The journey of Westridge High School’s footballing teams has been nothing short of remarkable this year.
Right from under-14 up to their under-19 senior sides, Westridge High’s soccer teams have received at least eight trophies.
They also had five of their players selected for the Metro South Education District (MSED) team that travelled up to Durban: Tyrese Isaacs, Hershel Tempers, Reece Jacobs, Mikyle van Neel and Connor Brookes.
Westridge are the under-14 Pan African tournament zonal runners up, under-14 Kay Motsepe district quarter finalists, under-15 MSED zonal winners and district runners up. The under-16 team won the Gavin Manuel Memorial Schools Legacy Cup. The under-17 side became the MSED zonal champions and the under-19 MSED zonal runners up.
Westridge were also crowned the girls open MSED district champions last week.
The school acknowledged their leader, principal Edgar Magaar for his support of school sports, as he encouraged the boys and girls, as well as the administration and coaching staff by availing the school’s services at countless requests.
Westridge High’s football administration was led under the tutelage of Ismail Gasnola, Martin van der Leer and Esmond Jacobs, assisted by Christen Valentine, Arshad Pretorious, Nashley Adams and Leylarni Daniels-Louw.
Coach Deirdre Jongbloed has been credited for transforming the girls team and leading them to become the MSED district champions.
After being runners up of the Gavin Manuel Memorial Schools Legacy Cup last year, coach Zubair Daniels coached and managed the under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-19 sides in spirited fashion. In the end, the under-16 team were crowned the champions of this year’s Gavin Manuel tournament.
Passion led the assistant coach and manager, Adrian Dawson to lead the football teams at Westridge. He was the coach of the MSED district team that travelled up to Durban to participate in the South African Combined Schools Football Association festival. His team placed third in the country. He became the coach of the tournament and received a national tie.
“It’s a change that the school decided to make, to provide as many opportunities as we have for the exposure of the youth… We went to Durban as a part of the MSED team. From that tournament they chose the first 11 to represent the SA schools and they awarded me as the coach.
“The foundation has been laid. We are getting parents that want to bring their kids to the school next year, it is a good representation for the community,” said Dawson.
To continue their success story into 2024, Westridge High School is looking for a sponsor to help them reach their goals. For more information, contact the school on 0213717400
