LEBO MJANGAZE
Buffalo City metro schools continue to excel on the national stage, with Hudson Park High School and Clarendon High School for Girls ranking among SA’s top 20 girls’ sports schools for 2024.
The rankings, released annually by SA Schools Sports, assess girls’ schools sports from first-team standings in three core sports codes: netball, hockey, and water polo. Each sport has been weighted to fairly reflect its significance in school sports, offering a balanced snapshot of performance.
Hudson Park High achieved an impressive 11th place, while Clarendon secured 18th, solidifying their reputation for excellence in sports. This achievement marks significant progress for Hudson Park, which was ranked 46th in 2023.
Hudson Park head of sport Lwazi Zangqa attributed their rise to a culture of discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our athletes, the dedication of our coaching staff, and the unwavering support from the local community and parents,” Zangqa said.
Zangqa emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive sports environment. “We’ve invested in developing our coaches, enhancing facilities, and promoting mass participation, which breeds healthy competition. This victory motivates us to aim even higher,” he said.
Clarendon High’s inclusion in the top 20 highlights their efforts in achieving sporting excellence as a result of a robust sports programme that nurtures talent and encourages participation across all disciplines.
Clarendon High’s Nicole Sieberhagen said: “We are proud to see that Clarendon is ranked 18th this season. It proves that our premier sports teams are gaining momentum.
“We are a proud sporting school of about 670 pupils. Being ranked 18th is a tremendous achievement, reflecting the dedication, talent, and hard work of both our players and coaching staff. This ranking not only highlights the high level of skill and commitment within our sport programmes, but it also underscores the school’s values of perseverance and excellence.
“An increase in the number of participants in sport, forming a solid foundation, has contributed to the improvement in the rankings. Our focus at Clarendon is mass participation in a variety of sports.
“We have been working hard on providing good off-season, high performance training for both netball and hockey players. The pupils have holiday fitness programmes to follow if they wish to be ready for 2025. We start with water polo camps for all age groups in January. We are also hosting Elevate, a high-performance water polo club on January 4-5in our own Harrison Aquatic Centre at Clarendon.”
The journey to the top hasn’t been without challenges. Schools like Hudson Park had to rebuild their sports culture post-pandemic, re-engaging pupils in physical activities and emphasising the importance of fitness.
This year’s rankings demonstrate Buffalo City’s growing presence in the competitive world of school sports, breaking the dominance traditionally held by KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Gauteng schools. As the 2024 season comes to a close, both schools are setting their sights on climbing even higher in next year’s rankings.
In 2023, Hudson Park ranked 46th and now proudly stands 11th—a leap attributed to their strategic focus on nurturing talent. Clarendon’s consistent inclusion in the rankings reinforces their standing as a powerhouse in girls’ sports.
Hudson Park’s success is particularly noteworthy given their focus on mass participation and the development of all sporting codes.
Zangqa said: “The pandemic was tough, but we’ve worked to rebuild a culture of excellence. Our progress is a reflection of collective effort.”
These achievements underscore the importance of local support, with parents, coaches, and the community playing crucial role in propelling Buffalo City schools into the national spotlight. Both schools are poised for even greater success in 2025, showcasing the city’s potential to be a hub for top-tier school sports in SA.
