Thousands of eager young netball, hockey and rugby players gathered in Kroonstad earlier this month to compete.
Gokkieweek, an annual sports event that high school students look forward to and dutifully attend, took place from 3 to 7 July on the fields of the North High School and Hoërskool Trio in Kroonstad. This year, nearly 2,900 learners laced up their sneakers for this exciting event.
The singer, Steve Hofmeyr, celebrated the occasion with the thousands of young sports stars, and even received an award from the Bokkie Week organizers for his lifelong contribution to Afrikaner culture.
“I am deeply grateful,” Steve said during the event.
“You don’t do what you do for prizes, but it’s nice to know that your own people notice it.”
Bokkieweek, an initiative by Afrikaner Volkseie Sport (AVS), consists of 15 unions from all over South Africa and offers learners the opportunity to compete against each other in a fair manner.
The thousands of participants and hundreds of team representatives provided quite a few goosebumps during this well-known sports week’s opening.
“Although these players and the 579 officials are competing against each other, you could sense the unity and togetherness during Monday night’s opening ceremony,” said David May, the president of AVS.
Mr and Miss Bokkie Week were also named during the week’s proceedings, with standouts and the player of the tournament announced during the award ceremony.
Team cheers echoed across the sports fields and accompanied the delightful festive atmosphere. Spectators and participants enjoyed authentic South African snacks such as fat cake, donuts, hamburgers and chips.
Rev. Peter Stans, CEO of Bokkieweek, believes that this sports week brings together the best players from different environments.
“The national event is a representation of excellent rugby, hockey and netball. The competition was tough this year.”
The Far North Cavaliers won the u.19 rugby, while Vaaldriehoek took the u.19 netball prize. The Vaal Triangle’s under-19 girls’ hockey team also reigned supreme during the sports event. The Free State won the under-19 boys’ hockey, while the Far North won the Daan Nolte Merit Trophy.
- For more information about the Buckeye Week, and to watch games you missed, visit this Facebook page.
