Sport

At our annual inter-house meeting we generally have more than 500 from ages 6 to 13 who participate.  After the inter-house meeting learners are taken to at least 2 ASA (Athletics South Africa) meetings. One of these meetings takes place in Durban and this is to prepare the athletes to be able to run on a tartan track. Monument also hosts an ASA Youth-league meeting to give additional exposure to our learners. During the past few years Monument has had more athletes representing KZN in the Inter-Provincial Championship than any other club or school.

The season usually starts with our inter-house gala. The competition is tough but our swimmers usually prove their worth and better their own personal best times. Great fun is had by novice or “learn to swim, swimmers” who are joined in the pool by staff members who assist and join in the fun. We also host a sprint gala at our pool to ensure that more swimmers are offered the opportunity to participate. After our internal galas, our school team participates in the Uthukela District Primary Schools Gala and swimmers who qualify there are allowed to participate in the KZN Championship Gala which takes place in Durban.

Our cricket has improved dramatically during the past few years. We had the privilege to appoint a provincial player to assist the cricketers by teaching extra skills and an academy that can further improve the quality of cricketers at our school. During the 1st term of 2018 Monument took the initiative and introduced a 10 over tournament on Fridays.  The aim is to let every player bat and bowl and no emphasis is placed on winning. Our juniors play Mini-cricket of whom a number of the teams are unbeaten every year. Our 1st team also participates in a tournament in Bethlehem.  Numerous players are selected for the Uthukela and Northern KwaZulu sides as well as for the KwaZulu Natal Inland sides.

Cross country is offered as a second sport for those boys who are really keen on middle distance athletics; and in recent years our athleted have dominated both junior and senior provincial leagues.

Passion and positivity is at the heart of all our hockey players. In the pre-season both the boys and girl hockey teams attend tournaments. This is followed by an internal coaching session by well-known Protea-players from throughout South Africa. The Uthukela District Team consists of a number of Monument players and numerous players are also selected to represent the KwaZulu Natal Inland sides. We have had a learner being selected for an invitation side that played hockey in Europe.

As with all the winter sporting codes, coaching starts early in the season. Our 1^st and u/11 sides usually participate in a night series. After these friendly matches the players attend a festival to develop our players to play rugby at a very high level and intensity. During a season there are usually numerous teams that are unbeaten. Monument also attends 7’s tournaments with great success. Our junior sides are also feared at all mini-rugby tournaments. During the past years our school has produced Craven week, u/13B, u/12A & B and u/13A Sharks players in the 15-man as well as the 7’s version.

Interest in soccer has grown tremendously at Monument. The sport is offered during the third term with a junior as well as a senior side playing matches. When possible we attend local tournaments in Northern KwaZulu Natal and we also host a District Challenge Tournament against major local opposing teams.

Our players, who are very young, play matches against the neighbouring schools and we believe that they have a bright tennis future ahead of them. Monument annually hosts a mixed doubles tournament year with all participating Northern KwaZulu Natal schools. Some of our learners also participate in the KwaZulu Natal Tournaments which are held in Pietermaritzburg.

For the past few years Monuments 1^st team has represented KwaZulu Natal at the South African Team Challenge. The season usually starts with the 1^st team attending a coaching clinic hosted by Protea player coaches and where matches are played against other sides from all over SA. Our u/11-, u/10- and u/9-teams also attend coaching clinics. As with the hockey and rugby, unbeaten sides are the norm. Monument players are represented in all KwaZulu Natal netball teams.

Chess is played along with all the other winter sport codes fixtures. Our chess team joins all players and participate in the challenge against other schools on Saturdays or during the week. Our chess team also participates at local chess tournaments of which Monument also hosts a tournament. Historically Chess at Monument has been strong and we perform well against other schools.

Recognition is given to all learners WHO participate and achieve in other sporting codes. Although these learners cannot qualify for awards due to the System Policy, they are given recognition at a school assembly, through social media and the local newspapers. This includes karate, show jumping, badminton, archery, baseball, basketball, boxing, dancing. etc.

All schools visiting Monument are treated to hospitality in our Lapa which has a fireplace that is proving to be very popular during the cold winter mornings. Facilities include rugby and hockey fields, as well as a mini hockey Astro, netball courts, a cricket pitch, 4 cricket nets (2 grass and 2 synthetics), bowling machines, a heated swimming pool and spectator pavilions.

At Monument we strive to ensure that all coaching staff are qualified in coaching, refereeing and first aid. New coaching techniques are acquired through courses, clinics and coaching seasons done by provincial and national coaches. Young coaches are still involved in playing the game and players enjoy seeing their coach still playing actively.

Courtney Halle who played for the SA u/21 men's hockey team at the Junior World Cup in India and at the was also included in the Tokyo Olympic Squad. Jacques Else who represented South Africa in the Proteas team, at the WICF Indoor Cricket World Cup in Dubai. Fred Zeilinga who played for the Cheetahs, Sharks, and Springbok A-side against the French Barbarians. Carina Horn, the fastest woman in SA over 100m and 200m. She represented SA at the London and Rio Olympics. Jeandrè Labuschagne who is currently representing the Sharks Rugby Team in the United Rugby Championships. Zakithi Nene claimed the men's 400m title at the ASA Senior Track & Field Championships this year and represented SA at the 2020 Summer Olympics. To name merely a few of our stars!