The Overstrand Sport Festival has become one of the highlights on the calendar of sporting enthusiasts in the area, and this year’s event did not disappoint. On Saturday, 11 March 2017, Overstrand municipal councillors, accompanied by the Executive Mayor Rudolph Smith, officials, participants and supporters gathered at the Gansbaai Spaces for Sport Facility to enjoy a day of friendly competition in the codes of netball, rugby, soccer and cricket hosted by the Overstrand Municipality.
Once again, the increasingly popular tournament drew a capacity crowd who were treated to a full programme of activities and a spectacular display of the Overstrand’s most prolific sporting talents.
The Festival was opened in exciting, energetic fashion with a march-pass involving the competing teams led by the Blompark Minstrels who entertained spectacularly with their spirited dance moves and lively carnival tunes.
Cllr Riana de Coning then got proceedings underway with a warm welcome, followed by the official opening address by Deputy Mayor Ald Dudley Coetzee where he remarked, “Occasions like this give our communities opportunities to discover and develop their sporting talents. Sport is a great way to bring people together and promote social cohesion.”
As insightful a statement as that was, it was Coetzee’s loud trumpet on his Vuvuzela to mark the start of the games that really got the crowd going.
The sensational round of playoffs in the day’s final round of competition was underscored by equal measures of grit, determination and amazing capabilities that were clearly evident amongst all the teams involved.
There were no surprises when for the fifth consecutive year an ecstatic Hawston side once again emerged as the undisputed ‘Kings of Cricket’ after keeping Kleinmond Cricket Club at bay to a riveting 7-wicket win. However, Kleinmond more than made up in the much-anticipated rugby clash where they beat Atlantics of Mount Pleasant, Hermanus with a final score of 20 – 3.
Kleinmond also narrowly missed claiming the crown in the hotly contested soccer Legends category where Hermanus’ Zwelihle Legends had spectators spellbound with a winning score of 8-7 after a penalty shootout.
Hermanus Netball Club then kept the flag flying high by claiming the netball trophy with a triumphant and convincing win of 40 – 24; this, despite Mount Pleasant’s best efforts.
However, it was Stanford’s Young Tigers in the soccer grand finale who astoundingly put paid to any further brassware haul by Hermanus with an impressive 3 – 1 win over Gansbaai’s Peace Makers. A result that unfortunately left Zwelihle Sweepers having to settle for third place.
With proceedings coming to an end just before the prize giving ceremony, Overstrand’s Portfolio Head of Community Services, Cllr Andrew Komani, made a profound comment in his closing address, saying “What we witnessed here today is testimony to the tremendous effort and focus the Overstrand places on the development of our communities, and the youth in particular. It’s only appropriate therefore that we celebrate and honour these amazing talents with fitting awards.”
Against that backdrop, it was especially encouraging to see recognition being afforded for outstanding achievement to players like Erika Hansen of Hermanus Netball Club, Marchello Joemat of Kleinmond Rugby Club, Phillip Oliphant of Hawston Cricket Club and 16-year-old prodigy Bongani Mngeni of Stanford’s Young Tigers who received the Best Player gong in their respective codes of netball, rugby, cricket and soccer.
