Potchefstroom boys high
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Potchefstroom Boys High is one of South Africas oldest boys high schools, opened in 1905 and have just celebrated 100 years of existence in 2005, it is mainly a boarding school with 3 hostels ,Granton, Milton and Buxton it also has a day boy house called Barnard, many of the ex scholars have been successful in sporting activities, and recent internationals include the Atlanta Olympic Silver medalist Hezekiél Sepeng, Scotland Rugby international Matthew Proudfoot, Zimbabwe cyclist Warren Carne and South African Commonwealth boxer Sean Santana the school has been featured in the Worlds Top Cricketing Schools publication, see below
World Top Cricketing Schools - Potch Boys High
Potchefstroom Boys High or more fondly known as‘College’by its pupils is in its 100th year of cricket at this prestigious South African school. In this shortened report we look back at the some of the careers of the more well known players and officials the school has proudly been associated with over the years, starting back in the early years where Cecil Dixon played for the then Transvaal and turned out in a single test match for South Africans in 1914, Vivian ‘Boet’ Neser a cricket blue at Oxford also went on to play for South Africa and in 1921 was captain of the national side. From the schools inception in 1905 ‘College’ have always played it’s traditional fixtures against the old ‘foe’ of King Edwards, Pretoria Boys, St Stithians, Pretoria Boys, St Johns, Parktown and Jeppe Boys and has continued these important matches throughout its 100 year history.
Through the years names of many ‘College’ boys dotted the Transvaal (Gauteng) and Western Transvaal (North West) scorecards whilst competing in the annual South African (U15) PG Bison and (U19) Nuffield cricket weeks. Of which most eventually moved on up to the professional ranks, ex scholars/players include, the all rounder Garry ‘Chaka’ Watson who played 9 seasons for the then Transvaal (65-75) touring Australia with South Africa after making the SA Schools side a few years previously. Notable products from the 1980’s include Nik Rhodes (Transvaal), Paul Schmidt (Free State), wicketkeeper Pieree Tullis (Eastern Province, Northerns SA schools) his brother Gary Tullis (Western Province, Northerns, SA Schools) and pace bowler Michael Haywood a SA Schools player in 1989 who had a promising career ruined by a motorcycle accident but turned out in a Benson and Hedges limited overs match for Western Transvaal in 1989, as well as Keith Storey who played for KwaZulu Natal for 6 seasons in the 1990’s. In 1990 the school had a fine opening batsman by the name of Mathew Francis who had there not have been national service in South Africa at the time would have been a journeyman of the provincial ranks, unfortunately his exploits were confined to Western Transvaal U18 Nuffield performances. The class of 1994 produced 3 provincial players in the form of opening bat Gary Outram North West (96-00) who in the 2000 season scored a classy 34 against England in a mid week game Warren Carne despite playing very little cricket at College was a late bloomer and in 1998 played for the Zimbabwean domestic side Matebeleland Districts. Probably the finest player the school has produced to date was George Myburgh a talented elegant opening batsman who was selected for the South African Plascon Cricket Academy in 1995, whilst at the academy played against the touring Australian Academy side containing a very raw Brett Lee who would eventually play for Australia. Following the academy stint Myburgh played for the provincial side Easterns for two seasons. Current provincial players include fast bowler Vusi Mazibuko (Lions/North West) and the all-rounder Richard Stroh (North West), Stroh was awarded the Standard Bank Student Player award at the 2004 SA Mutual and Federal cricket awards and was selected for the SA Country Districts team which played in the African World Cup Qualifying Series held in Benoni in 2005 and scored hundreds against the national teams of both Rwanda and Botswana. In 2005 he captained a combined North West/Gauteng side against Zimbabwe and scored a brisk 29. The current Zimbabwean Test and ODI player Gavin Ewing also attended the school for a short while but left the after completing Form 1.One must also not forget Gavin Bradley who matriculated from ‘College’ in 1993 who although having never played List A or First Class cricket played for the South African Indoor cricket side in the ‘Tests’ against the visiting Australians in 1996.
Over the years the school has produced a number of brilliant coaches, with the likes of Hugo Ackerman, Mr Schaller, Paul Guthrie (who also coached Kwa- Zulu Natal U18’s at the SA Nuffield week and is the current SA U 17 Convenor), Piet De Jager, Chris Dutton the West Indian Hendy Springer who whilst playing for the then Western Transvaal was the assistant coach of the first side ( Hendy is the current Barbados / West Indies assistant coach) and more recently Ryan Watson a current Scotland ODI player who was an integral part of the team allowing the Scots to win the ICC Trophy in 2005, and thus qualifying for the 2007 World Cup to be held in the Caribbean, he captained the Scottish ODI team against the touring Pakistanis earlier this year, Watson has also been included in the Scotland World Cup squad and should be in action at the ICC World Cup in the West Indies next year.
