TUESDAY, 11.30AM:
THE South African men’s hockey team drew 3-3 with Italy in their international match at the Trefontane Stadium in Rome on Monday.
The South Africans started off strongly, scoring two goals in the first quarter — one from Greg Nicol in the 10th minute, and the next from Mike Cullen three minutes later. Grant Fulton took the score to 3-1 in the 60th minute, but then the edge was lost.
South Africa suddenly began making mistakes, letting the ball slip into Italy’s hands once too often. The score was levelled by swift strikes from Massimo Lanzano, who scored in the 65th minute, and again in the 69th.
SPORT BRIEFS
FED CUP TENNIS The venue for the Fed Cup tennis tournament between Austria and South Africa has been named. The two-day event will take place in Poertschach in Austria, from July 12-13.
FOR HANSIE’S BENEFIT The next cricket season, beginning next month, has been declared a benefit year for South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje by the Free State Cricket Union. Some of the planned fund-raiser events include a launch dinner on July 1, a concert by Johnny Clegg and a cruise on an ocean liner.
WIMBLEDON WARM-UPS KEVIN ULYETT and David Nainkin won their matches in the first round of the Queens Club grass court tennis tournament in London on Monday. Marcos Ondruska, Nevil Godwin and Chris Haggard lost their matches. In Germany, Grant Stafford beat Lionel Roux of France in straight sets, and will face Michael Stich in the second round.
FERREIRA LOSES RANK SOUTH AFRICAN tennis player Wayne Ferreira slipped in the world rankings to number 21, the first time in three years that he has not featured in the top 20. Meanwhile, compatriot Amanda Coetzer has moved up a few notches to number seven in the world rankings, after her performance in the French Open last week.
FRIENDLY WITH NEIGHBOURS? BAFANA BAFANA might face one of South Africa’s neighbouring countries in a friendly match as a warm-up for the World Cup qualifier against Congo on August 16. The South African Football Association is waiting for coach Clive Barker to decide whether to play the match, before deciding on a country.