Uppies eye home triumph in Friday night Groot Interjol showdown

Hoërskool Upington’s hockey team is currently enjoying a good run of form.

Kimberley schools can verify that fact, as Uppies recently defeated Kimberley Boys’ High 2-0, as well as overrunning St Patrick’s CBC, winning 6-0 before that. 

Off the record, there is a very real possibility that Kimberley Boys’ High will not be hockey whipping boys for long, though. They are currently in the process of upgrading their hockey facilities, so something big is looming with its epicentre close to Kimberley’s oldest and most well-known traffic circles.

However, as for Upington, when they took on Hoërskool Duineveld in the Klein Interjol back in May, Duineveld gave them a run for their money, and the sides played to a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Now, almost three months later, the teams are set to face off again, but this time around it’s in the Groot Interjol – the big annual interschool sports derby between Upington (Uppies) and Duineveld in the Northern Cape.

The much-anticipated fixture on the Northern Cape sports calendar will be played at Hoërskool Upington on Friday at 7:55 pm, and will be streamed live on the SuperSport Schools App.

Both teams have enjoyed encouraging seasons so far, but securing the Groot Interjol title – and the bragging rights that come with it – has been a key target since the start of the year.

With home support behind them, the Uppies will be aiming to make the most of the occasion. Since that 2-2 draw in May, they have claimed three wins in their last four matches and shared another 2-2 draw, this time against Jim Fouché. Confidence in the camp is high, and Captain John-Dré Rooi says the team is ready for the challenge.

“We are excited for the challenge, and we are well prepared,” he said in a recent interview. “We are not underestimating our opponent, but it’s a different game than the first one. We’re playing in front of our home crowd, and the fact that it’s Groot Interjol makes us want to win even more.”

Rooi reflected on a season that tested the team but also brought growth.

“This was not one of our best seasons, but we grew as a team,” he said, adding that one of the highlights was being invited to play at the Belgotex Easter Hockey Tournament in Cape Town earlier this year.

Friday’s match against Duineveld will be their final meeting of the season, and the first time the derby is played on a Friday night.

“It’s quite special because it will be the first time we play on Friday. The match normally takes place on Saturday,” Rooi said. “It would be even greater if we get to do it [win] on our home turf.”

The girls’ Groot Interjol clash is set to take place earlier at 6.30 pm.