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Meet the Team

Our Sports Department is led by a team of six highly qualified and experienced professionals, each dedicated to fostering athletic development and success. With a commitment to excellence, our staff provides expert coaching, personalized support, and a positive, inclusive environment, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive in sports.

 

Abdul Rahim Hyder

Head of Sport & Physical Education Teacher (Grades 10-12)

Qualifications and Education:
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Senior and Further Education and Training (FET) Phase
• Major in Sport Science

Experience and Background:
• Over a decade of experience in school sports coordination, ensuring efficient program management and development.
• Proven coaching expertise in cricket, soccer, and volleyball, fostering skill development and teamwork.
• Extensive experience in coaching and mentoring young athletes across various sports, promoting holistic athletic growth.

Roles and Responsibilities:
• Overseeing the overall management and development of the school's sports programs for both boys and girls
• Strategic planning and implementation of school-wide sporting initiatives to enhance participation and performance
• Coordination of all sporting events, fixtures, and tournaments across various disciplines
• Leadership and mentorship of sports staff and coaches to ensure high-quality training and development
• Budgeting, resource allocation, and facility management for all sports programs
• Collaborating with external sports organizations and governing bodies to create opportunities for student athletes
• Promoting inclusivity and accessibility in sports participation for all students, regardless of skill level
• Monitoring student progress and performance, fostering a culture of excellence in school sports

Educational Philosophy:
• I believe effective sports management fosters teamwork, discipline, and excellence. My goal is to create a well-structured, inclusive program that maximizes student participation and performance. Through strong leadership and strategic planning, I aim to develop a thriving sports culture that inspires growth and success.

Notable Achievements/Contributions:
• Successfully motivated and coached winning teams across various sporting codes.
• Coordinated an overseas trip for the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Tournament, ensuring seamless logistics and team participation.
• Over eight years of experience teaching, coordinating, and managing sports teams and staff at Orient, contributing to the school's athletic excellence.

 

 

Aneesah Loonat

Girls’ Sports Co-ordinator & PE Teacher (Grades 4-12)

Qualifications and Education:
• B. Ed Foundation Phase
• Netball Coaching South Africa (Level 1)
• Qualified Swimming Coach (Learn to Swim – Elite)

Experience and Background:
• Over 15 years of experience in the swimming arena
• Experience in Open water swimming
• Extensive experience in coaching and developing young athletes in various sports

Roles and Responsibilities:
• Coordination of overall girls' sports and sporting events
• Physical Education Teacher for Grades 4-12
• Development and implementation of inclusive and engaging sports programs

Educational Philosophy:
• I believe sports play a vital role in building confidence, discipline, and teamwork. My goal is to create an environment where every student can develop a passion for physical activity and achieve their personal best. Through sports, I aim to inspire resilience and a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

Notable Achievements/Contributions:
• Successfully led and managed the school's first participation in the Midmar Mile
• Championed initiatives to promote female participation in sports
• Introduced innovative and engaging PE programs to enhance student engagement

Fun Fact or Personal Interests:
I have successfully completed 13 Midmar Miles to date, demonstrating a commitment to endurance swimming and a passion for personal achievement in the sport.

 

 

Demaine Ho-Chong

Head Football Coach

Qualifications and Education:
• CAF Licensed Football Coach
• Professional Football Training & Development

Experience and Background:
• Former international professional footballer representing South Africa internationally.
• Years of experience in coaching and player development
• Football scout, identifying and mentoring young talent for national and international opportunities

Roles and Responsibilities:
• Oversees football training and player development
• Scouts and mentors aspiring footballers for professional pathways
• Leads team strategy, fitness programs, and match preparations

Educational Philosophy:
“I believe in empowering young athletes through discipline, dedication, and high-performance training, preparing them for success both on and off the field.”

