A Season to Remember: Herzlia’s Unforgettable Journey in the Mazinter Cup

The prestigious Mazinter Cup, established in the 1980s to promote water polo in Cape Town schools, is the pinnacle of school water polo in the region. Teams qualify for the semi-finals based on their performance during the league season, which runs from September to March. This year, Herzlia had the honour of hosting the U19 Boys and Girls League semi-finals at our state-of-the-art Aquatic Centre.

Herzlia’s Girls 1st Team made history by not only reaching their first-ever Mazinter semi-final but also securing a resounding 8-5 victory against Parklands. This remarkable achievement ensures their place in the history books as the first Herzlia U19 Girls 1st Team to compete in a Mazinter Cup final—a feat made even more special as Herzlia celebrates its 85th year. Our Boys 1st Team also delivered an outstanding performance, triumphing 5-4 against a talented Somerset College team to book their spot in the Boys’ final. Notably, Herzlia is the only co-ed school to have both its Boys’ and Girls’ teams reach the finals in the same year.

With both teams gearing up for the final, Herzlia High School arranged buses to transport supporters to SACS, ensuring a strong and spirited presence. The Girls 1st Team played a phenomenal game, defeating Paarl Girls’ High School 8-6 to claim the title—an extraordinary moment as they became the first Herzlia Girls’ team to win the Mazinter Cup.

The Boys’ final against Westerford was a thrilling contest. Herzlia led for most of the match, but in a dramatic turn, Westerford equalised with just 30 seconds remaining. A 5-meter penalty in the closing moments gave Westerford the edge, and they secured a 6-5 victory. While our boys were deeply disappointed, they can hold their heads high, knowing they gave their all and represented Herzlia with pride and dignity.

As the season came to an end, Herzlia’s water polo teams had much to be proud of. Throughout the Chukka Festival and league fixtures, our players received numerous compliments for their sportsmanship, respect for officials, and graciousness towards their opponents.

Kol Hakavod to our incredible Herzlia supporter community! Your unwavering enthusiasm and ruach at every match showed just how powerful we are when we stand together. This season was a testament to the strength, dedication, and passion of Herzlia Water Polo—here’s to even greater success in the future!