Zara Wessels (12), a learner at Kenridge Primary School who lives in Kuils River, has capped a remarkable season by helping the Western Province (WP) u-13A girls’ hockey team claim national gold at the Interprovincial Tournament (IPT) in Johannesburg.

Held from 27 June to 1 July, the tournament saw WP deliver a commanding performance, scoring 31 goals across six matches while conceding just once, against Boland. Zara earned two Player of the Match awards, a reflection of her impact throughout the week.

Her defining moment came in the quarter-finals, when she executed a flawless backstick shot that sent the ball into the top corner. For Zara, it was the ultimate reward for hours of dedicated practice.

“It’s very exciting to represent your province and see all your hard work pay off,” she said. “I’m very proud of that. I’ve been blessed with great coaches and teammates who have helped me along the way.”

A season of milestones

The IPT gold came after a string of strong performances. At the 2026 Maties u-13 tournament, Zara was named Player of the Final as her team finished undefeated. She also finished as joint top goal scorer (scoring four goals) at the Prestige Champions Cup in Stellenbosch in January.

On the indoor hockey front, she captained the Northern Knights u-13A side to victory at the Pro Series Indoor (PSi) Intercity Tournament in March, a third consecutive title for the team.

Away from hockey, Zara anchors Kenridge Primary‘s u-13A tennis team and represented WP u-13A girls at the Synergy Cup in Stellenbosch earlier this year, where her team won gold.

On the field and on the court, Zara has proven herself a versatile and driven competitor with an impressive season behind her and, it seems, much more ahead.

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