Notable Achievements/Contributions:
• Coached the U16 Orient Islamic School football team, which competed in Abu Dhabi (February 2025)
• Coaches the KZN U17 team
• Coached the U13 KZN TEAM who played in Swaziland
• Successfully guided players onto the international football circuit

Contact Information:
School Contact: 031 309 1450 ext: 1044

Fun Fact or Personal Interests:
A passionate mentor who enjoys analyzing football strategies and discovering emerging talent worldwide.

 

 

Saleem Lifa

Physical Education Teacher

Qualifications and Education:
• BeD Degree (Intermediate and Senior Phase) majoring in English and Psychology

Experience and Background:
I've been involved in education for 9 years.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Teaching PhysEd and Coordinating Boys Sport In The Primary School.

Educational Philosophy:
I Love Seeing Learners thrive in and outside the classroom.

Notable Achievements/Contributions:
Played Domestic League Soccer, Provincial Colours in Rugby and a Qualified IRB Level 1 Coach.

Contact Information:
031 309 1450 and slifa@orientschool.co.za

Fun Fact or Personal Interests:
• I enjoy working out, listening to Quran and having a hearty laugh.

 

 

Aisha Bhatti

PE Educator

Qualifications and Education:
• A cum laude in Bed. IP with specializations in Geography and Physical Education.
• Top Achiever award in Research.
• First Aid Level 1 certificate. An accredited Netball SA Level 1 coach.

Experience and Background:
• 4 years in Education. Member of the SRC at Stadio for 3 years with being vice president in the final year.
• Have played netball and soccer at club level.

Roles and Responsibilities:
• ECD Coordinator and conducting PE for grades 1 to 3.
• Overseeeing, coaching and managing girls Netball and Junior soccer.

Educational Philosophy:
I believe that learners are great imitators so give them something valuable and memorable to imitate.

Notable Achievements/Contributions:
I have coached U8 to U11s in Netball and trained them to compete at different tournaments.

Contact Information:
031 3091450 and abhatti@orientschool.co.za

Fun Fact or Personal Interests:
A nature enthusiast, low key poet and artist and an adventure driven person who loves taking on challenges and trying new things.

 

 

Zainab Khan

Exercise Scientist & Sports Department Intern

Qualifications and Education:
• Bachelor of Sports Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2021-2023)
• Honours in Exercise Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2024)
• Certified in Strength & Conditioning and Sports Performance Coaching
• ASA Level 1 Sprints Coach
• ASA Level 0 Technical Official

Experience and Background:
With a strong foundation in sports science and athlete development, I have gained hands-on experience as a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Athletics Coach at Aspire Athletics Club since 2022. My background includes nearly two decades of martial arts training, where I have earned multiple black belts and trained under world-champion coaches.

Roles and Responsibilities:
• Assisting in sports program coordination and athlete development at Orient Islamic School
• Coaching and conditioning 21 athletes participating in the Natal Championships
• Designing and implementing structured training programs to enhance performance and injury prevention
• Conducting fitness assessments and performance tracking for student-athletes

Educational Philosophy:
• I believe in a holistic approach to sports education that enhances athletic performance and instils student discipline, resilience, and confidence. I aim to create an environment where young athletes can excel on and off the field.

Notable Achievements/Contributions:
• Coaching and preparing athletes for high-level competitions, including the Natal Championships
• Extensive martial arts background with black belts in karate and kickboxing, brown belt in Kenjutsu and eligible for black belt in Taekwon – do (postponed due to Covid)
• Achieved Protea Colours in Karate (2014) and achieved 2 gold medals at the GTF World Championships (2019)
• Volunteering in self-defence programs and community outreach initiatives focused on health and fitness education. Started and ran a self-defence programme at Ridge Park College in 2019.

Fun Fact or Personal Interests:
• I love staying active, but you can also find me happily curled up with a good book.

 
OUR COMMUNITY

Our learners engage in a vibrant school life with clubs like Debate, Science, Robotics and more.


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FIND US:

49 ML SULTAN ROAD
GREYVILLE, DURBAN

CALL US:

031 309 1450
031 655 0952

EMAIL US:

info@orientschool.co.za
admin@orientschool.co.za

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