenny King has become head coach of the women’s team at Steinhoff Maties Hockey in 1998 she has coached her team to 15 Western Province Grand Challenge titles.
Steinhoff Maties Women won this year’s WPGC when they won both their matches this past weekend. Even with a game left in the season Maties have an unassailable lead over closet competitor Somerset West. This is the fifth consecutive year Maties won the league title and the 31st in total.
“Every title is special because each year you have a new team so a new journey begins,” said King, who also won the league a few times when she played for Maties. “This one is special because a very young group of players developed into a top contending side in a very short space of time and peaked with their best hockey in the match that really counted.”
Maties got 35 points from 13 matches. With one game less, Somerset West has 25. Maties won 11 of their matches and draw twice.
King didn’t want to single out any players from her team, but said that Erin Hunter, Tarryn Glasby, Illse Davids and Quanita Bobbs lead by example and had a great influence on the youngsters. “Last season’s captain Hanli Hattingh to the latter part of the season also played a big role in clinching the title,” King added.
Maties’ last game of the season is Thursday against WPCC.
AFRIKAANS
Steinhoff Maties Hokkie-vroue wen Groot Uitdaagliga
Sedert Jenny King oorgeneem het as afrigter van die Steinhoff Maties se vroue-hokkiespan in 1998 het die klub die Westelike Provinsie se Groot Uitdaagliga al 15 keer gewen.
Vanjaar was die klub se 31ste algehele titel en vyfde agtereenvolgende keer wat Maties Vroue as die beste klub in die provinsie gekroon is. Maties het verlede naweek albei hul wedstryde gewen om die algehele liga-sege te verseker al is die seisoen nog nie klaar nie. Hul voorsprong oor Somerset-Wes is nou so groot dat daar geen manier is vir ‘n ander span om die liga te wen nie.
“Elke titel is spesiaal, want elke jaar het jy ‘n nuwe span en dan begin die reis weer van vooraf,” vertel King, wat as Matie-speler ook verskeie kere die liga gewen het. “Vanjaar was spesiaal, want dit was ‘n baie jong groep spelers wat ontwikkel het in ‘n topklas-span in ‘n kort tydjie.”
Maties het tans 35 punte na 13 wedstryde. Somerset-Wes het een wedstryd minder gespeel, maar net 25 punte. Maties het 11 van hul wedstryde gewen en twee gelykop gespeel.
King wou nie spelers uitsonder nie, maar het wel vertel dat Erin Hunter, Tarryn Glasby, Illse Davids en Quanita Bobbs het met voorbeeld gelei en hul ervaring was uiters waardevol. “Verlede jaar se kaptein Hanli Hattingh het in die tweede deel van die seisoen ook ‘n belangrike rol gespeel in ons titel-sege.”
Maties speel Donderdag hul laaste wedstryd van die seisoen wanneer hulle teen WPCC te staan kom.
