South Africa National Water Polo League

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 6. ACTION-packed Samsung National Water Polo League matches are on the cards at the Clifton Aquatics Centre in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, on Saturday (09h00 start) and Sunday (08h00 start), with Western Province and KwaZulu Natal on a mission to make up lost ground against title favorites Central Gauteng OJ Eagles.

Central Gauteng OJ Eagles, with players of the calibre of national caps in Dwayne Flatscher, Ettiene le Roux, Pierre le Roux and Rick Diesel in their line up, top the table after the first of three legs of the series held in Cape Town a fortnight ago, but found the Western Province side a tough nut to crack, before winning 8-5.

Western Province, coached by Zsolt Desi, and with the likes of SA national team skipper Duncan Woords, former Central Gauteng OJ Eagles star Andre Lotz, and talented goalkeeper Matt Kemp in their squad, will need to turn the table on the log-leaders, in order to set up a spectacular challenge for the title when the final leg of the Samsung National Water Polo League takes place at the King Edward School in Johannesburg a week later.

KwaZulu Natal, in third spot on the league table, were unlucky to go down 12-11 to Western Province in the opening leg, and will rue dropping a further point in a 9-all draw against Central Gauteng Old Edwardians.

Coached by Brad Rowe, KwaZulu Natal look a far more competitive unit that the side which competed in the Kramer League in Cape Town last December, and are expected to put in a strong challenge for points in front of their home supporters, with Cebo Mdletshe, Bevan Madsen, Richard Downes and Argentinean goalkeeper Nicholas Biachi expected to play key roles.

Central Gauteng Old Edwardians find themselves at the bottom of the log, but showed a great sense of competitiveness during their matches in Cape Town, particularly when the rallied from an early deficit to pull back to a more respectable 12-6 reverse at the hands of the powerful Central Gauteng OJ Eales side.

Alistair Stewart, Gareth Samuel and Gavin Kyte are key players in the Central Gauteng Old Edwardians side, with the men from Egoli expected to put in a serious onslaught in order to move up the league table.

"The Samsung National Water Polo League has captured the imagination of the local water polo fraternity and has made its mark as a much-looked-forward-to sports entertainment package on the Swimming SA calendar," said Swimming SA President Jace Naidoo.

"KwaZulu Natal aquatics enthusiasts can expect to witness a high standard of water polo, following the spectacular goal action produced during the opening leg of the series in Cape Town."

Special thanks to Swimming South Africa for contributing this report.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x